OTTOMAN SPLENDOUR IN BLUE
Gardens by the Bay’s newest floral display Blue Beauties features fluffy hydrangeas, and as a bonus, children enjoy free entry to Flower Dome during the Children’s Festival celebration this June
Blue is the colour that runs through the Ottoman world – it represents the heavens as well as royalty, and reflected in the blue hues of Topkapi Palace as well as the famous ceramics of the town of Iznik. At Gardens by the Bay’s Blue Beauties (蓝色俏佳人), the colour flourishes amidst more than 30 hydrangea varieties and nearly 3,000 blooms in an immersive floral journey through the Ottoman world.
Blue Beauties is presented in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Singapore and was launched by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development Ms Indranee Rajah today. It runs until June 21.
Gardens by the Bay CEO Mr Felix Loh said, “Blue Beauties invites families on an enriching journey through the Ottoman Empire, framed by clouds of lush hydrangeas. Among the highlights is the Maiden’s Tower, inspired by the enduring legends of a sultan who built an island tower to protect his beloved daughter from a prophesied snakebite. At the heart of this tale is something every parent can relate to – the instinct to protect and cherish their children. This June school holidays, we welcome Singaporean families to cherish family bonding and create meaningful memories together at Gardens by the Bay. In addition to Blue Beauties, families can also look forward to a line-up of exciting experiences, including the Children’s Festival and the return of Disney Garden of Wonder, offering something for everyone in the family to enjoy.”
Hydrangeas that are lush, tall and even cone-shaped
This edition of Blue Beauties marks the first time Gardens by the Bay has brought together such a diverse collection of hydrangea varieties in different forms, scales and colours. Featured varieties include:
- Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Avant Garde’, a mophead variety that matures through multiple colour shifts – white to pink to green and red – over an unusually long flowering period.
- Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Blue Ocean’, debuting for the first time and bred for intense blue colouration. The deep cobalt colour directly echoes the Iznik palette at the heart of Blue Beauties.
- Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Magical Revolution’, a neat, rounded shrub with rich dark green foliage, with cupped flower heads that open pink or blue depending on soil pH, then gradually ageing through green, purple and antique tones.
- Hydrangea paniculata ‘Sundae Fraise’, a compact panicle hydrangea that can grow up to 3-metres tall, this variety bears conical clusters opening cream and passing to soft pink and strawberry tones from the base upwards as nights cool.
Complementing the hydrangeas are hollyhocks, dianthus, and lisianthus – plants that echo the layered botanical richness of traditional Ottoman palace gardens.
A journey through the Ottoman world
At the heart of Blue Beauties stands a recreation of the iconic Topkapi Palace – home to Ottoman royalty for nearly four centuries and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Its walls are richly adorned with motifs inspired by Iznik tiles, the empire’s most celebrated ceramic art, whose signature blue-and-white palette resonates throughout the entire display.
Surrounding the palace, shaded walkways, gently flowing fountains, and pergola-covered pavilions recreate the principles of imperial garden design, where water and symmetry were used to create cool, tranquil retreats from the outside world.
Further along, the bustling Grand Bazaar comes into view – a covered world of trade and commerce that once sat at the crossroads of East and West. Rising from the waters at the edge of the display is the Maiden’s Tower, which carries with it one of the Ottoman world’s most enduring legends – a sultan who built an island tower to protect his daughter from a prophesied snakebite, only for fate to deliver the snake in a basket of fruit on her eighteenth birthday.
The journey continues beyond the palace walls – to the iconic hot air balloon of Cappadocia, and into the quieter pleasures of Ottoman daily life: the warm glow of traditional lamp art, and the rituals of tea and coffee culture that have defined hospitality across the region for centuries.
📅 26 May to 21 Jun 2026
🕙 9am – 9pm
📍 Flower Dome
You can get tickets via Klook, Fever, Pelago and KKday.
Complete your visit with a range of hydrangea-themed craft workshops in the Flower Dome.
For more information, visit here.
June special promotions
Promotional deals abound this June school holidays, so that families get more bang for their buck when they spend time at Gardens by the Bay:
- Children aged 12 and under enjoy free admission to Blue Beauties from May 30 to June 21 when adults present a photo of their children enjoying Children’s Festival to staff at the entrance of Flower Dome.*
- From June 8 to June 21, tickets to Disney Garden of Wonder and Blue Beauties are priced at just $20 for adults and $15 for children, translating into 20 per cent savings. This bundle deal comes with complimentary shuttle service between Floral Fantasy and Flower Dome.* Available exclusively when you purchase your tickets at Gardens by the Bay’s ticketing counters.
- Special dining promotions at TungLok Seafood, Hopscotch, Jurassic Nest and the Finnwood in Gardens by the Bay.
*Valid for Singapore residents only. Standard admission charges apply for accompanying adults.
ECHOES OF ISTANBUL CONCERT AND TURKISH AIRLINES SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST
Traditional Turkish music with Echoes of Istanbul
Step into the timeless world of Istanbul through an enchanting evening of Turkish traditional music. Echoes of Istanbul is a special performance that invites you to discover the rich musical heritage of Türkiye — a culture shaped by centuries of history, poetry, and the meeting of civilisations along the Bosphorus.
The concert will feature some of the most distinctive instruments of Turkish classical music:
- Oud, a warm and expressive string instrument regarded as the ancestor of the lute
- Kanun, a delicately plucked zither known for its shimmering and intricate melodies
- Ney, the soulful reed flute whose breath-like sound has echoed through Sufi traditions for centuries
- • Bendir, a traditional frame drum whose rhythmic pulse carries the spirit of ancient gatherings and celebrations
Together, these instruments create a musical language that is both meditative and deeply emotional — transporting listeners to the palaces, waterfronts, and hidden courtyards of old Istanbul.
Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Time: 3.00pm
Details: Flower Dome. Admission charge to Flower Dome applies
Win a Dream Getaway to Istanbul with Blue Beauties
Visit the Blue Beauties floral display in Flower Dome, answer a question, and stand a chance to win a pair of economy-class roundtrip tickets on Turkish Airlines to Istanbul.
Contest Period: 26 May to 21 June 2026
How to Participate:
1. Visit the Blue Beauties during the campaign period.
2. Look out for the contest poster and scan the QR code.
3. Answer a simple question about the display.
4. Fill in the required details and submit your entry to be in the running.
Terms and conditions apply. For more information, visit here.
🎭🎪 JUNE SCHOOL HOLIDAY 2026 🎪🎭
Welcome to the June school holidays! Make the most of the break with your little ones – explore our curated list of fun, engaging, and family-friendly activities happening across Singapore during the June School Holidays in Singapore 2026.
This year, the Dragon Boat Festival lands on 19 June 2026. Discover our selection of places to purchase traditional rice dumplings in Singapore.
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