Little One @ Hort Park

We are not new to Hort Park. It is a 23-hectare park located in the South-Western part of Singapore. It is the first one-stop gardening lifestyle hub in Asia that integrates gardening related activities together under one roof in a park setting. This park is unique because it gives you ideas how you can decorate your garden or balcony if you have one. They have showcase garden design.

If you love gardening, you can check this park out especially Gardener's Day Out which happens quarterly. Do check here for more details. Though I have been to the park countless times but I have not gone for any gardening events as yet.

The park is a rather small, you could walk through it and get done with it within an hour. (Our fastest record was within 15 minutes because we were just passing through to Pasir Panjang Nursery Open House). You will not find any fun activities such as cycling although there are people who picnics in the park. (I personally do not recommend as there is not much shade) The only fun activities for the children is probably the playgrounds, the swings around the park and fishes in the Water Garden near the Hort Centre. To add on, it is rather hot towards noon till late afternoon. Then, why do I keep coming back?

One practical reason is that it is probably the nearest park to our home. It is rather serene view with loads of pretty plants around, particularly the view of the Hort Lawn from Level 2 of the HortCentre. It makes me relax. I love the vegetable garden which the scarecrow stands. I am toying with the thought of growing my own vegetables but where should I plant them. I do not have a balcony and the sunniest spot in the flat is the bedroom. I like the English gardens that the Park had recently included. Sitting in a swing with such nice view is calming, not to mention, my favorite part of the playground as a child is always the swing.

Hort Park entrance @ 33 Hyderabad Road. Little One used to love playing with the mosaic wall.

Little One loves climbing these stairs

Swing! Swing! Swing! Swinging in such ambiance increases the happiness level! 

Such pretty gardens!

Hort Lawn... I have seen on several occasion that people are having picnic here.

Pretty flowers and plants around. They even have Rose Apple Trees which fruited so much last November that I thought it was a waste to see many fruits dropped onto the ground. Maybe they are collected to make compost?

Cuties found! We spotted scarecrow too!

Swings are quite common in this park.

They have a Butterfly Garden where you can find butterflies fluttering about. Happy chasing!  Before the Butterfly Garden was revamped, there used to be a showcase of pupa in various stages of development. Unfortunately, this is no longer available.

The revamped Butterfly Garden

Playground fun! I find the ground of this playground pretty because it looked like long fallen petals.

The playgrounds, in Little One's opinion ,are not as fun as the Tree House in Jacob Ballas Children Garden or the Dragon Playground in Toa Payoh.

As it was February when we last visited, ornamental flowers such as these were seen.

Even Pussy Willows are seen in the park in festive decoration!

 I wish to explore behind the close doors of the glasshouse complex

Tips:
If you are visiting early morning, do bring your own drinks and food as the earliest eatery opens only at 10am. Both eateries are located near the HortCentre. -Vineyard and The Plant Story.
I prefer to bring our snacks and drinks but sometimes, the park is too hot, and we consume our water very soon.

Visiting during evening would be best as it is not that hot.

If you have more time, you may want to explore other places near the park as well.

• Reflections at Bukit Chandu (Musuem to commemorate the brave soldiers from the Malay Regiment heroically defended the last stand near this area against the Japanese army during WWII),  walk to the end of the park to reach Pasir Panjang Nursery and walk up a foot trail. (around 10 -15 minutes walk). There will be signage to guide you along. If you still have the energy, you may want to visit Kent Ridge Park via the Canopy Walk.
• Telok Blangah Hill Park, walk out of Hort Park towards Alexandra Arch to the elevated walkway which would link whole the way to Telok Blangah Hill. Bird watching at the Canopy Walk best timing at 7-9am.
• Gillman Barracks. if you are interested in art, this is one place for you. Most galleries open from 11am to 6pm. 

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