Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Tuesday 27 September 2011

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.

37 comments:

  1. thanks for sharing! i adore local and regional festivals - and one devoted to flowers in the spring? magic!

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  2. i had tentative plans to go tomorrow but i've come down with a stinking cold and the thought of six hours driving there and back is all a bit much. anyhow, i'm kind of pleased you were disappointed :)
    those tulips really are fantastic tho

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  3. daisyfae: I agree with you - local festivals are great.

    kylie: It was/is beautiful. I just think they could do so much more to make the best use of the sight. And if you get over your cold and do come up - stop in at Tulip Tops on the way there or back. Smaller, not free, but magic. We plan to go next week. I hope the stinking cold leaves you. Fast.

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  4. It is a telling reminder of how into the fall season we have come (here in the Northern Hemisphere) when the daffodils and hyacinth are already gone Down Under. Love the tulips, though. Not having anything to compare it to, I find it to be very beautiful! Thanks for taking me along! :-)

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  5. I think it looks beautiful! I love the views from the ferris wheel.

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  6. I must admit to loving me some tulips in any colour; definitely my favourite flower. Your photos are lovely and swans add something to the event just by being there, don't they?

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  7. great photos, that last one of the two black swans is breathtaking!

    Yeah, you sound slightly underwhelmed. Hope they try harder next year for something more interesting. I haven't been in years and years myself. I used to go to canberra all the time for work, but I am still on mat leave that I keep extending just to avoid the forced trips (and other such things).

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  8. I love the Swan but I also love the flowers, ferris wheel...It is beautiful

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  9. This still looks like a really lovely event, even if it did not live up to past years. Arranging flowers or creating large-scale tableaux can be a real artform in the right hands. Better luck next time!

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  10. It's still strange for me to contemplate you are in Spring mode there. I am still gathering late harvest from my garden, and feel really appreciative that there are still lots of flowers,too. I love the en masse plantings you photographed. But looking over the pics, I agree... there seems to be lacking one BIG POW! moment to it all.

    Here, in the Eastern States, we kick off pre-Spring with the Philadelphia Flower Show. I got some wonderful pics last year, a French Theme, realy creative, innovative, but horribly crowded.

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  11. Bonza photos. My favourite photo is the one of the black swans walking along without a care in the world which is how it should be :-).

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  12. A wonderful break from dealing with fall here!
    Now I'm going to plant some tulips you are inspirational thank's

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  13. Beautiful photos, Sue. I love the swans, especially, and the swan's nest. Thank you, I felt as though I were there.

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  14. Thank you one and all.

    DJan: It is lovely, I just think it could be better.

    Karen: The view from the ferris wheel were great.

    Kath: The swans (and particularly that nest) were a highlight.

    Gemma: I am not saying that it wasn't worth coming. How much longer can you extend your mat leave?

    Kim @ Stuff: It is beautiful. I am feeling a little ashamed.

    Two Tigers: It would be a really difficult job. I just have high expectations.

    Spectra: You are right. Lovely as it is there is something missing.

    Windsmoke: Cyclists had to go around them too which made me chuckle.

    Mary K Mennenga: Yes, there should be more tulips in this world. Plant lots.

    Christina Houen: Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed the walk.

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  15. Love the colors! But I think I like the swans best of all. And, not caring much for heights myself, I enjoy seeing other people on a Ferris wheel. ;-)

    I think I know what you mean about it being disappointing, even as it was lovely. When something has been spectacular in the past, it's so hard for it to ever live up to that again. Alas.

    But I still really dig your black swans...

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  16. Paper Chipmunk: Two minds with but a single thought. The swans, and in particular the swan's nest were real highlights for me. Thanks for taking time out from your very busy days at the moment to come and visit here. Much appreciated.

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  17. Thanks for the tour. It beats my back yard and the cloudy weather. From the pictures, I can almost smell the air.

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  18. barbfroman: It has been grey, chilly and raining here every day since we went. We were very lucky. And yes, in the areas where there were still a few hyacinths it smelt delicious.

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  19. From where I'm sitting - there is nothing disappointing. I see wonderful vibrant shots! Lovely.

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  20. glorious blooms
    nice day!


    Warm Aloha from Waikiki;

    Comfort Spiral


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  21. I'll have to give the big F a miss this year, even after last year's intoxicating visit: at which I was the lucky winner of a MASSIVE tropical floral arrangement, won at the Interflora tent. Great swan photos.

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  22. ladyfi: It was and is beautiful, but there have been years when it has been take your breath away stunning. I guess I am just getting greedy.

    Cloudia: Thanks - it has been grey, gloomy and often raining since. We picked the right day (though rain is more than welcome).

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  23. Mitzi: For some reason best known to itself blogger decided your comment was spam! How lucky to win one of those floral arrangements - they are often spectacular - but would be hard to transport home.

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  24. I take it Elephant's Child your other name is Sue. At least that''s how Christina addresses you. And so, if it's okay, I too will call you, Sue.

    I'm stunned after scrolling dow through all your wonderful photos to imagine that you could be disappointed in this exhibition, but as you say you've been before, and maybe it was better. But to me it's just wonderful. It reminds me of a larger version of the Tesselaar's tulip farm here near Healesvile in Victoria and of the Keukenhof in Holland .

    Thanks, Sue.

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  25. Now that it's cold and gray here, and all the flowers have gone, your photos seem especially lovely.

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  26. Elisabeth: Welcome. Yes, it has been better (or I have liked it more) in other years. It is lovely nonetheless. Perhaps I am expecting too much.

    Snowbrush: Thank you. Our winters are cool, but not particularly grey but a splash (a big splash) of colour is still welcome.

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  27. Nice. I love the birds on stilts, brilliant. My favourite of the flowers is the mixed purple, red gold one, it looks less organised which I prefer too. I can't go on Ferris wheels, they scare the hell out of me. I have an issue with heights. I get wobbly on the second step of the small stepladders we have. The second step. What a woos. I miss out on views like these so it's always nice to see them.

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  28. All Consuming: I also love those birds. They are a permanent fixture and have escaped attention from vandals too. It was a very baby Ferris Wheel, but lots of people have height issues and I think it is a mistake to create something that people can only view through fear. The ramps were a much better option I think. Small, gentle gradient with hand rails. So speaks the grumpy old woman.

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  29. A forklift might have been a good idea - people in wheelchairs would then be able to rise above the colour and loveliness. after the plane hitting the ferris wheel this week, anybody would hesitate to get on one. I never have.
    Thanks El Chi for sharing the wonder.

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  30. Ann O'D: Another reason for regretting the passing of the ramps.

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  31. What a gorgeous event! Now I wish I could have seen photos of the other years if they were even better!

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  32. Megan: Welcome. If you come back in a day or two I will put up a post about a much more better Spring flower celebration.

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  33. Canberra in the spring can be very pretty... perhaps this year was an off year...? Thankyou for the photographs...

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  34. Christine: Canberra in spring time is indeed pretty. And so was Floriade. I just felt it could have been better.

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  35. I'm just amazed by these pics. They're beautiful!
    Your life is so much more interesting than mine. I need to friggen get out more. And apparently move to the land of oz. We don't have anything like that around here.

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  36. Beautiful flowers and I love to see the Black Swans. When I have had the rare opportunity to see them, I was amazed at those beautiful white tail feathers underneath the black ones. I have always thought swans a very special bird and the black ones are magical.

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  37. Lou: I just left a message at your place, bitching about no comments. I'm sorry. Please ignore me. And no, most of the time my life is dull.

    Denise: The swans were the highlight for me. They are just glorious.

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