Can’t go to Kyoto? Catch S’pore’s sakura in places such as Kembangan instead
SINGAPORE: Missing out on the sakura season in Japan? Fret not, you can still enjoy the sight of blooming pink flowers in abundance, without leaving the country.

Trumpet Trees, which are peppered across the island, are starting to flower in areas like Kembangan, Old Holland Road, Singapore River and Whampoa Market.

The flowering of these 15,000 trees is triggered by a dry spell, usually in April and August, according to information on the NParks website.

Singapore experienced thundery showers in the first half of March, with the Meteorological Service Singapore forecasting warm and dry weather for the rest of the month.

Trumpet Trees, which can grow up to 35m tall, have broad, conical and shady crowns. Their trumpet-shaped flowers come in pink or white.

Blooms last several days before they start to wilt. The fruits are elongated pods which, when split open, release winged seeds. The winged seeds are dispersed by wind, spinning and falling in a twirling motion as they fall to the ground.

The Trumpet Tree is native to tropical America, but was introduced here between 1983 and 1985, along with more than 300 species of plants to beautify Singapore’s roads and parks. - The Straits Times/ANN
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SINGAPORE: Missing out on the sakura season in Japan? Fret not, you can still enjoy the sight of blooming pink flowers in abundance, without leaving the country.