Floriade 2017

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 thirtieth year.

It is held in the centre of the city, in Commonwealth Park by the lake.  A few years ago we were told that changes were required and that it might be held in three or four venues.  The first year after that announcement Floriade 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.  We were disappointed.    This year it is still in Commonwealth Park and we were not expecting great things.  We were wrong.  There was a concurrent sculpture exhibition which was a lot of fun, and by our second visit the garden beds were ablaze.

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.

Over the last few posts I have showed you a lot of the sculptures and this post I am going to (largely) devote to the explosion of scent and colour which greeted us on our second trip.

Settle down with your beverage of choice (and perhaps sunglasses).  Many, many photos follow.

These naturalised bluebells were just outside the Floriade gates.

Loved the blooming hearts.

The green in the flowerbed above was parsley - doing much better than it does at our house.

If you embiggen you may be able to see bats (flying foxes) in the photo above.  They showed no signs of being disturbed by the festivities below.

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I have a soft spot for the Dusky Moorhens.  Another permanent resident who coped very well with the crowds.

The final photos were from the walk back to the car.  Commonwealth Park is a lovely haven so close to the city centre.

We didn't spend a lot at Floriade.  A ride on the Ferris wheel - and some fridge magnets.  I am happy to send the fridge magnets world wide (while they last) to anyone who would like one.  Please let me know in the comments, and give me your postal address (either in the comments or via email).

For the moment at least Floriade will continue to be an annual pilgrimmage.  Shortly I will post about our trip to Tulip Top Gardens - which I think is even better.