Floriade

In recent years we've somehow managed to leave visiting the annual flower festival until the last few days so yesterday we made a last-minute decision to take advantage of the sunny weather to pay it a quick visit in the first week. I'm not sure there ever is such a thing as a quick visit, there's always something that encourages us to linger, whether it's the flowers themselves, the related displays, the craft stalls or the performers. Yesterday we ended up running out the gates as they were locking them.

We actually didn't spend most of the time looking at the flowers. Every year hubby announces that there seem to be less than the previous year and this time I was inclined to agree, though in our haste we didn't really take it all in. In previous years I've always had a favourite feature or two, a bed with a particularly appealing combination of colours or even an area of permanent plantings at the peak of their flowering. I was disappointed that we were too early for the dogwoods and the azaleas, and my initial impression of the Floriade beds was that they seemed more multicoloured than usual. We did hurry through a large section with barely a glance as we ran for the gate, so maybe my impression wasn't accurate. The display gardens were a challenge to photograph, the afternoon sun caused too much glare and the backgrounds or so-called "borrowed landscape" further complicated things. If it isn't maintenance sheds, portaloos and such, it's conspicuous blue shadecloth which presumably is hiding the aforementioned maintenance sheds and portaloos. The craft stalls were closing by the time we reached them so we only got a few tantalising glimpses and didn't have time to purchase anything.

On this visit most of our time was taken up in the Da Vinci Machines Exhibition, which was absolutely fascinating and well worth the admission price (Floriade itself is free). We also had a look at the bats which have taken up residence in the trees of Commonwealth Park and have surprised everyone by staying in Canberra over winter. So overall I'm glad we went. I'm also glad that after debating what to wear I opted for a jumper and beanie, as despite the sunshine the breeze was cool. By the time we left it was very cool which justified stopping in the city centre for hot chocolate before heading home.