Sentosa Flower Show - Stargazer lilies

I have never seen so many lilies in one spot before. As you can see from these photos, they are simply mesmerising. I was rooted for a while, reluctant to move on to other parts of the flower show because on a normal day you see a few lilies probably in the market, at the florist, in a bridal bouquet. On that day, I saw numbers beyond counting so how could I not be overwhelmed.

I found out that they are called Stargazer Lilies. Looking at these photos, I guess the name is obvious.

Sentosa Flower Show - Marigolds and Sunflowers

Marigolds

What's Chinese New Year to me? In the past it was the compulsory newness of clothes, the colour red and the wearing of gold jewellery - the more you load up and glitter like a golden statue the better. We need to outshine the enemy and drive evil away so that the new year will be filled with goodies.

As I got older and have a family of my own, Chinese New Year practices of the past have been somewhat watered down. Yes, I have new clothes but shopping has become a chore so much so that I actually buy red coloured clothes whenever I see them anytime in the year and store them for Chinese New Year. Red is still a colour I adhere to for the first two days and as for jewellery, I really do not want to attract too much attention and have decided that evil can be driven away by other means like positive thinking and steering clear of potential negative situations. It's mind over matter these days - a much simpler and better way to live. All that glitters is not gold. Costume jewellery, like these fake sunflowers, can make a big impact without the accompanying risk of being robbed if I were to go around dripping with gold jewellery. I just like Chinese New New Year this way - my way.

Sentosa Flower Show - Plum blossoms

We see these flowers during Chinese New Year in Chinatown, in the wet markets and in the nurseries. These are flowers from a colder climate and seeing them in the heat of the sun amidst abundance of flowers make me forget that they are not in their natural environment. A few plants here and there for our viewing pleasure but in places where they thrive, they must make an even more beautiful sight.

Sentosa Flower Show - Butterflies

You have a choice to educate your kid on the life-cycle of a butterfly or to just walk around and take pictures like I did. Not in order of how butterflies came about, these shots show how entertaining this section of the flower show was.

Sentosa Flower Show - More Chrysanthemums

A family of swans leading you to more delightful floral displays.
Look again, these swans are made from many Chrysanthemum flowers painstakingly put together for our enjoyment.

A lovely backdrop for family photos.
Spring is on the wall.
You would wish to just sit and look at these flowers all day.

Sentosa Flower Show - Chrysanthemum

I have not seen this type of Chrysanthemum flowers before. They make me think of beautiful silk kimonos that flow with rich embroidery the colours of royalty. I just love these flowers!

Sentosa Flower Show - Floral Displays

A picture for Valentine's day.

Hydrangea flowerbeds of pink and blue.

If only these huge bouquets could last forever.

If only ice-creams come in such proportions. It would make my day!