Young Gardeners

Me and My Friends turned into a Garden!

demoadmin — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 09:14:20 +0000

Dear Friends,My name is Raihana. I am 5 years old. Last week, my kindergarten held our year-end concert. I put on a nice green costume and turned into a leaf. A friend of mine became a lady bug and another one turned into a tree! Our performance was about a beautiful garden. I love going to a garden where I can see colourful flowers and plants. Do you?

Above : Spot me!

- Raihana Azmi

Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden - Through the eyes of a 3 year old!

demoadmin — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 07:24:20 +0000

Finally, a garden delicated to us - the little people.

What i love about this garden is that everything is mini compact in size - from the cafe set up (little chairs and tables, cool!) down to the toilet facilities (yay! no more oversized toilet bowls that threatens to “swallow” us whole!).

To add to the exclusivity, entry to this garden is restricted to children 0 to 12 years old and any adult who wants a peek into this garden MUST be accompanied by children. This means my presence is really important. No KIDS? Sorry, No entry! Thou shalt not say more and let the pictures do the talking.

Having a whale of a time watering the plants. Hmm.. they must be thristy!

Never too young to learn - the science of photosynthesis

Can somebody please tell me the name of this really stinko flower?

A suspension bridge for the young and adventurous - Not for the faint hearted!

This is how I fetch a ‘pail’ a water - Though not quite the jack and jill way.

Shhh… Do Not Disturb… Little mastro at work

Climbing up a tree house, just like I see in Barney and Friends!

A page out of the Enid Blyton’s “Enchanted Forest”? - Com’on out and play with me, globbins and sprites.

At the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Children Rulez and the Adults Don’t Get it!

p/s If any one wanna rent a kid (and a cute one at that), please enquire within.

By Daphne Chiang, written on behalf of Joey Khor (3 years old)

The Magical Children’s Garden

demoadmin — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 01:50:52 +0000

The Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden has been developed specially for children. The first week of its opening welcomed more than 16,000 young visitors through its gates.

With the theme that all life depends on plants, the Garden is crafted with carefully designed features to encourage exploration, learning and enjoyment. While the rather spartan playground entertains the very wee ones, the Children’s Garden holds the magic key to wonderful secret world of Plants for the young visitors.

Children busy looking out for the ‘animals’ at the A-Maze-ing Play

A fantastic forest for adventure and discovery trail of amazing plants stimulates imagination and creates a sense of curiosity and wonder. The Garden comes alive as a living Classroom. Special plants and features include an interactive display on photosynthesis combine fun with learning about the most basic life-support process. A very special pond with a floating platform allows children to discover the secret of the “unsinkable” plants. The Potting Garden gives children their first joy at planting.

The Potting Garden - where children can experience the fun of growing plants and get their hands dirty.

A Herb and Spice Potpurri class being conducted at one of the four ‘Living’ classrooms in the Children’s Garden

I overhead one young fella telling his friends, “this is the happiest place in Singapore!” I wondered to myself is this an advertising wizard in the making? Such a young boy but what a nice tagline! I hope so and I hope his love for plants will be cultivated through his visits to the Children’s Garden and one day we will have an advertising wizard who has a strong love of plants and all things green.

What a heart-warming thought.

By Dr Wong Wei Har

Hidden Treasures of Pasir Ris Park

demoadmin — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:00:03 +0000

On 20th June , I went for a school excursion at Pasir Ris Park ‘Herb Garden’.The garden was amazing!

Ever since this trip, I have learnt that the Aloe Vera is not just edible but it also treats cuts, wounds and it is good for our complexion. I have learnt that mint is used to treat cough, ginger is used to get rid of ‘wind’ in the body and that bitter gourd is used to treat diabetes, and ‘cat whiskers’ to reduce stress.

Look at this plant! Really look like a cat’s whiskers.

I think they should have more of this type of places as children will not only learn the benefits of these plants but also how these plants look like and the different textures of these plants.

From my experience, I think these educational places have not just helped me with my understanding of science but have also increased my general knowledge.

On the same day, we went to the mangrove swamp nearby the herb garden, where I saw a lot of mudskippers - HUGE! ones- but I was surprised to see that that even in the mangrove swamp, I saw a lot of litter like food wrappers.

You know, i really am upset at these very selfish and inconsiderate people! How i wish i could do something to stop them from harming our environmental treasures…

We also went to the beach where we played our part to help the environment by cleaning it up.

What a wonderful day! And the Herb Garden was definitely the best and most memorable place to be.

- Nurfarhana Azmi

P6 Honesty- Telok Kurau Primary

Trip to Evolution Garden

demoadmin — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:00:04 +0000

During a trip to Singapore Botanic Gardens, I was amazed by the variety of plants - some which seemed strange to me. I am delighted to find out that there many varieties flowers and plants.

At the Evolution Garden, I was attracted by those plants that could be found millions of years ago and as we were like walking through a time machine as we saw how plants evolved from one to another.

- Ho Tsui Wan, Sec 1H

Kranji Secondary School

Zig-Zag Plant

demoadmin — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 01:40:09 +0000

When I first step into our school’s herb garden, I was totally amazed by the number of Zig-Zig plants, also know as the Devil’s backbone. I like its stem which grows in a zig-zag manner. May be that was how it’s name came from. I like to walk in our school garden as I find it relaxing and calming.

- Nurul, Sec 1C

Kranji Secondary School

Mosquito Plant

demoadmin — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:00:13 +0000

My favourite plant in the garden that I love best is the mosquito plant because of its lemony sweet fragrance and it repels insects. I like our school herb garden and would like to continue taking care of it.

- Farah, Sec 1C

Kranji Secondary School

Green Haven @ Kranji

demoadmin — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 06:00:40 +0000

I’m glad that NParks came up with this blog, cos it allows us to read others views.

Updates on my experience with Green Haven @ Kranji.

Recently, in trying to incorporate Teach Less Learn More (TLLM) initiative with my secondary 1 biology, we asked students to construct a food web based on organisms they saw in the Havenly Herbs Garden. Much to my surprise, I saw many students walking around during their recess times trying to gather as much info. I was very encouraged by that scene.

I went down to the students and answered many questions on the characteristics of certain plants, which purpose does specific features have and what uses they have.

For example, one student asked why there were snails on the Tongkat Ali plant, but none of the leaves have holes in them (meaning, none of the leaves were eaten by snails). That question is now going to start the next research project in Kranji.

Many students were amused by the Mock strawberry and Mock orange because they had never seen small replicas of strawberries and oranges. They were also very interested to see insects pollinating the flowers and had fun tasting the Cermai.

Recently another collegue took a group of students down to the garden to conduct lesson on the reproductive parts of a plant (the flower).

It’s very encouraging to such involvement in the garden. It can only get better as we conduct more tours (recently, for Family Day and Hong Kong exchange students) and lessons in the garden.

Hong Kong Exchange Students

- by Ms J Vanitha

Teacher from Kranji Secondary School

Discoveries during gardening

demoadmin — Thu, 31 May 2007 00:00:00 +0000

When I was gardening, I saw caterpillars, butterflies and worms. Whenever that happens,I will chase them away because I am scared that they will eat the leaves up and the plants will not have any leaves left.

Leaves are a very important part of plants asthey make food for the plantsusing the green pigment called chlorophyll. Plants will die if they do not have healthy leaves.

I think that it is my duty to protect the plants as it helps to keep the air clean and fresh and also beautify the environment.

By Darryl Lee Yee Kai, Pri 4B

Concord Primary School

My Joy of Gardening

demoadmin — Thu, 24 May 2007 00:00:04 +0000

I love plants and I like to see plants growing higher and higher, from a seed to a tall tall tree! I love to do gardening in school. When I do gardening, I feel special as I enjoy taking care of the plants and help to water and pull out weeds.

Another special reason why I like to garden is because of the butterfly corner. I can also see the caterpillars munching on the leaves of the plants! But it is alright. The plants are special plants which are planted by my school to feed them!.

At home, I like to help my mother to water the plants. My favourite moment will always be watching a plant sprouting out from a seed.

- by Fu Xiao Zhen, Pr 4B, Concord Primary School