Life Begins At.....
Issue link: http://ebook.aprs.com.au/i/32324
SpringBreak Canberra – and the spectacular Floriade Festival – are the perfect start to spring, but as Steve Freeth finds out, there’s also vineyards, great food and beautiful scenery to discover just across the NSW border. Floriade, not just a flower festival Canberra’s yearly Floriade may have ancient Latin roots – the word ‘Floriat’ means ‘to design with flowers’ – but this modern, home grown event has become one of Australia’s most imaginative and popular festivals. Five hectares of flowers in full bloom is, of course, a pretty compelling reason to make the trip each spring, and nearly 500,000 people did just that last year, but the Floriade Festival has become much, much more as the entertainment, displays and exhibitions have become just as famous as the flower beds. And 2011 promises to be better than ever. Not only is Floriade turning 23 this year – it started life as a celebration for the Bicentenary and Canberra’s 75th birthday in 1988 – but it’s being called “A Feast For The Senses”. It’s a theme you can expect the teams of gardeners to put to stunning effect as they transform over a million bulbs and annuals, including around 90 different types of tulips, into coordinated, dazzling displays for one whole month between September 17 and October 16. The same sort of artistry and skill that amazed audiences last year when garden beds and floral sculptures were re- invented as dancing ballerinas, flying carpets, Lollypop Land or a Butterfly Playground, to name just some of the sights that were on offer. If Floriade has already earned a huge reputation as the southern hemisphere’s largest annual flower extravaganza – often called ‘Australia’s Celebration of Spring’ – it’s not the only reason all those visitors from here and overseas keep coming. Set in beautiful Commonwealth Park, and with Lake Burley Griffin in central Canberra as a glittering backdrop, Floriade has blossomed in to a Festival that has something for everyone. During the daytime as you stroll the garden paths you’ll also find concerts, exhibitions, demonstrations and a full range of activities for all ages, including opportunities to learn first-hand from experts like floral designers, landscapers and artists. Floriade doesn’t shut down with the sun either and NightFest, now in its fourth year, has become a real crowd pleaser. As banks of specially designed, themed lights flicker on at dusk, the Floriade Festival grounds transform into a magical wonderland filled with music, shows, outdoor cinema and places to eat, down a cocktail or shop – and that huge Ferris Wheel for some of the best views of Canberra you’ll ever get – that always guarantees an exhilarating end to the day. (Continued on page 24) THE RETIREE WINTER 21