Nature’s Colony

Established in 1859, Singapores Botanic Gardens has been importantas a park for Singaporeans and visitors, a scientific institution, and asan economic testing ground and launchpad for tropical plantationagriculture around the world.

Initially conceived to exploit nature for the benefit of empire, theGardens were part of a symbolic struggle by administrators, scientists,and gardeners to assert dominance within Southeast Asias tropicallandscape, reflecting shifting understandings of power, science andnature among local administrators and distant mentors in Britain. Withthe independence of Singapore, the Gardens has had to find a newrole, first in the greening of post-independence Singapore, and nowas Singapore’s first World Heritage Site.

Setting the Singapore gardens alongside the Royal Botanic Gardens,Kew and botanic gardens in India, Ceylon, Mauritius and the WestIndies, this book tells the story of natures colony a place whereplants were collected, classified and cultivated to change ourunderstanding of the region and world.

Natures Colonyis a fascinating exploration of Singapores long-established botanical garden. For visitors since colonial times, the Garden has been a tranquil window into Southeast Asias biodiversity. The book conjures up both the changing romantic visions and the scientific imperatives that inspired the Gardens curators. The book also takes us behind the fringe of leaves into scientific politics and the politics of Singapore society during its many transformations. Genially written and rich in anecdote, this book will enchant both historians and general readers. –Robert Cribb,Professor of Asian History, School of Culture History and Language, Australian National University

Timothy P. Barnardis associate professor in the Department of History at the National University of Singapore. He is the editor ofNature Contained: Environmental Histories of SingaporeandContesting Malayness: Malay Identity Across Boundaries, also published by NUS Press.