Kuching City’s best-kept secret

Striking: A vivid orange orchid variety flutters in the wind at the Orchid Garden with the State Legislative Assembly Building seen in the background.

Flowers are a many-splendoured thing; they can symbolise a confession of love, and even as a sign of consolation for the departed.

What usually sets a flower apart are its shape, smell and colour. And here in Sarawak, none are as recognisable as the orchid.

Kuching North’s Orchid Garden is probably one of the best kept secrets in the city, which it intends to change.

Tucked in a little corner of land as one makes one’s way to the State Legislative Assembly Building, the garden opens up into a sprawling 6.2ha wide park housing thousands of varieties of beautiful orchids, flourishing in the carefully controlled environment closest to their natural habitat.

“There are just so many vividly coloured orchids, with all kinds of shapes and sizes for the public to enjoy,” said Kuching City North Commission (DBKU) mayor Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai. “Admission to the park is absolutely free, and visitors are welcome to take their time to stroll through the garden, take pictures and to just sit back, relax and take in the scenery,” he said.

Fleeting: A white Vanda Poepoe Diana blossom blooms against the backdrop of a blue sky.

There are between 2,000 and 2,500 species of orchids in Borneo, many of which are featured in the garden, such as the Lady’s Slipper (paphiopedilum sanderianum) which is endemic to Sarawak. Among other famous species of orchids available for viewing in the garden are the coelogyne pandurata, a green and black orchid and the vanda dearei; a fragrant, flowering orchid.

Unique: The star-shaped phalaenopsis bellina orchid, or more commonly known as Orchid Normah flourishes at the Orchid Garden.

The garden’s vast grounds and display area show the rich and exquisite variety of these orchid species, as well as hybrids consisting of epiphytic and terrestrial types planted in the open, shaded, and semi-shaded areas throughout the garden.

Visiting horticulturists and botanists have found the garden both recreational and educational as they meandered through rows upon rows of blooming plants.

“Very impressive and amazing. It’s also very clean and well maintained. I shall recommend visiting this place to my friends,” reads a message left by a Dr Kausel from the United Arab Emirates in the park’s guest book.

“The garden is a real eye-opener, a feast for the eyes with innovative new ideas,” said another visitor from the United Kingdom, one Gai Arul.

Innovative indeed.

To date, the park has produced two new hybrid varieties of orchids that have been specially cultivated in the garden, one of them being the award winning Aranda Ragad Taib, named after Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib, wife of the Chief Minister. “We have our own breeding laboratory that we use to create new hybrid varieties, which often take anywhere between four and seven years to create,” said the garden’s consultant Au Yong Kien Chung. “For example, the Aranda Ragad Taib produces stunning blooms of purple, pink or blue and unique petal shapes, which normal cloning techniques will not reproduce. That is the beauty of creating hybrid plants,” he said.

Memorable: A family strolls through the Orchid Garden's many shaded display areas as they make their way around the 15.4 acre wide land.

An International Orchid Show is also planned for August, with the garden taking centre stage during the event that will feature exhibitors and exotic orchid species from throughout the country. The garden is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, 9.30am to 6pm and also on public holidays. For more information on the orchid garden, call Kuching City North Commission at 082-446 688 or email qrc@dbku.gov.my.

-thestar online.