Floriade 2010

Floriade is held in Canberra every year for 4 weeks from the middle of September through to the middle of October.
I hadn't realised until this morning that it would end on Sunday so we had to don our walking shoes and head off for a look before it was too late.
The weather has been magnificent this year with plenty of rain in August and the flowers have shown how much they have appreciated it and the sun has been fantastic for most of the 4 weeks.
I was surprise that the flower beds were still in full bloom and the display of colour was glorious.
This bed had a border of black Pansies which had black Tulips behind it--so striking-----------------






There was even a display of Bluebells which looked like an English countryside scene----------

Everywhere you turned there was colour-----------------

Red Tulips------------------

This flower bed went as far as the eye could see--------------------

I love the reflections in the lake--------------------

Here is one with a flower bed in the foreground-------------

A gnome in the Tulips-----------------

Every year they sell these gnomes and people can sit down and paint them and they are then displayed around the trees in a small section of the park.

When the festival is over you can then go back and collect your gnome.

This section was painted by children under 6 years old.

The money that is raised goes to a local charity---------------

For the last few years there has been a sand castle that has been built in the shape of one of the buildings in Canberra.

Last year I think it was the War Memorial and this years one is of the Old Parliament House.

The work that has gone into building this and maintaining it for a month is incredible.





I love Floriade especially when the weather is perfect.

Floriade 2007

Yesterday (Sunday)we went to Floriade ---which is an annual festival held in Canberra for 4 weeks in September /October.
We almost forgot to go because we have been away and I have been so busy and yesterday was the last day.
Commonwealth Park is a mass of colour at this time of the year (Spring in Australia) and the flower beds are arranged sometimes by colours and sometimes by flower varieties.
I like taking photos of the flower beds because it gives me plenty of inspiration for my stitching.

The first photo is of one of the flower beds.


The next photo shows 3 or 4 beds leading up to the rear of the amphi-thearte where they hold live entertainment in the summertime ----------

This is one of the beds besides the lake----

And here is another view----

We went at 9am because I wanted to take photos without hordes of people getting in front of me.
Floriade is an important event in Canberra and brings a lot of visitors to our beautiful city not only from other states in Australia but also from overseas countries as well.

The Lake View

Floriade is held in Commonwealth Park which is built around a section of a man made lake.
It is the most picturesque setting and there are ducks swimming around and all the children love to feed them bread.

They also plant the flower beds around the edge of the lake.

And this gentleman was sitting on the edge of the lake painting a picture of the lake --he was oblivious of the people around him watching and taking photos.

Sand Castles

Then there were these sandcastles which were truly amazing.
There was more than 20 tonnes of sand in the Old Parliament house one and 60 tonnes of sand in the War Memorial one.
After they were built they were sprayed with a bonding glue to prevent them falling to pieces if it rained.
Each year there is a theme associated with Floriade and this year it was Great Aussie Icons and what is more of an Australian icon than both the War Memorial and the Old Parliament House buildings--both situated in Canberra.
The first photo is of the War Memorial Sandcastle------



And the second one is Old Parliament House

How clever is this?