The Secret Garden of 1Utama

Finally, my excitement of taking a walk in the Secret Garden was unlocked upon the lift doors to Level UR was opened.

Located on a 9th storey high rooftop of a major shopping mall named 1Utama (affectionately known to locals as 1U) in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, it is open to the public only on weekends.

According to its literature, "it is an experimental garden using novel technologies to grow 500 species of interesting, rare and unusual plants in an open tropical roof-top environment.  The soil medium is based on granulated horticultural carbon (a form of charcoal) while chilled water is provided by sprinklers at night".

Stepping out from the lift into the garden entrance, I was greeted by potted everyday kind of shade loving patio plants and a healthy list of dont's.  As admission is free, one only needs to register at the security post and pick up a free (again!) colour copy of the garden zone map.

Welcoming cool mist blowing from the overhead piping system flies in your face and hair as one walks along the garden path.  It's a lovely feeling to be able to roam free in someone's well tended garden on a hot sunny day!

The garden hosted a diverse range of flowering trees, shrubs, herbs, foliage plants, temperate & highland plants, herbs, spices & food plants, cacti, succulents & dry climate plants, climbers and accent plants, palms, cycads, giant aroids, century plants, conifers and bananas!

I was on a 'mission' and was looking out for palms. And I was not disappointed!  It was a highly rewarding trip and will post the most amazing palms in my next. Nevertheless, there are many plants that I like too and here is a brief snapshot of some of my favourites as I wander from zone to zone.

 

              weeping willows + parrot beak anthurium

                                                                                                                    

                                                                     coral hibiscus

                                                                                                handsome staghorn fern

                                                          

 orchids + waterfall in background

Calabash (Chinese Bottle Gourd)

                                                                                                            copernicia prunifera
                                                                                    
Could have easily spent half a day exploring the nooks and crannies of the garden and taking in the sights and sounds... Yes, the ever present chirping and flitting of birds, the water splashing sounds of the waterfall, the aroma of local herbs, scents of flowers, lots of green shapes and forms, colour and hues of flowering plants, and not forgetting that rejuvenating cooling spray mist in your face.

For me, it's an awesome rooftop experience plus the idyllic serenity of a Sunday morning well spent. Ting! lift door opens - back to reality and maddening shopping crowds...

For further info, link below.
http://www.sun2surf.com/articlePrint.cfm?id=32983