Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Friday 23 September 2016

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. 


104 comments:

  1. Beautiful colours...especially the tulips and I really like the wheelbarrows.

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    1. only slightly confused: I liked the wheelbarrows too.

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  2. Today is the first day of fall here in the states so these photos are a wonderful sight. I so wish we had a festival like this close to where I live. Such awesome photos, thanks for sharing.

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    1. Mason Canyon: We are very lucky. We have two flower festivals in close proximity. I hope (weather permitting) to get to the second one on Monday.

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  3. That red & yellow flower (6th photo) is GORGEOUS!!

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    1. fishducky: A double tulip. It is lovely isn't it? I would love to see the effect of a mass planting...

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  4. Gorgeous tulips. Spring seems so long ago to us. It's when I did my Hever and Guildford trips. I took spring flower pics then. Now I'll do scarf pics. Enjoy spring.

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    1. Anna of the Mutton Years: Scarf pics have charm too. And I am enjoying Spring.

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  5. What an extravaganza!. The bridge cover appears to be knitted.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: Somewhere between knitting, crochet and macame. Intriguing though.

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  6. Loving that archway... very creative. Wonderful to see all the flowers too. Floriade is an event I have always wanted to visit.

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    1. CountryMum: If/when you do get up here for Floriade, stop in to see Tulip Tops as well. I think it is better than Floriade - and runs at the same time.

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  7. Florinade again! How fast time flies tsk. Great pictures dearie, and you're braver than I am going up any big wheel, I'd be holding on for dear life!

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    1. All Consuming: The years are whizzing past aren't they? Height is not a problem for me. Enclosed spaces on the other hand...

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  8. Wow, what a way for spring to celebrate! :-)

    Greetings from London.

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    1. A Cuban in London: I do love celebrating the seasons - and being joined by the whole city.

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  9. Enjoy it all! I look forward to more photos
    xo

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    1. kylie: There will be more photos. Probably many more photos.

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  10. Sorry it was a bit of a bummer this year.
    Those are some great shots from the Ferris Wheel though.

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: The Ferris Wheel perspective is a good one isn't it? I am sorry for those who cannot experience it.

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  11. It still looks impressive and great to see photos. I would guess the budget has been cut. If word is spread that it is not so good this year, visitors to the ACT for the event may well drop, especially next year.

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    1. Andrew: I don't think it is a budget cut so much as some internal politics at play. Time will tell. It does bring a lot of visitors to my much maligned city so I doubt that they will tinker too much (I hope not anyway).

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  12. So beautiful. Your spring colour holds such promise! Enjoy all your expeditions for the next ten days!

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    1. Marie Smith: Spring is such a vibrant time of the year. Excursions will be enjoyed. To the max.

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  13. I'm sorry you were disappointed, but there were still some beautiful pictures to show us! I would have thought your spring would be further advanced than ours, but it looks to be about the same. You have made me decide to drive up to Auckland in the next couple of weeks to visit the Botanical Gardens there. Thank you!

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    1. Alexia: Photos from your Botanical Gardens visit would be lovely. She says subtly. I am simultaneously disappointed and well aware that there was still plenty of beauty.

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  14. The tulips are gorgeous! I get to see a few patches of petunias and sunflowers for two months in a year :) So your pics are like a bonanza. When all the tulips finally bloom, that's walk is going to be dazzling.

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    1. Nilanjana Bose: The tulips (and the hyacinths, poppies, daffodils and bellis perennis) are an annual treat. And there will be many, many more spring garden photos from here.

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  15. Isn't it sad that funding cuts (I presume) has caused Floriade to be scaled back. Surely it would be part of their vision to want to be "bigger and better" in some form each year. I hope after 29 years it doesn't slowly die. My sister lives in Toowoomba and they have the Carnival of Flowers each year. I couldn't imagine either city not having their celebration. As for the removal of wheelchair access ~ there must be a story to that ~ safety perhaps? Safety would be the only thing that would trump disability access in this day and age.

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    1. carol in cairns: The ramps have been gone for a few years now. They took up a lot of space, which may have been part of the reason. Safety perhaps?

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  16. The arch appears to be made of plastic shopping bags, yes?If so, I hope they remove it before it breaks up into little bird-choking pieces.
    Proper little kill-joy, aren't I?

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    1. dinahmow: The arch is made of an assortment of things. String, twine, and probably plastic shopping bags. It will be up for a month and will come down. And hopefully won't attract birds to pull it apart, ingest its pieces.

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  17. This looks like beautiful fun! Interesting name, Floriade. I love the blue wheelbarrows!!!!

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    1. Bookie: The wheelbarrows are fun aren't they? Some are full of tulips, some hyacinths and a few had vegetables and/or herbs in them.

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  18. SO beautiful and serene. I live in Floriday and haven't seen any attractions that called for an active camera, so I let my battery die of loneliness.

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    1. lotta joy: I spend a lot of time with my camera. It is still smarter than I am though.

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  19. Cormorants and a pelican AND tulips in one post-it feels like your pictures were customized to my likings somehow! Very cool mural and artsy arch. Wish I could've ridden the ferris wheel with you, that looks fun :o)

    Let me know if there happen to be any magnets left, I be honored to receive one!

    Happy Spring/Happy Fall ;o) <3

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    1. HBF: You are the first who has expressed the remotest interest in a magnet, so you most certainly can have one. I have sent you an email and will post it/them out towards the end of next week.

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    2. Wunderbar! Thanks in advance!

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  20. One year I will get down to see it, I do like a good flower show.
    Merle,,,,,,,,,,

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    1. Merlesworld: Let me know when you are coming. And you will have to do Tulip Tops as well (which you would pass coming into Canberra).

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  21. These were great picture,
    I really like your final thoughts:
    "Just the same, there was beauty there. For which we are grateful."

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    1. Martin Kloess: And we are grateful. Very, very grateful.

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  22. What a lovely celebration! Love that carpet of tulips.

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    1. Lady Fi: I really enjoying celebrating spring, surrounded by beauty - and happy people.

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  23. What gorgeous pictures! I loved all of them. I also would have loved to go up in that ferris wheel to have a bird's-eye view. But your photos are the next best thing.

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    1. jenny_o: Commonwealth Park (where Floriade is held) is always beautiful, but the spring flowers add some magic.

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  24. Hi EC - it looks wonderful, though you have those comparisons with previous year's plantings. These beds will fill out as Spring gets to grip ... but gorgeous photos ... thanks - the Ferris Wheel trip was good for us! Lovely views ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: Thank you. I am becoming increasingly ashamed of my pickiness. I did love it, but I also made comparisons.

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  25. Me, me! Pick me!
    Ha Ha.
    I would love another magnet to put beside the others :)
    I can see why you were disappointed with the view from the Ferris Wheel, I remember previous years when the display patterns were more, and more beautiful.
    I quite like that netting woven with all the colours.
    Surely that white dahlia looking flower isn't a tulip?
    The tulips are as gorgeous as always, even if there aren't as many.

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    1. River: I am happy to add to your collection. The white flower is a bellis, which my mother always called an English daisy. They also come in a soft and a very deep pink.

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    2. Now I remember them, I've only seen pink ones.

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  26. P.S. I'd be tempted to take that herb wheelbarrow and just wheel it away to my home :)

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    1. River: I could happily have made home for one or two of the wheelbarrows too. They had one with tomatoes already on the vine as well.

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  27. anything related to flowers is right up my alley, the shots from the ferris wheel are amazing, is that first flower a canna lily ?

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    1. Linda Starr: The first flower is, believe it or not, a tulip. A double tulip, I think from the parrot family.

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  28. The rites of spring! What right has it to arrive so soon...so quickly? :)

    Great pics, EC. :)

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    1. Lee: Spring is ok. It is her big and ugly sister Summer who is scaring me.

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  29. I would love a fridge magnet! (If you still have one left.) I'll email my address.

    Love that woven archway - they time it must have taken to do that! A lovely walk.

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    1. Lynn: I will be very happy to send you a magnet. The archway is a new addition this year. And yes, it must have taken time.

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  30. Great pics ;) A place full of beauty ;)

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    1. Marco Silva: Thank you. It is a lovely park - all year round.

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  31. I remember last years pics from the ferris wheel and they were prettier, but, as you say, it's still early yet and it's still pretty. I do love a garden *sigh*

    We have cormorants here, too :)

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    1. mshatch: We love the gardens too. And the cormorants. And pelicans.

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  32. Those photos are lovely as usual. If this year was a "down" year, I can't imagine how beautiful it is when it is at its best. And yes, you do live in a very pretty city!

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    1. Anne in the kitchen: I hope to be able to show you an even more spectacular flower festival some time next week. This is a lovely time of year.

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  33. After reading all the comments, there's hardly anything new left to say, so I'll just say "ditto" -- I wonder if funds have been cut back as to the reason why the display is not as abundant. Beautiful in any event, and if I didn't have anything to compare it to, I wouldn't know. Thanks for sharing this year's event with me. :-)

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    1. DJan: I hope it wasn't a funding cut, but suspect it was. And yes, it is beautiful.

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  34. Replies
    1. Author R. Mac Wheeler: I am glad. You so often take us on lovely wanders.

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  35. I loved trekking through the Floriade with you and the significant other. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

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    1. Sandra Cox: It is beautiful. Even diminished it is beautiful.

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  36. Wow. And free to enter. Very cool.

    Thanks!

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    1. The Happy Whisk: They charged entry for a year or two. I am very glad they changed their minds. There are more than enough ways to spend money there.

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  37. The festival sounds like so much fun! And the pictures are beautiful!

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    1. Kelly Hashway/Ashelyn Drake: Welcome and thank you. It is an annual treat. And some years we go more than once.

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  38. The organizers of this festival have it all wrong! What we need in this world is MORE beautiful flowers and whimsy, not LESS. Hopefully, enough people will grumble about its downsizing this year to make it become bigger and better than ever next year. At any rate, it's still beautiful, and a wonderful way to spend a spring day. Few things are more uplifting than masses of brilliantly-colored tulips and daffodils. (Except for maybe that Ferris wheel... it lifted you up pretty well, too...)

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    1. Susan: There is always room in my world for quirkiness and whimsy too. And colour. Fingers and toes crossed.

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  39. Well, there's just nothing prettier than flower festivals and I absolutely love that first wheelbarrow. Such a lovely selection of flora.

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    1. Kathleen Valentine: A celebration of spring is a delightful idea isn't it? While on a world wide basis our winters are mild, we are one of Oz's colder cities, and the urge to get into the sun again is strong.

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  40. You always capture beautiful and inspiring flora. And I always filled with awe.

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  41. You KNOW that I would love a magnet! Please, please, please!

    I thought the black swans together was a weird spider type creature! hahahhahha!

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    1. Birdie: Of course you can have one. You will have to let me know when you have enough. I had to go back and look at the swan again - you have a point.

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  42. The 6th shot of the Tulips is a stunner but really all the Tulips are lovely as are the Pelican adn Corormant in the last shots with their reflections.

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    1. Margaret Adamson: Thank you. I do love the birds on the lake. And the tulips.

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  43. It looked bland compared to other years you've shown photos. But one must always go, to see. And I like to see this event in your blog each year.

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    1. Strayer: Bland is a good description. Not sorry we went though. At all.

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  44. Wonderful photos. It's always lovely to see the beautiful park full of spring flowers.
    Hugs

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    1. orvokki: Thank you. You may be sorry you said that - there will be lots and lots of spring flower shots over the coming weeks. And hugs to you too.

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  45. I'm in love your park, the Black Swan, one of my favourites.

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    1. Bob Bushell: They often nest there too. Which is lovely.

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  46. I love it when there is no entrance fee and you can walk around, enjoy the sights and sounds and then spend money only on what you choose.

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    1. Granny Annie: And, where Floriade is concerned, enjoy the scents too. Walking past beds of hyacinths was bliss.

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  47. How sad that they've whittled it down and become pedestrian in their design. Is it a new coordinator/committee running it? Although disappointing when comparing it to past years, you do have an abundance of natural beauty surrounding you. Even the walk from the car park is gorgeous!

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    1. River Fairchild: You will not be surprised to hear that we reject the main carpark and walk from another. The main one is (perhaps) a little closer, but involves crossing the highway and has very little beauty. And it brings you into Floriade at the shopping area.

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  48. Your lovely pictures and the thought that where you are it's spring makes me want to enjoy the autumn colors and then head on over to where you are and avoid winter entirely.

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    1. Rasma Raisters: Spring is lovely. Really lovely. I prefer winter to summer though.

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  49. Sorry it wasn't as spectacular as years past- but it was beautiful for me looking at the celebration from my house. I love the idea of the celebration and the pictures you shared are lovely. I hope next year will be even better. :)
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~ Jess: I am hopeful next year will be a return to the glory days as well. Today we are heading off to another flower festival. I have high hopes.

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  50. Thanks for sharing your photos, the statue of the man does look like it will topple over. Your spring is blooming in beautiful flowers and our autumn is just starting with changing leaves and crisper air.

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    1. Truedessa: Two of my favourite seasons - which the blogosphere allows us to enjoy simultaneously.

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