Floriade 2011

Floriade is Canberra's spring flower festival and is held for four weeks each year, starting  in mid September.  It is held close to the centre of Canberra by Lake Burley Griffin, and draws in big, big crowds.  Entry is free, though there is plenty to spend money on inside the festival.

The smaller portion and I went in yesterday as we do at least once every year.  This year I was disappointed.  It is very, very beautiful as mass plantings in a lovely spot cannot fail to be.  Just the same, I thought it was lacking in imagination, and didn't make nearly enough use of the water.  In one (amazing) year, Chihuly glass sculptures floated on the pond, surrounded by barges of flowers.  In other years plantings have gone right up to the waters' edge and were reflected in it.

We started a little way off, wandering through parkland.  I love this mural.  I haven't noticed it before, so either I am supremely unobservant (quite possible) or it is relatively new.

As we got closer, the first of the birds appeared.

I hadn't realised how big swan's nests are (clicking on this or any other photo should make them bigger). I appreciate a bit of quirkiness, and had to stop off and take photos of these birds too.  They are a permanent installation, but I take at least one photo of them every year.

Then into Floriade itself.

And a bit more quirkiness.

And some more flowers.   Lots more flowers.  Almost all tulips this year.  Whatever daffodils there were are gone (after the first week) as are most of the hyacinths.  There are still some dutch iris to come out.  There is usually a small section devoted to Australian native plants, but I missed it this year.  Tulips, tulips everywhere - with some annuals used as under plantings.  So, into the blaze of colours.

And a Ferris Wheel.  Not just a sop for bored children.  There is a lot of Floriade that cannot be appreciated without a high vantage point.  In years gone by ramps were built at strategic points.  For the last four or five years, the ramps have been phased out, and replaced by the Ferris Wheel, which gives a perspective you can no longer get any other way.  And of course the Ferris Wheel is not free.

From ground level these patterns were simply not evident.  There are many, many shops at Floriade too.  Selling everything from garden tools to pearl jewellery.  Multiple food outlets too.  After our ride on the Ferris Wheel we headed out, following these swans.  Literally, as the gate keeper had to open the gates wider for them.

And a slow amble along the edge of the lake, back to where we had left the car.  Was it beautiful?  Oh yes.  Was I disappointed?  Again, yes.  Will I go back again this season?   Probably not.  Will I be back next year?  Of course.