Floriade 2016

Floriade is my city's celebration of Spring.  It runs for thirty days, starting in mid September, and is an explosion of colour and scent.  It is now in its twenty-nineth year.

It is held in the centre of the city, in Commonwealth Park by the lake.  Last year we were told that changes were required and that it might be held in three or four venues.  This year we returned to the usual location, but the display was considerably curtailed.  Not nearly as many flower beds, not nearly as many flowers and much less fun and whimsy too.  Sigh.  We were disappointed.  Just the same it is annual pilgrimage for us.  I expect we will be back next year too.

The festival is free to enter, though there are lots and lots and lots of ways to spend money while you are there.  Restaurants, cafes, stalls selling jewellery, chutneys, nuts, kites, fudge, soap, pearls, silk...  There are even some which sell things for the garden.  There is music, and other entertainment.  There are displays by florists and cooks.  Perhaps not something for everyone, but certainly something for a lot of people.

It is early in the season, and quite a lot of blooms are not out yet.  More coming each day though.

Even the walk to Floriade from our habitual parking spot is pretty.  In my usual restrained fashion rather a lot of photos follow...  (I am saving quirky bits for a Sunday Selections post).

A watch cormorant (watching all those entering).

 

Most of Floriade is wheel chair accessible.  Wide and level pathways.  In years gone by, there were ramps so that you could view the garden display from elevated positions.  That is gone.  The Ferris Wheel is the only option now (and of course it isn't free).

 We did go up on the Ferris Wheel.  Another disappointment.  The patterns in the gardens were much less innovative and distinct that they have been in other years, and there were less of them.

One more from the Ferris Wheel - not of Floriade, but of the surrounding countryside.  I do live in a pretty city.

Just a few more photos now.

On the way out we had not only a watch cormorant, but a watch pelican.

As is usual, I picked up some Floriade fridge magnets while we were there.  I am happy to post them to anyone who would like one (while stocks last).  If you would like one, let me know in the comments or send me an email.  They are light, so I will happily post them world-wide.

It is true that this year's display didn't match earlier years.  It is also true we were disappointed.  Just the same, there was beauty there.  For which we are grateful.  In the next ten days or so we are going to be busy.  A visit to Tulip Tops (another floral extravaganza), an exhibition at the National Museum (which may or may not allow photos) and an early morning bird watching expedition to the Botanic Gardens.