Many orchids grown in home gardens are epiphytic, that is, they grow naturally on tree branches or trunks with their roots exposed to the environment. In cultivation, they are grown in open and free-draining media such as charcoal chips, where their roots get to dry quickly after each watering. However, it can be a challenge to fertilise them when they are grown in such media.

A chance meeting with a group of community gardeners changed the life of a young boy, turning him from a self-confessed computer game-addict to an avid gardener. As testimony to his conversion, 13-year-old Ng Jia Wei became the youngest recipient of the CIB (Community in Bloom) Ambassador Award, given out last October at the launch of Clean and Green Singapore 2012.

Tucked away in a corner of the Sin Ming heartlands, a young community garden has taken root of late - not just literally, but also, in the hearts of the residents. Less than a year old, the Sin Ming RC Garden is already blooming with fruits, vegetables and beautiful flowers and plants.

Pussy willows are a popular type of ornamental cut-flower used to decorate homes during the Lunar New Year. They are admired for their silvery catkins, which refer to the slim cylindrical flower clusters that emerge from the long branches. They represent the arrival of prosperity and these stalks are frequently decorated with gold and red ornaments that have auspicious meanings such as prosperity and happiness.

A beautifully illustrated book, with colourful photographs showcasing the diversity of orchids, this is a book for the novice who wishes to know how to get started.