Gardens by the Bay
Feature | National Development

Cultivating Seeds of Passion

An integral stem in Singapore’s “City in a Garden” vision, Gardens by the Bay (GB) houses some of the most spectacular flora and fauna. Meet GB Overseas Undergraduate scholar Irene Chong, one of the people responsible for the upkeep of this multi-award winning horticultural destination.

Cultivating Seeds of Passion

An integral stem in Singapore’s “City in a Garden” vision, Gardens by the Bay (GB) houses some of the most spectacular flora and fauna. Meet GB Overseas Undergraduate scholar Irene Chong, one of the people responsible for the upkeep of this multi-award winning horticultural destination.

S panning over 101 hectares of land, Gardens by the Bay is well-known for its massive Supertrees, Cloud Forest and Flower Dome. As a world-class attraction with a horticultural theme, the Gardens features lush, diverse plant life from around the world. For nature lover Irene Chong, the Gardens sure feels like home.

Learning across Borders

Irene’s fascination with plants and horticulture started at an early age, when her dad would bring her on nature walks. With support from her family, Irene later pursued a horticulture course at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Unfortunately, botany and horticulture are not offered by local universities, so Irene had to consider furthering her studies abroad. The GB Overseas Undergraduate Scholarship was her ticket to pursuing a Bachelor of Environments at the University of Melbourne.

The scholarship provided Irene with a platform to acquire and apply knowledge at a cross-cultural level and be exposed to international standards. The field trips facilitated by the University encouraged learning and applications beyond the classroom. Such hands-on experiences allowed Irene to better relate to environmental issues at large – such as improvement on species abundance and appreciation for the richness of gardens. Additionally, Irene learned about human behavioural theories and how people react to different landscape designs. This has greatly enhanced her understanding in customising landscape designs and setups to drive behavioural outcomes for the Gardens.

As a GB Scholar, Irene had the opportunity to take up greater responsibilities upon graduation. She also had the chance to travel overseas for the procurement of plant and garden materials. The experience broadened her knowledge and perspective, strengthened her overseas network, and kept her up-to-date on trends or shifts in the horticulture field.

Planting Life and Colour into the Gardens

As an Assistant Manager in Gardens Operations, Irene’s role is to oversee the daily maintenance of the outdoor gardens. Her daily responsibilities include maintaining the health of plants, providing diagnosis and nursing them back to health when they are ‘sick’. She also inspects trees, implements planting works, and conducts wildlife surveys to quantify the species and abundance of birds, dragonflies and butterflies in the Gardens. As the Gardens is constantly evolving, Irene and her team are always looking for ways to enhance its landscape for visitors’ enjoyment.

As an Assistant Manager in Gardens Operations, Irene’s role is to oversee the daily maintenance of the outdoor gardens. Her daily responsibilities include maintaining the health of plants, providing diagnosis and nursing them back to health when they are ‘sick’. She also inspects trees, implements planting works, and conducts wildlife surveys to quantify the species and abundance of birds, dragonflies and butterflies in the Gardens. As the Gardens is constantly evolving, Irene and her team are always looking for ways to enhance its landscape for visitors’ enjoyment.

CIrene Chong , GB Overseas Undergraduate Scholar

Irene Chong
GB Overseas Undergraduate Scholar

Designation:
Assistant Manager (Gardens Operations)

“All of us share a common goal, which is to present our visitors with a delightful horticultural experience, and plant GB and Singapore firmly on the world map.”

A major part of Irene’s job is ensuring that visitors are welcomed by a vibrant and healthy garden daily. Hence, Irene has to be vigilant in diagnosing and treating sick plants, some of which do not present obvious symptoms. An in-depth understanding of the plant type is required to be able to effectively diagnose and treat the plant. Irene says, “These unique challenges provide bountiful opportunities to learn, which in turn hones your problem-solving and creative faculties. This is why I love coming to work every day!”

A Culture of Unity

Irene’s career at GB has been nothing short of eventful. From the Gardens’ developmental phase to its inauguration and operation, Irene’s journey is paved with memorable milestones. “We started out with a humble group of 20, and a vast, flat and empty plot of land. Since then, we’ve grown to a 300-strong team running one of the most iconic landmarks in Singapore today,” says Irene.

Initially, Irene and her team had to work really hard with the limited resources given. But it was through this experience that Irene and her colleagues grew much closer. “We strove towards a common vision of creating a world-class horticultural attraction. We worked hard rain or shine, and spent countless nights holding potlucks while rushing to meet deadlines. To see how far we have come today – with GB garnering 20 million visitors in three years – has made me very proud to be part of this momentous effort to further promote Singapore as a City in a Garden,” Irene quips.

Such instances exemplify the company’s emphasis on teamwork. Irene believes that no man is an island, so it is important to be communicative, open-minded and receptive to constructive feedback. This helps to maintain a positive vibe within the team. “We also participate actively in team-bonding sessions! All of us share a common goal, which is to present our visitors with a delightful horticultural experience, and plant GB and Singapore firmly on the world map. I am immensely proud that my team has been able to uphold GB’s vision and values,” says Irene.

Budding horticulturalists can heed Irene’s seeds of wisdom. “If you enjoy working in gardens and have a passion for plants and nature, you should consider taking up this scholarship. It may be tough to pick up skills in this niche area at first, but your hard work and passion will eventually pay off! GB will be there every step of the way to support you in your horticultural aspirations and journey,” Irene concludes with a smile.