There are over 10,000 lilies set against an idyllic Venetian backdrop at Gardens by the Bay right now
10,000 lilies have bloomed at Gardens by the Bay, transforming the Flower Dome into a fragrant floral haven. Lilytopia is inspired by the city of Venice, Italy – fittingly so, as the lily is Italy's national flower – and marks the largest lily showcase ever hosted at the Flower Dome. Don't wait too long to catch these captivating blooms, as the exhibition runs only until mid-June 2025.
While most may be familiar with classic white or yellow lilies, Lilytopia unveils an array of over 50 different varieties. Highlights include double-petal blooms like the striking orange Lilium Caddy and the magenta-pink Lilium Alanno. Some of the featured lilies were even cultivated by the talented in-house horticulturists at Gardens by the Bay.
The visual spectacle goes beyond the flowers. Venetian-themed elements recreate the floating city's charm, with blue hydrangeas that mimic the water canals and life-sized replicas of Italian shopfronts and homes dotted throughout the space. A traditional gondola and Vespa sit nestled among the blooms, adding a picturesque touch to the exhibition.
The recreated Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark's Square, is another show-stopper. Other whimsical touches include a quaint limoncello stall, wine barrels, and a corner styled as a nonna's (grandmother's) kitchen, featuring a traditional wood-fired oven.
Lilytopia is running from now till June 15, 2025 at the Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay. Tickets are priced at $12 for adults and $8 for children. More details can be found via the Gardens by the Bay website.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
What became of cast of BBC sitcom Bread from major Hollywood roles to soap comeback
It's been more than three decades since the curtain came down on the Boswell family in the final episode of Bread - but where is the cast now and what have they been up to since? It's been over thirty years since the sitcom Bread transported us into the Boswell family's Liverpool home. The widely adored series, set in the 1980s, chronicled the family's varying fortunes as they navigated life under the stern supervision of their matriarch, Nellie Boswell. Making its debut on May 1, 1986, the show's memorable ceramic hen from the opening credits and the theme song performed by the cast quickly became a beloved part of many viewers' evening routines. The programme ran for eight seasons until 1991, delivering numerous unforgettable moments, whether it was Liverpool icon Sonia making a guest appearance or the notorious Italian holiday in the Christmas special. But what have the cast members been up to in the 34 years since the show concluded? Jean Boht - Nellie Boswell Jean Boht portrayed Nellie, the family's matriarch who had to tolerate her family's often eccentric schemes to earn a living. Beyond the show, she featured in all the classic BBC soaps, including Casualty, Doctors, Holby City and The Bill, reports the Liverpool Echo. She also had a stint on stage, performing alongside Jeremy Irons in the 2006 production of Embers. Jean sadly passed away in September 2023 at the age of 91 following a battle with Alzheimer's disease. She spent her final days at Denville Hall, a residence for retired actors and members of the theatrical profession. Ronald Forfar - Freddie Boswell Ronald Forfar was known for his portrayal of Nellie's troublesome spouse Freddie, a character easily identifiable by his unkempt white hair and impressive moustache. Freddie was a constant source of trouble for the family due to his ongoing affair with Lilo Lill and his indifference towards his family's antics. Post-show, Ronald transitioned into writing, penning 'A Wilderness of Monkeys', a narrative about life in theatre. Sadly, Ronald passed away at the age of 81 in October 2020. Eileen Pollock - Lilo Lill Lilo Lill, the 'other woman' in the Boswell marriage, was one of the most memorable and iconic characters on the show, portrayed by Eileen Pollock. After the series concluded, Eileen spent much of her time on stage, collaborating with several Northern Irish companies. She also had a brief stint in Hollywood, featuring in the film adaptation of Frank McCourt's book 'Angela's Ashes' in 1999 and sharing screen space with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in 'Far and Away', playing the role of landlady Molly. Sadly, Eileen passed away in 2020 at the age of 73. Peter Howitt - Joey Boswell Howitt played the eldest of the Boswell boys, Joey, but was replaced in the fifth series when Graham Bickley took over the role. Peter went on to achieve significant success post-show, making a name for himself in Hollywood with films like 'Sliding Doors' and the 2012 thriller 'Reasonable Doubt', starring Dominic Cooper and Samuel L Jackson. However, he is perhaps best known for directing the original 'Johnny English' film, featuring Rowan Atkinson. He currently resides in Vancouver, Canada, with his wife and two children. Nick Conway - Billy Boswell Nick, the youngest of the brothers, portrayed the bumbling Billy Boswell who seemed to constantly struggle with even the simplest tasks, often through no fault of his own. He later appeared in several classic soaps, including roles on The Bill and Casualty, before securing the role of Gavin for a stint on Coronation Street. Now 62, Nick has also dabbled in DJing and opened a theatre school, following his own experiences performing in plays. Victor McGuire - Jack Boswell Post his stint as Jack Boswell in Bread, Victor has bagged significant roles across film and television, including appearances in Hollywood blockbusters such as Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and The Woman in Black. On the small screen, he's made appearances in Sky 1's Trollied, Casualty and more recently, as Big Garth on Coronation Street.
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I was idolised by Inter's ultras – they smashed fan's nose when he touched me'
The ultras in Italian football are some of the most unique supporters in the game, as one ex-Inter Milan star can attest to after his shocking first-hand experience Italy is known for romance, but a punch in the face was the Inter Milan ultras' way of expressing their love for Paul Ince. Fortunately for the ex-Manchester United and Liverpool star, he was not the one left tasting iron. In 1995, Ince departed Old Trafford and moved to the San Siro, where he shared a dressing room with the likes of Roberto Carlos, Ivan Zamorano, Nicola Berti and many others. It didn't take long for Ince to establish himself in Serie A. He dominated the midfield while wearing the No. 8 shirt of the Nerazzurri, and their iconic fan base took him in as one of their own - quite literally on one occasion. Like their most extreme supporters, who light up the stands with flares as their drums and megaphones radiate chaos around stadiums in Europe, Ince will be willing Inter on in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. Italian clubs have their own unique way of showing their love for players, as Ince found out during his time in the capital. Yet, the endearment they paid to him had unfortunate and painful ramifications for one poor ultra. In an exclusive interview with Mirror Football, while speaking on behalf of bet365, Ince recalled a time he joined the ultras in the stands. As a reminiscing smile stretched across his face, Ince said: "I'll tell you a story, alright? "I got sent off against someone, unlike me. I missed a couple of games. We were playing against some team, I think it was Sampdoria or someone like that. I said to my best mate, who played for Inter, 'I'm going to spend a game upstairs with the ultras.' Watch our full Champions League final interview with Paul Ince and Claude Makelele here "I spoke to the ultras and this bossman came down with two of his sidekicks and took me all the way up to where all the ultras are. Some geezer went to grab me to say, 'Ah, Paul Ince.' "The ultra turned around and smashed him straight in the nose. This poor geezer's nose was like that (mimicking a nose that has been flattened). I thought, 'Wow.' They were like, 'Don't touch Paul Ince, nobody touches Paul Ince.'" Seeing a man take a huge hook to the nose would normally be anybody's cue to leave the area, but the blue and black lions den that is the Internazionale ultras is no normal place. Ince continued to follow the head ultra, while other fans in the area cleared a path and maybe avoided looking at the Englishman. While that supporter was left tasting their own blood, the ex-England international was hooked on the adrenaline rush of being with the fanbase - and nearly 30 years later, there's only one thing Ince wants to do. He added: "They took me right to the front, right up to the nets and they were singing and chanting, it was the best atmosphere ever. To this day, I want to do it again, I'd love to do it again. I did not get many red cards in the Premier League. But in Italy, it was different. Players were rolling over, feigning injuries. "I got sent off about three times, which was very rare for me. I was a strong tackler, but in Italy, I got sent off a lot. I think the fans loved me because of that. The fans were devastated when I left. The fans still love me and still idolise me, so it was great.' He would go on to leave Inter and return to Liverpool after two seasons, in a move that broke the hearts of the Italian giants and their ultras. Family reasons is what drove Ince back to England. Despite his exit, he is still admired by fans at the club to this day, so it's hard to imagine he'd struggle to secure another invite from the ultras.
The Herald Scotland
8 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
A tip for you, JK: Harry Potter should be Scottish, don't you think?
He has thought about having a stern word with the bustling, buzzy beasties and demanding that they change their postcode. However, he gets the feeling that they aren't open to dialogue, so Graeme has concluded that he should change his address instead, and perhaps even retreat to foreign shores, to be as far away as possible from the enemy army. His wife is not persuaded and told him not to be a big dafty. After all, she adds: 'We're not talking about wasps. It's only bumble-bees.' An unrepentant Graeme tells the Diary: 'The problem is the word bumble, which makes the pesky varmints sound cute, when they're actually evil incarnate. 'The same thing would happen if you called the villain from Star Wars Bumble-Darth Vader.' MacMagic Congratulations to young Scottish actor Dominic McLaughlin, who will star as Harry Potter in a new TV adaptation of JK Rowling's fantasy series. JK herself is, of course, also based in Caledonia, so the Diary is wondering if a more Scottified version of her famous books should be made available. Reader Don Lawrence suggests one of the novels should go by the title Harry Potter and the Goblet of Buckie. Bendy boozing Shopping in her local supermarket in Glasgow's south side, reader Jenny Miller noticed a poster advertising wine and yoga classes. Jenny was not enticed, and tells us: 'It seems like an awful lot of effort to get a glass of wine. I prefer my local pub, which is offering wine and no yoga classes. Far more civilised.' David Donaldson notes that this is the sort of car that would drive you to drink… (Image: Contributed) Read rage, revisited We mentioned a chap who stopped reading Anger Management Magazine. Diary correspondent Ian Barnett received a call inquiring why he'd cancelled his subscription to the very same publication. In reply, Ian snarled: 'Who wants to know!?' Food for thought Glesga gourmand Steven Hutcheson visited an Italian chippy with his wife, and bought a square slice of pizza. 'So should it actually be called a piazza?' mused his wife. Morning mourning Overheard in a café in Glasgow's West End by reader Claire Oakley. One young lady said to her gal pal: 'What part of your morning routine takes longest?' Without skipping a beat, the morose chum replied: 'Finding the will to live.' Mind your language Linguistically-limber Craig Garvey from Giffnock tells us: 'Sometimes I use words I don't understand so I can sound more photosynthesis.'
