15 September 2007

Floriade 2007 Opens

| Kramer
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Floriade 2007 officially opened today in Commonwealth Park. Apparently it is now the biggest flower show in the southern hemisphere. I took the little Kramers out for walk through Floriade this morning, and it looked like most of Canberra had also turned up for a look.

Sure the flowers were good, even though there were a few patches yet to bloom, but I kinda feel like if you’ve seen one flower you’ve seen them all (apologies to my dad who is a very very keen gardener). So I really go to Floriade to see what else is going on there. The highlight for my kids was the 3 guys dressed as kangaroos complete with pogo stilts – even I thought they were cool and would have liked a go on the pogo stilts. There was the obligatory (for the last few years) xeriscape garden, which seemed to be getting more attention than previous years. My personal favourite were the sand sculpters who were recreating some of Canberra’s icons – a pair was sculpting the Old Parliament House, and another had almost finished the War Memorial. Very Impressive (apologies for the dodgy phone camera photo).

Sand War Memorial

Anyway there’s still a month of Floriade left, with lots more events and entry is free, so even if you’re not a die hard flower aficionado get along and have a look. More details on the Floriade website.

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Ok, Floriade does have a good purpose. It gave me an excuse to buy the Canon Macro Twin Speedlight MX24 kit I have been pining for (http://www.canon.com.au/products/visual/cameras_lenses_accessories/speedlites.html).

canberra towie6:48 pm 17 Sep 07

I saw the sign for that today felix might be worth checking out !!

I’ll take my partner along at some point, maybe next weekend when i’m not on call.
I go mainly to see if i can photograph anything though.

I think the whole point is the flowers. and they are supposed to be for kids and old folk. if you are 25 go to the pub or something instead, the whole world is not _supposed_ to be designed for you.

i am 20 and i love the flowers and the sunshine and the park (and the macro photography). i think the flowers are ruined by the pointless stalls and shameless advertising and transparent attempt to make the event more interesting to more age groups.
just let it be what it is.

VYBerlinaV8 now_with_added grunt9:01 am 17 Sep 07

I took the the little fella on Saturday morning and we had a great time at the petting zoo and the CIT childcare area. And it was all free!

The flowers themselves are kinda boring, and there will need to be more young to middle aged person oriented activities (other than the kiddie stuff I mentioned) if this event is to ever be anything more than just another oldies trip to the park.

Was scary driving past Floriade today, all the iffy parking and pedestrians crossing an 80kmh road.

Felix the Cat9:22 pm 16 Sep 07

If you don’t like Floriade then don’t bother going out to the Tulip Farm on the Federal Highway near Sutton. There are no sand castles, gnomes or Kangaroo suits there, just flowers.

Felix the Cat9:20 pm 16 Sep 07

Things that I used to like going to like fraiser park race way the drag way at the airport and the G.M.C 400 all get nipped in the bud I have worked out in 27 years of living in Canberra IF ITS FUN SHUT IT DOWN !!!

There is always the Monster Trucks and Supercross next Saturday night for you Towie!

I go there for the macro photography only. The event itself is dull and childish. Needs to grow up. People in kangaroo suits, satirical looks at the 1970s and gnomes won’t attract me. More importantly, there’s very little to attract the younger crowd which will be crucial to the future success of the event.

Glimmertwins8:14 pm 16 Sep 07

There is live entertainment… if you are into country and weston

Taken from the Floriade website-

Music and dance
This year’s Floriade is an extravaganza for the ears and eyes, with a huge variety of music and dance. Don’t miss headline act, Troy Cassar-Daley perform a free, live concert on Stage 88. The country music will continue to flow when Adam Harvey hosts the Telstra Road to Tamworth competition. That’s not all – enjoy a colourful concert from the Embassy of Spain and many different performances from community groups!

Live performances
Laugh, smile and reminisce as Shortis and Simpson take a musical, satirical look at Australia in the 1970s. Be entertained by Geoffrey Graham’s Aussie comedy, bush poetry, music, whip-cracking as he showcases all things genuinely Australian. Reflect on Indigenous culture as Local Wiradjuri performer and artist Duncan Smith plays the Didgeridoo, tells stories and performs traditional and modern dance with his family.

Roving entertainment
Watch out for our roving entertainers as they tiptoe through the tulips – just follow the giggles! You’ll feel safe with the Loyal Flying Doctor Service roaming the park, checking the funny bones of visitors. Don’t miss the dazzling beauties of the bush, The Beryls, as they take on Floriade in their shimmering satin safari suits and gumnut tiaras. However, it’s not all smiles – watch out for drop bears: evil koalas that lurk in the trees and drop on visitors.

canberra towie7:14 pm 16 Sep 07

I have been to floriade once that was about 15 years ago and I have no interest in going back at all
Things that I used to like going to like fraiser park race way the drag way at the airport and the G.M.C 400 all get nipped in the bud I have worked out in 27 years of living in Canberra IF ITS FUN SHUT IT DOWN !!!
I guess some people enjoy Floriade and some people may like the national folk festival but what about something enjoyable for the “younger” people in town.
Maybe I’m wrong…..am I ??

Neither.
Just very *interesting*.

Well I have walked through Commonwealth Park a few times before Floriade officially kicked off, and I thought there were NOT THAT MANY flowers about. I saw the rusty old ute in the flower bed, that was gearing up to be very *interesting*.

I am not saying that Floriade = PISS WEAK WORLD, but as you said, flowers are flowers. The painting of gnomes is cool isn’t it.

Floriade in my opinion needs to become more than just flowers and fkn garden gnomes. Sure, people from cooma might enjoy it, but once you have seen it once or twice, there isn’t much more to see. Having said that, I have NOT been there this year yet, and I do know that people behind the shebang are aware of the *interesting* factor and attempt to address that *fact*.

Blah blehr blarh bleh blah….

Floriade needs to grow up a little bit. Perhaps some night time concerts at the *stage 88* venue with some good acts.

Was that 2 cents or 1 dollars worth of starch ?

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