SINGAPORE - At one small garden, the kaleidoscope of colours from 700 orchids draws eager shutterbugs,
while at an open-air plot, a burst of sunflower blooms makes for a calming sight. This is not the world-acclaimed
Gardens by the Bay or even the Botanic Gardens in Cluny Road. The gardens at Changi Airport are getting their
fair share of plant lovers, with 7,000 visitors at the five gardens - located after immigration checkpoints - each day.
Mr Khaja Nazimuddeen Abdul Hameed, 46, senior manager of airport operations, says that the airport is no longer
just about commuting. "Plants are a very big part of Changi Airport. When we ask visitors for feedback about what
they would like to see at the airport, many will list plants and gardens. These plants and gardens have become our
signature." The detail involved in working plants into the overall design of the place is obvious, starting from the
drive to the airport. Tall, hardy flame trees line the airport boulevard while bougainvillaea shrubs, with their purple
hue, greet visitors as they reach the terminals...more.