Two hours. That’s the amount of time it takes to make us feel immediately better when surrounded by nature.
A study involving 20,000 people showed that spending at least 120minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and well-being.
“A growing body of epidemiological evidence indicates that greater exposure to, or ‘contact with’, natural environments is associated with better health and well-being, at least among populations in high income, largely urbanised, societies, ” Mathew White and his fellow researchers wrote in a journal for the University of Exeter in Britain.
As people navigate through uncertainty amid the pandemic, there’s been newfound appreciation for nature and plants. Plants, after all, is a proven natural cure for stress.
The government has embarked on Greening Malaysia, which is among the national agendas for improving the people’s quality of life. Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said through the campaign, the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (JPSM) estimated an increase of 20,000 trees (to 80,000) in preserved forest areas by 2025.
Among the masses, it’s been widely reported that many Malaysians are now growing their home gardens during the stay-at-home order.
But instead of going to a plant nursery or a forest, consider visiting a local botanical garden to satiate your lust for beautiful blooms.
Botanical gardens or botanic gardens are dedicated to the collection and cultivation of a wide range of plants. The floras are usually labelled with their botanical names, offering visitors a leisurely learning opportunity.
Botanical gardens strike the right balance between lush wilderness and urban comfort. Visitors will be able to enjoy some greenery with recreational amenities such as picnic spots, benches and stools, children’s playgrounds and museums.
We take a look at some of the stunning botanical gardens in Malaysia where you can get your green fix.
The well-landscaped surroundings make it a popular tourist attraction with constant streams of curious out-of-state visitors.
Located in a deep valley at the foot of green hills along Jalan Kebun, the garden – which is also known as Waterfall Gardens – is divided into 12 sections.
They are: the Formal Garden, Lily Pond, Aroid Walkaway, Tropical Rainforest Jungle Track, Perdana Plant House, Fern House, Fern Rockery, Cactus House, Orchidarium, Horticulture Centre, Nursery and Quarry Recreational Park.
Strolling through the garden, you will find a wide variety of indigenous and exotic plant species. One of the “stars” here is a magnificent rain tree which has been greeting visitors at the entrance of the park since the 1800s.
For hikers, there is a path from Moon Gate that leads up to Penang Hill. The Moon Gate is a heritage gateway that leads to a 19th century mansion, which has since been lying in ruins.
Guided educational tours are available at the Penang Botanic Gardens, but prior arrangements must be made. The area also had good facilities such as jungle tracks, picnic spots and beautiful gazebos.
Tucked away in a green pocket of Shah Alam, this national garden was developed to be a scientific education centre for the development of botanical, horticultural, floricultural, agriculture and other related fields.
But academia aside, there are many attractions that make this place one of the premier recreational sites in Shah Alam. When you’re here, be sure to check out the Four-Season Temperate
House.
The “house” is where one can experience weather found in countries with four seasons – spring, summer, autumn and winter. The climate of the interior will change every three months to mirror the shifting seasons.
Visitors would be able to witness fascinating plants and flowers that grow in different climates. Among the trees found here are the Japanese maple and cherry blossom.
The gardens is also where one can experience traditional Malaysian agrarian activities. Those interested in a novel way of fishing can try out the fly fishing activity at the Air Kuning Dam within the garden’s vicinity.
There’s also a padi field that gives visitors the impression that they are in the kampung.
If you’re thinking of staying the night, there are villages with chalets built to resemble houses from the different states in Malaysia.
The site where this botanical gardens sit on used to be the estate of a stately government mansion. Built as the official residence for Labuan’s first governor James Brooke (and the island’s succeeding Residents), the building also served as a guesthouse for many dignitaries to the island.
The mansion was unfortunately destroyed by the Allied Forces during the Japanese occupation. The historical site has since been rehabilitated and developed into the recreational park it is today.
Some semblance of history can still be traced at several gravestones in the area. One of them belong to a foxhound named Jim, who was the pet of one of the former Residents.
It’s been said that the ghost of a decapitated woman (said to be the wife of a former Resident) also haunts the grounds of the park at night.
But if you’re not deterred by the heebie jeebies, the Labuan Botanical Gardens offer some respite in the daytime. The beautifully landscaped area is populated by a huge variety of tropical plants and flowers.Take a stroll past hibiscus, orchids, bougainvillea, heliconia, lilies, fruit trees, ferns, palms and many kinds of herbs. Along the way, make a stop at a treehouse overlooking the lake.
The young ones might enjoy the playground and skate ramp. If you’re looking for some peace and quiet, let a book tide you over at the reading corner.
Located about 2km from the town centre, the gardens is flanked by the Labuan War Cemetery and Gurdwara Sahib Temple, both of which are also worth visiting.
If flowers aren’t enough to attract your attention, how about a fancy accolade? The Putrajaya Botanical Garden was named one of Asia’s most amazing gardens by the Royal Chelsea Foundation at the World Premier Royal Chelsea Flower Show in 2008.
Since then, it has also occasionally made its way to other “best-of” lists in the region. That popularity is not without its merits as the park has many amazing plant species from different continents in the world.
Granted, the plants are not as mature as older botanical gardens in the country such as the one in Penang. However, plant lovers would still have a lot to discover.
Located in the northern section of Putrajaya’s Precinct 1, the park is divided into eight unique botanical themes. They are Malaysian Ulam and Medicinal, Bambusetum, Zingiberales, Edible Fruit Arboretum, Lawn and Gramineae, Forest Fringe and Aboriginal Medicinal Plants, as well as Conservatory and Ecological Pond.
The vast variety of flora species here make it an ideal spot to learn about plant taxonomy. Those looking for a more leisurely activity will also have much to do here.
A notable attraction in this garden is the Moroccan Pavilion. The exquisite construction features Moorish architecture, with many opportunities for fantastic photography. Stepping in, you’d be forgiven to think that you’re in the Spanish cities of Cordoba or Granada.
Located within the Tun Abdul Razak Heritage Park, this garden provides a vast green landscaped area in the heart of a bustling city. It boasts the largest collection of flower gardens in KL.
The city’s first large-scale recreational park is popularly known as Lake Gardens, and is usually packed with people on weekends. If you prefer a much more relaxing stroll, then weekdays would be your best bet.
The Orchid Garden, which houses up to 120 species of the flower, is a must-visit for fans of the bloom.
The park also has a small island at the lake that houses a collection of cycads and succulents.
Walking around the garden, you are also likely to chance upon many heritage trees. Some of the trees here are over a hundred years old, providing a nostalgic contrast against views of the city’s skyscrapers.
Elsewhere, the Sunken Garden consists of several low shrubs and is surrounded by pergolas that support climbing plant species.
Apart from enjoying the lush greenery, the garden’s proximity to some of the popular attractions in KL makes it a popular tourist spot.
The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, the National Monument and the National Planetarium are all just a stone’s throw away.
Located within the grounds of Universiti Malaya in KL, this 80ha botanic garden has an estimated living collection of around 1,700 plant species.
Initially founded as a teaching site for the university’s biology students, the gardens has since been opened to the public beginning 1997.
Its reputation as a teaching facility aside, the Rimba Ilmu Botanical Gardens is uniquely distinctive due to its overall feel.
The area adopts a rain forest theme in an urban environment. The garden features many varieties such as citruses, ferns, palms and medicinal plants.
Once you have explored the garden, check out the Rain Forests and Our Environment permanent exhibition. There are also a herbarium and the Rare Plants and Orchid Conservatory.
At the latter venue, visitors would be able to see rare plants that are undert threat in the wild. Do note however that the conservatory can only be accessed on organised tours.
Meanwhile, the herbarium is great for taxonomy students as it houses an extensive collection of dried and preserved specimens.
If anything, the young ones would have much to learn about environment conservation in this garden. The Malaysian Nature Society frequently collaborates with the garden’s educational programmes, and provides guided nature walks and nature-related games.
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