The Singapore Garden Festival (SGF) will return for its seventh edition at the Gardens by the Bay in July. And due to its success, there will be two new events which will be held separately from the main show.

The SGF, which has been held once every two years since 2006, serves as a platform where international and local designers, community gardeners and plant enthusiasts showcase their creativity through garden and floral designs.

It is organised by the National Parks Board (NParks) and Gardens by the Bay.

Speaking to The Sunday Times at the launch of ticket sales yesterday, Mr Dennis Lim, NParks' director of festival, events and exhibitions, said the new events are the SGF Orchid Show and the SGF Horticulture Show.

The orchid show on April 21-29 is organised in partnership with the Orchid Society of South East Asia. It will be at the National Orchid Garden and other parts of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

There will be orchid landscape displays and award-winning orchid plants. Visitors can also attend talks and join guided tours.

The horticulture show will be held next year at Jurong Lake Gardens. This nine-day event will give local industry partners and students an opportunity to showcase their expertise in areas such as landscape design and horticulture. The specific dates will be made known later.

Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee said with this expanded format, there will be even more opportunities for the public to appreciate tropical horticulture and experience the wonders of plants through creative floral displays.

"We hope that this will inspire more individuals and organisations to join us in co-creating our biophilic City in a Garden," said Mr Lee, who is also Second Minister for National Development.

More than 400,000 visitors are expected when the SGF main show opens from July 21 to Aug 3.

The interest in SGF comes amid a growing interest in gardening. For instance, according to NParks, there are over 1,300 community garden groups across Singapore.

The launch of ticket sales yesterday featured the world's largest flower basket at Takashimaya Square in Ngee Ann City.

Created with over 27,000 flowers, it measures 10m long, 1.2m tall and 6m wide.

The display, made by more than 150 people in Singapore, set a new Guinness World Record.

Senior manager Mark Choo of the National Orchid Garden said the team took 12 days to complete the display. "The theme is tropical orchids and we had to ensure that the flowers chosen can withstand an indoor environment."