'Upturned Splendour' Wins People's Choice Award at the Singapore Garden Festival 2012

Singapore, 13 July 2012 - 'Upturned Splendour' (F07) by local landscape designer Eliam Eng (representing Landscape Industry Association of Singapore) has won the People's Choice Award at the Singapore Garden Festival 2012. 'Memories of our Childhood' (C04) by six community gardening groups has won the Gardeners' Choice Award. These winners were chosen by visitors to the Festival who voted for their favourite entries between 7 and 12 July. Members of the public have two days left to view these favourite exhibits and more before the Festival closes at 10pm on Sunday, 15 July.

Over the last few days, visitors were enthralled by the 'theatre-like' display in 'Upturned Splendour'. The garden, implemented by Nyee Phoe Flower Garden Pte Ltd, features upside-down trees and incorporates timed lighting and sound sequences as well as moving elements in the garden. The special effects simulate an earthquake to showcase how one should not abuse the earth's natural resources, and also how beauty can be found even in the unlikeliest of places. The garden earlier won a Silver award in the Fantasy Garden category.

The People's Choice Award winner was closely contested by another hot favourite 'Garden of Tales' (F02), the Best of Show and Gold award-winning Fantasy Garden by local designer Damian Tang and implementing partner Plantwerkz Pte Ltd. Visitors were enamoured by the vivid scenes of fairytales such as 'Seven Dwarfs', 'Alice in Wonderland', 'Pinnochio', 'Thumbelina', and 'Little Red Riding Hood' depicted in the garden.

The Gardeners' Choice Award winner, 'Memories of our Childhood', aims to turn back the clock and transport visitors back to the old kampong days with a mini kitchen museum using old kitchen accessories from the 1970s. The team recycled old materials into new garden features such as a Merlion sculpture made of abandoned old pots, and a grasshopper sculpture made of recycled chairs, wire mesh and spoons.  The garden, which earlier won 'Educational Display Award' in the Gardeners' Cup competition, was created by six community groups - Sembawang Zone E Residents' Committee, Kranji Secondary School, Woodlands Zone 2 Residents' Committee, Woodgrove Zone 2 Residents' Committee, Woodlands Park Neighbourhood Committee, and Woodlands Community Club SCEC.

Aaron Ng, 15, won a two-night weekend stay at Sentosa in the lucky draw contest for the People's Choice Award. "Upturned Splendour stood out among all the gardens because it contained a lot of action. The mini light show makes it very attractive. Also, I could identify with the garden theme. We're currently studying global warming in Geography class; hence the garden is meaningful and close to my heart."

Rita Seet, 50, won a Pro-Aqua Air and Room Cleaning System made in Germany worth $3,424 sponsored by Lucky Family Pte Ltd from Pro-Aqua International. She voted for 'Memories of our Childhood' in the Gardeners' Choice Award. Said Rita, "I voted for Memories of our Childhood because I really like the way they presented their garden. It's quite interesting, and I saw a lot of children taking photos with the garden. Not only did the team ensure the garden exterior is interesting, they also put a lot of thought into the garden interiors."