Lost Newf: Floriade turns 21

I love spring in Australia, one of the best things about living in Canberra all those years, was getting down to Floriade. Many of you have been able to see my photos through the years and know what I am talking about when I say it is just such a garden spectacular and showcases the best of springtime in Australia.

Well, the best thing about going to Floriade from BATHURST is the drive at this time of year, which in NSW, Spring (aside from hayfever and pollen) means CANOLA.

As well as the beautiful drive through such wonderful canola clad hills, is the drive through quaint and wonderful towns in Country NSW, now you will get a sense of why I love living here so much.

Don’t mind the bugs you see spattered on my windscreen as I take some of these photos, that can not be helped. Grace and I set out from Bathurst at about 7am and headed southwest for the 3 hour drive to Canberra.

Clearly it was an astounding day. As we crested each rise, we found ourselves “Oh!” and “Wow!” and “Oh my GOD!” or “Look at THAT!”

It is fields and fields and miles and miles of yellow in the green fields against the blue sky- around every corner.

The drive is just spectacular and we really enjoyed it. We drove first through Cowra and then places like Boorowa on our journey to the Nation’s capital, Canberra.

We considered going on The Tablelands Way, the major gateway for a vast area of New South Wales. The drive is visually stimulating, traversing the Northern, Central and Southern tablelands with panoramic views for much of the drive. The gateway opens up direct North and South access to World Heritage Wilderness areas, National Parks, Jenolan, Wombeyan and Abercrombie Caves. However we took Lachlan Valley instead.

Spring is truly glorious. Once you get to city bursts into colour as the trees reveal their spring blooms, bright blossoms erupt and the regional vineyards awaken with the first bud bursts. You can expect moderately fresh mornings, bright sunny days and crisp clear nights.

The following is information taken from the website www.floriade.com what a great way to showcase the Capital!!

Floriade 21 — Films that shaped our nation

Join in the celebrations as Floriade turns 21 in style! See Australia’s favourite films showcased in a dazzling display of over a million blooms, highlighting the theme of Floriade 21 — Films that shaped our nation.

You’ll see an interpretation of the wedding dress from Muriel’s Wedding, Australia’s favourite foot-slapping penguin from Happy Feet; the spectacular bus from the Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Babe’s lovable sheep-herding pig and more, all emerging from the beautiful garden beds.

But the theme doesn’t stop there — we celebrate Australian film in all sorts of ways:

· Live music to remind you of your favourite soundtracks

· Kids’ activities with a film flavour

· Roaming street performers

· An onsite cinema with a range of Australian films

· Special film-themed events.

Floriade is the biggest flower festival in Australia, a spectacular celebration of spring, set in Canberra’s Commonwealth Park.

The breathtaking garden beds, made up of more than a million blooms, create giant pictures which reflect the current year’s theme.

The garden beds set the backdrop for a 30 day festival filled with vibrant entertainment, many different learning experiences, unique markets, live concerts and delicious food and drink.

Canberra’s attractions join the capital in celebrating spring by offering Floriade-themed experiences throughout the 30 day festival in the Floriade Trail.

Floriade began in 1988 as a spectacular commemoration of Australia's bicentenary and Canberra's 75th birthday. Floriade blossomed for the first time with a stunning floral display of exotic bulbs and annuals, which grow beautifully in Canberra's ideal climate. The community embraced the inaugural Floriade, making it such a success that it became an annual event, Australia's celebration of spring.

Since its beginnings in 1988 Floriade has always been held in the heart of the city in Canberra's beautiful Commonwealth Park, on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. The word Floriade comes from the Latin word 'floriat', meaning 'to design with flowers'. The name was inspired by other flower festivals held in the Netherlands, called Keukenhof and Floriade.

Films in the flower beds

Each year the Floriade garden beds are planted to bloom in a design that reflects the theme, with this year’s theme being Films that shaped our nation.

The Red Carpet

Enter Floriade as if you were attending an exclusive movie premiere, with a walk down the Red Carpet, an avenue of crimson blooms. Get swept up in the fanfare as the red carpet takes you into the centre of a giant film reel garden bed, with a spectacular view out over the park’s main vista. As you continue down the path you will see purple and white edging on the garden beds to represent the perforated edges of film strips. Enclosed within these film strips on either side of the path are garden beds representing some of the many films that shaped a nation!

Theatre Treats

Two fun-filled garden beds represent those quintessential movie snacks - popcorn and Jaffas. See yellow flowers built up to represent a mouth-watering pile of buttered popcorn, topped with a giant popcorn box. You’ll be sniffing the air for that delicious aroma of popping corn, only to breathe in the scent of over a million blooms drifting on the breeze. Nearby, you’ll see a collection of floral Jaffas, 'rolling down the aisles'. Reminisce on the good old days when a visit to the cinema was not complete without the sounds of Jaffas bouncing noisily down the timber aisles.

Crocodile Dundee

Feel the danger as the crocodile lurking in this garden bed stalks an aluminium tinnie floating on a river of flowers. The film that inspired this display, Crocodile Dundee, shot to international fame, making it a household name and heavily influencing the world’s impressions of Australia. The film tells the story of a glamorous New York reporter who travels to the wilds of the Northern Territory to interview Mick Dundee, the survivor of a recent crocodile attack. Their adventures in the outback, ensuing love affair and Mick’s subsequent visit to New York make for thrilling and often hilarious viewing.

Babe

See a comical face-off between pig and sheep in this delightful garden bed, honouring Babe’s place in the history of Australian film. Babe endeared Australian audiences with its funny and touching story about a pig trying to find his place in the world. Feeling alone and scared after arriving at his new home, Babe the pig is adopted by the farm’s family of sheep-dogs. As he grows and the reality of the chopping block looms, he decides to make himself useful and become a sheep-herding pig!

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

In this fitting homage to The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, flowers bloom extravagantly in a display of the Priscilla bus, complete with a drag queen perched on the roof and a billowing silver cape trailing behind. This film delighted Australians with its humorous depiction of the sharp contrast between the rough Australian outback and the glitz and glamour of Sydney’s drag queen scene.

Young Einstein

Young Einstein’s wild red hair and his mayhem-inducing electric guitar are on show in this garden bed, representing the film Young Einstein. This off-the-wall comedy combines the story of Albert Einstein with the science of beer bubbles, a Tasmanian apple farmer and rock and roll music with hilarious results.

Count Down

Reminiscent of the countdown a projectionist sees on a roll of film, the flowers show the numbers 3, 2, 1 trailing down the bed. This garden bed is a reflection on changing technology in the film industry and the likelihood that the projectionist’s countdown will soon become a thing of the past.

Muriel’s Wedding

You’ll imagine wedding bells are ringing when you see this special garden bed, displaying a wedding dress of cascading white flowers, standing on a carpet of red blossoms. It’s inspiration, the film Muriel’s Wedding, is a great example of the quirky Australian sense of humour, so often celebrated in Australian film.

Phar Lap

In recognition of the film, Phar Lap, this colourful garden bed shows the movement and colour of the finish line at a big horse race, as horses and jockeys jostle for position. The film tells the true and uniquely Australian story of a famous Australian racehorse named Phar Lap. The film is set during the depression when this winning horse was nationally recognised as a symbol of hope and equality.

The Story of the Kelly Gang

Ned Kelly’s famous helmet towers over the word “REWARD” in this garden bed, set against a background of blood red flowers. This garden bed acknowledges the importance of the film The Story of the Kelly Gang, arguably the world’s first feature film, released in Australia in 1906. The film tells the story of the notorious Australian outlaw Ned Kelly and his family.

The Dish

The design of a satellite dish emerges from the flowers in this tribute to the Australian film The Dish. This comedy is based on the true story of Australia’s involvement in transmitting the first television images of the first man on the moon. The collection of quirky characters and the backdrop of the dry Australian landscape give this film a uniquely Australian feel.

Happy Feet

Get your feet tapping in front of this delightful garden bed of a tap dancing penguin in the middle of Antarctica. This garden bed represents the animated film Happy Feet, a lovable and funny film about a penguin who discovers that being different doesn’t have to make him an outsider. A favourite with adults and children alike.

Behind the Scenes

Sneak behind the scenes at these three garden beds, representing the artists behind the magic we see on the big screen. See a giant tape measure twisting through a vibrant multi-coloured flower bed to represent costume and set designers. Nearby, Floriade pays tribute to film’s musical composers with a flourish of musical notes designed into the flowers. Our talented Australian writers are not forgotten with a dedicated flower bed complete with letters, feathered quill and scriptwriting in the flowers.

Storm Boy

Pelicans are a common sight around Australia’s coastline and waterways but it’s not often you see one created out of flowers. This particular pelican represents one of the central characters in the Australian film Storm Boy, Mr Percival. Based on a classic book, often studied in Australian schools, Storm Boy the film was an Australian blockbuster. Exploring the themes of indigenous and white relations, environmental issues and family, Storm Boy has become a classic in its own right.

Puberty Blues

See the quintessential aussie surfboard, with rolling waves and a rising sun at this colourful garden bed, representing the classic Australian film Puberty Blues. Puberty Blues explores Australian teenage beach culture in the late 1970s. It follows the stories of two Australian teenage girls, who live their lives according to the strange code of behaviour required of a 'surf chick'. Honest and often confronting, this film resonated with many Australians.

Shine

See a giant floral keyboard dedicated to the Australian film Shine. Shine is based on the true story of Australian pianist David Helfgott. A story of triumph through adversity, Shine shows that despite suffering a breakdown when on the brink of an amazing musical career, Helfgott eventually returns to the concert hall to popular acclaim.

Rabbit Proof Fence

This striking garden bed shows the Aboriginal flag, bordered by a rabbit proof fence, in honour of the film, Rabbit Proof Fence. This topical and important Australian film tells the true story of an Aboriginal girl and her two sisters who are removed from their family in 1931 to be trained as domestic help for white families. The girls escape and travel 1500 miles on foot, using the rabbit proof fence to guide them home.

Gallipoli

Flanking the Diggers Rest Cafe, this garden bed reflects an image of the badge worn by Australian soldiers, the Rising Sun Badge. Sand bags representing the trenches mark the entry to the garden bed and a lone pine stands in the middle of the bed as a symbol of the battle fought at Anzac Cove. This detailed garden bed pays tribute to the classic Australian film about a nation at war for the first time, Gallipoli.

Moulin Rouge

Be wowed by a cabaret dancer kicking up her knees, resplendent in a lavish costume and towering headpiece at the Moulin Rouge garden bed. Moulin Rouge the film is a tragic love story set in France in 1899 that demonstrates the creative success of Australians in the international film industry. The film was written, directed and starred in by Australians.

Strictly Ballroom

Dance your way past the Strictly Ballroom garden bed, featuring two ballroom dancers entwined on the dance floor. This garden bed recognises the film Strictly Ballroom, which captivated Australian audiences with its tale of an accomplished ballroom dancer, striking out with an amateur. The lead characters’ controversial new dance steps eliminate them from competition but still make the audience erupt into thunderous applause. Australia’s tendency to love an underdog makes this a favourite aussie film.

Premiere Night

Get excited by the swinging floodlights streaking through the night sky, set against a skyline of lit windows and neon lights in the Premiere Night garden bed. Imagine the anticipation, glitz and glamour of premiere night as you stroll past this colourful display.

Kenny

Let your imagination take hold at this garden bed, designed in various shades of blues and yellows in recognition of the Australian film about portaloos, Kenny. Kenny is a comedy shot in documentary style about a man working in the portaloo hire industry. Classic toilet humour and lots of aussie colloquialisms make this film a laugh-a-minute, while also exploring the more serious themes of the class divide and the intricacies of human relationships.

Floriade is Australia’s annual celebration of spring – a flower festival with more than a million flowers that bloom on cue for four weeks in September and October each year.

To complement the spectacular flower display, Floriade presents an exciting entertainment program with visiting and local performers, children’s activities, workshops, exhibitions, showcase gardens, food, wine and shopping.

Over 1 million bulbs and annuals are used each year, depending on the design. The bulbs and annuals are planted in autumn each year. Different flowers bloom at different times but there’s always great colour throughout the event. It is constantly changing as the different plants come into flower, when I lived in Canberra, I would try to get down a couple of times and each time it would be different!

A mix of flowers, predominantly bulbs create the kaleidoscope of colours that set the backdrop to Floriade. Some of the blooms include tulips, irises, daffodils, hyacinths, violas, chrysanthemums, ranunculas and daisies.

The garden bed design at Floriade is different every year. A theme is developed and is carried through from the shape of the garden beds to the type and colour of the flowers used to create the meticulous designs.

The design process commences 18 months out from each year. In May, the designers are briefed on the event theme to facilitate the development of draft designs.

Floriade facts & figures 2008

Bed area

· The Floriade garden beds span 10,668 square metres

Quantity of growing media

· 3,556 cubic metres of mix, which equates to 3,556 box trailers

Drainage pipe

· 5,600 lineal metres of agricultural pipe and PVC

Area of pathway

· 4550 square metres of granite pathway

Commence marking out of design

· 18 February 2008

Date first bulb planted

· 7 April 2008

Completion of planting

· 9 May 2008

Bulbs

Hyacinth	11 varieties
Tulip	75 varieties
Dutch Iris	8 varieties
Muscari	2 varieties
Scilla	1 variety
Tritelia	1 variety
Narcissus	14 varieties
Rannunculus	6 varieties

Annuals

Bellis (English Daisy)	4 varieties
Chrysanthemum paludosum	1 variety
Viola	18 varieties
Pansy	44 varieties
Violetta	5 varieties
Polyanthus	10 varieties
Poppy	4 varieties
Primula	8 varieties