Yesterday we went to the magnificent Singapore Botanic Gardens, which were established in 1859, and cover about 150 acres in the center of the city. The plantings are jaw-droppingly gorgeous, from tiny flowers to towering trees, all along wide roads or tiny paths, or the edges of lakes or fountains, in beds, groves or terraces. The plants are tropical of course and thus nearly all unfamiliar to me except for the few that have been adapted as common houseplants or garden annuals. The grounds are laid out with exquisite care...if you imagine the Arnold Arboretum, a bit smaller but planted with literally thousands of species of trees, shrubs, bushes and flowers in lush tropical splendor, plus a section of primary rainforest, you're just getting the idea. We will definitely go back there with Franz in the next few days.