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Dahlia Dreams

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Soar through a dazzling floral world at Dahlia Dreams. Witness a majestic 7m dragon amidst 1,000+ blooms!

In the Year of the Dragon, Dahlia Dreams – Gardens by the Bay’s annual Chinese New Year floral display – comes to life with a grand centrepiece: a close to 7m-tall dragon that stretches over 15m in length, rising majestically amidst more than a thousand dahlias of varied shapes, sizes and colours.

Part of the dragon’s scales are adorned with both cut and preserved flowers in striking yellow and red, which were painstakingly arranged by hand.

Complementing this showstopper are four colourful dragon lantern sets, each symbolising the elements of metal, water, fire, and earth. To usher in positivity for all visitors, the floral display also features a scene that interprets the Chinese saying 鱼跃龙门, which translates into “carps leap over the dragon gate”, a metaphor for courage and the pursuit of greatness. Further enhancing the dragon theme is a towering dragon sculpture made out of hardwood and recycled steel, a creation of British-born sculptor James Doran-Webb. This masterful artwork is the newest addition to his zodiac character series in Flower Dome.

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Highlights

The Bearer of Infinite Blessings

Gardens by the Bay welcomes the year of the Wood Dragon with a 5.5-metre-tall driftwood sculpture by artist James Doran-Webb. Entitled "The Bearer of Infinite Blessings", this five-toed dragon holding the jewel of life in its arms, celebrates growth, progress and abundance. Witness the magnificent sculpture created through 9,000 hours of dedicated craftsmanship using over a ton of recycled stainless steel and hardwood from the Vitex parviflora tree at Flower Dome!

The Chinese Five Elements and the Year of the Wood Dragon

In the Chinese philosophy, the Five Elements - Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water are fundamental forces that influence various aspects of life. 2024 is the Year of the Wood Dragon – individuals born this year are believed to embody traits of ambition, charisma, flexibility and adaptability. Dahlia Dreams floral display highlights a Wood Dragon as the centrepiece, adorned with flowers by Dementia Singapore and volunteers, surrounded by lanterns representing the other elements, each uniquely coloured and symbolic.

The Dragon in Chinese Culture

In Chinese culture, the dragon is a revered mythical creature symbolising imperial power, authority, and divine qualities. Historically linked to emperors as a symbol of their heavenly mandate, it's also seen as a guardian, with dragon motifs in architecture believed to ward off negative energies. In the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Dragon is especially auspicious, with those born under this sign believed to embody the dragon's positive qualities.

Carp Jumping over the Dragon Gate

According to Chinese Mythology, there is a mythical waterfall called the Dragon Gate in the Yellow River. Against the strong river currents, carps swimming upstream which successfully leaped over the Dragon Gate were transformed into powerful dragons. The Chinese dragon is an auspicious symbol of great power, historically an exclusive symbol of the emperor. The saying "Carp jumping over the Dragon's Gate" implies that hard work and perseverance can lead to overcoming obstacles and achieving greatness.

Image Credit: Gardens By The Bay