Having worked in the Institute for more than a decade, Dennis Wong She-keung has endless stories to tell when he talks about the plants on campus. “The Spathodea campanulata (African tulip tree) planted at the farewell ceremony for Professor Ruth Hayhoe, the Institute’s second President, is growing gracefully at the podium of Block D…the magnificent Delonix regia (Flamboyant tree) is proudly guarding the President’s Lodge…the Michelia Alba (White jade orchid tree) next to the barbecue pits has braved numerous typhoons over the years and still towers over us all to this day...” Dennis remarks.

His most memorable experience is the “Little Gardeners’ Scheme”, a project initiated by the HKIEd HSBC Early Childhood Learning Centre.

Inspired by his mother in his own childhood, Mr Wong developed a deep bond with nature and a keen interest in gardening. The Scheme not only gave him the precious opportunity to share the joy of planting and nurturing seedlings with the children, it also earned him his nickname “Uncle Gardener” among them.