Country

Exploring Tianwei, Taiwan’s horticulture hub (one of the best places to buy plants)

On a recent trip to Taiwan, my friend from HOKAS took me to Tianwei Township (田尾) in Changhua County, an area well known for its horticultural industry and gardens. Taiwan ranks as one of the top exporters of flowers globally, and Tianwei has the reputation of being the “land of flowers”. The area is more than just a mecca for flowers, but also plant and tree nurseries, and is one of the best places to buy plants in Taiwan.

Our first stop was Tenway Garden, where we stopped for a healthy lunch and stroll before continuing our garden nusery hopping adventure. From there, we visited Green Life Garden, Miki Orchid and Heli Garden. There are so many other places to visit but this is all we could accommodate in a day.

Before we headed out to explore, I had the opportunity to visit the HOKAS 園藝工具factory and see where all their tools are made. They began as garden tool manufacturers for other brands, including internationally known ones, before eventually creating their own line for horticulture and floriculture professionals, as well as home gardeners.

I was delighted to see their entire range on display as only a limited range is available in Singapore. While I was here, I purchased a pair of snips, floral scissors, and dragon fruit pruning shears. Their pole pruners are impressive but are not available in Singapore as of yet. I wanted to get it but was not prepared to lug it back with me 😀

HOKAS taiwan

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natural dyes of asia
Country

Natural Dyes of Asia Retreat with Autumn Brown

If you’re looking for a natural retreat in Asia where you get to work with plant materials and dye fabrics, check out the Natural Dyes of Asia Retreat with Autumn Brown.

During my 6 day 5 night stay in July 2025, I learned so much about dyeing fabrics, from creating the dyes from fresh plant material harvested from the farm as well as store-bought, dried ones, preparing fabrics, to dyeing it and aftercare to ensure colour retention for as long as possible. In the process, we also created a dye atlas to take home for reference.

Natural Dyes of Asia Autumn Brown
Natural Dyes of Asia Indonesia
Sukasantai Farmstay organic farm Asia

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City

Sakura 2025 at Gardens by the Bay

The Sakura floral display returned in 2025 for its 10th edition, promising an unforgettable celebration of Japan’s iconic cherry blossoms. Running till April 6, enjoy the breath-taking landscape in The Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay. View more than 440 cherry trees, representing 48 varieties—the largest collection ever showcased.

This year’s milestone edition takes visitors on a journey through Fukuoka Prefecture, unveiling its rich cultural and historical treasures. A highlight of the display is the Phantom Castle, a light installation inspired by an ancient castle tower believed to have once stood in Fukuoka City. This yozakura, or night Sakura experience returns, offering visitors the chance to witness cherry blossoms under stunning illumination.

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City

[Jurong Lake Gardens] Edible Garden in the Chinese Garden

The much-anticipated reopening of the Chinese Garden and Japanese Garden marks a new chapter at Jurong Lake Gardens in Singapore. After five years of redevelopment, the gardens were unveiled in September 2024, showcasing a blend of cherished landmarks and new features, including a new Edible Garden in the Chinese Garden.

The Edible Garden consists of several sections, including the Kitchen Garden, Edible Flower Garden, Climber Garden, Food Forest, Food Factory (indoor vertical farm), Spice Garden, Tea Garden, Medicinal Garden among others.

Pictured above is the Kitchen Garden, which features raised beds filled with a diverse selection of herbs and vegetables as well as flowering plants. The raised beds are thoughtfully designed to make tending to the plants easier and more accessible for persons with disabilities.

Edible Flower Garden Jurong Lake

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