Two weeks ago I started a series on Singapore (sorry, I had to pause for a second to talk about an epic Bluegrass concert… in a CAVE), and this week we pick that back up. Singapore is a very vibrant country, with flowers and color EVERYWHERE. It’s a beautiful place. Aside from the flowers just growing around the city, there are numerous gardens spread about that warrant a look. On the Marina Bay Sands property, there is the ‘Gardens by the Bay’, which include two giant bio-domes; the flower dome and cloud dome, both of which are overflowing with pretty flowers and plants. Holly and I thoroughly enjoyed our time there. Singapore has also set aside a large park area, known as the Singapore Botanic Gardens, which has the feel of a large city park, but it is also teaming with flowers and plants to check out.
Inside the Singapore Botanic Gardens you’ll find the National Orchid Gardens, which I found really fascinating. Here there are labs that grow orchids, and make hybrid species, many of which are named for famous people. Princess Diana has a species named for her, as does Barbara Bush, and many others. It was extremely hard to pick a favorite because they all varied in shape and color! At anyrate, you get the idea, it was awesome! Definitely a good way to spend the afternoon.
–Dan Thompson
Singapore Orchid Gardens
Fellow Photographers!
If you’re like me, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been the central focal point, or the backdrop for, some amazing photos and memories over the years. Due to the recent wildfires, lots of people that live in the communities surrounding the park have lost everything. This is OUR opportunity to give back to an area that has blessed us so richly. Steve Zigler, Bill Lea, and I have partnered with The Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA) to establish a fund specifically for the photography community to donate to wildfire relief. This money goes directly to the GSMA, which will disperse it to families in need there.