23 September 2014

Floriade Disappointing

| mickey1969
Join the conversation
23

My first ever visit to Floriade last weekend. It took me longer to find a parking spot than to see all that Floriade had to offer. Seriously, is this Canberra’s main event?

Others have told me that each year, the flower displays dwindle and the over-priced food stalls grow.

Over-hyped and over-rated.

 

Join the conversation

23
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

parking issue still remains.
but for the people coming from other cities, it is an amazing experience

Captain RAAF said :

Long time resident of Canberra (does 13 years count?), ok, maybe medium term resident is more accurate, anyway, been to Floriade twice. First time would have been around 2005, found it interesting and enjoyed it. Second time was around 2010, more because we were bored and Floriade was on so, lets go! Found it pretty much exactly the same thing as 05 and was boring and we were outta there in an hour.

See absofknlutely no reason to go back…ever.

Well, man made climate change will ensure that (according to the fear mongers at the UN).

wildturkeycanoe5:44 am 26 Sep 14

carnardly said :

what do they do with all the bulbs afterwards these days? mulch them all? I remember years ago you could go in a week or so after the official closing date and buy miscellaneous bags of bulbs for cheap as chips to take home.

You never knew what they were (unless you could tell from the bulb alone) so it was like a kinder surprise next spring when you got new pop ups. I’d LOVE for them to do that again….

There is the answer to why the displays look the same every year, they ARE the same flowers.

what do they do with all the bulbs afterwards these days? mulch them all? I remember years ago you could go in a week or so after the official closing date and buy miscellaneous bags of bulbs for cheap as chips to take home.

You never knew what they were (unless you could tell from the bulb alone) so it was like a kinder surprise next spring when you got new pop ups. I’d LOVE for them to do that again….

i mourned the fences going up round floriade – it was a luscious experience to meander about the hyacinths and other blooms in the soft cool spring evening, imbibing their scent in moments of peace and quietude.

then they put fences round the exhibits in my park. give me back my park, i say. give it back…

Captain RAAF1:44 pm 25 Sep 14

Long time resident of Canberra (does 13 years count?), ok, maybe medium term resident is more accurate, anyway, been to Floriade twice. First time would have been around 2005, found it interesting and enjoyed it. Second time was around 2010, more because we were bored and Floriade was on so, lets go! Found it pretty much exactly the same thing as 05 and was boring and we were outta there in an hour.

See absofknlutely no reason to go back…ever.

Holden Caulfield12:57 pm 25 Sep 14

FeelingFab said :

…There are no plants for sale at Floriade, which is a wasted opportunity. Many people would love to buy something as simple as a daffodil in a pot, it would be a fabulous fund raiser. There are very little garden talks, no Gardening Australia show bags or information about the bushland around the capital. Not even a whisper by the botanic gardens…

Agreed. And with the space available in and around Commonwealth Park I’ve never understood why there’s been no real push (that I can recall) to have some sort of garden building competition as you might see at the Chelsea Flower Show in London.

dungfungus said :

Rollersk8r said :

Explain how it’s over-hyped? Always has been and always will be flowers, mainly, but people seem to like it.

And to be fair they’ve added a heap to it in recent years, with entertainment, garden building displays, minor celebs.

Although 100% agree on outrageous prices, which is to be expected for any entertainment event these days, especially one that’s put on for free.

It’s only “free” for people who don’t pay rates and taxes in the ACT.

I dislike Floriade but there’s no doubt that it brings in significant dollars to our economy through tourists and locals attending the event and spending more money in the ACT.

I was a bit disappointed in Floriade also. The beds were all beautiful, but recycled patterns from other years. I don’t mind the stalls, they stay in their section and who doesn’t need soap shaped like cake?

I miss the garden focus of Floriade, there used to be a variety of different gardens to look at, and a lack of them does make the space seem small – oh look another tulip, a tulip, oooh a tulip…. Displays by garden centers, landscapers, charities, community groups, native gardens, bird gardens would bring much needed variety. Even Bunnings didn’t bother with a display this year.

There are no plants for sale at Floriade, which is a wasted opportunity. Many people would love to buy something as simple as a daffodil in a pot, it would be a fabulous fund raiser. There are very little garden talks, no Gardening Australia show bags or information about the bushland around the capital. Not even a whisper by the botanic gardens.

I know Floriade is not just gardening, but the other items there are getting tired. The gnomes are cute, but remember the scarecrow comps? And I remember just SO many more fun things from years and years ago, giant climbing nets in trees, a tent that school kids got tours through that was actually a bit like the haunted house suggested someone else has made, lots of compatitions and information about everything Canberra. Kids weren’t shoved in a corner with spray painted animals (bless their sparkly hooves). It used to be a exciting adventure, now its just ‘a nice walk’.

Rollersk8r said :

Explain how it’s over-hyped? Always has been and always will be flowers, mainly, but people seem to like it.

And to be fair they’ve added a heap to it in recent years, with entertainment, garden building displays, minor celebs.

Although 100% agree on outrageous prices, which is to be expected for any entertainment event these days, especially one that’s put on for free.

It’s only “free” for people who don’t pay rates and taxes in the ACT.

Rollersk8r said :

Explain how it’s over-hyped? Always has been and always will be flowers, mainly, but people seem to like it.

And to be fair they’ve added a heap to it in recent years, with entertainment, garden building displays, minor celebs.

Although 100% agree on outrageous prices, which is to be expected for any entertainment event these days, especially one that’s put on for free.

“And to be fair they’ve added a heap to it in recent years, with entertainment, garden building displays, minor celebs.”

This the same recipe for the arboretum.
Can’t the organisers understand that if one goes to see flowers that is all they want to see?
The same goes for an arboretum; there are usually more people there than trees and the people aren’t looking at the trees.

Explain how it’s over-hyped? Always has been and always will be flowers, mainly, but people seem to like it.

And to be fair they’ve added a heap to it in recent years, with entertainment, garden building displays, minor celebs.

Although 100% agree on outrageous prices, which is to be expected for any entertainment event these days, especially one that’s put on for free.

I love it and go every year, but I do agree that they should either plant on sloped beds, or have a step or ramp in front of each bed to enable a raised viewing of the gorgeous floral patterns and effects.

wildturkeycanoe5:30 am 25 Sep 14

aronde said :

I think I say it every year but Floriade really needs some sort of elevated viewing platform that is not an expensive ferris wheel! I am sure I am not the only one that finds it very difficult to appreciate the floral patterns unless I get an over head view. I have no idea how this could be done but surely some bright spark could come up with something that could safely accommodate the crowds and allow a true appreciation of the work that goes into the flower beds?

Skywhale rides! I’m also one who is tired of the same thing every year. The same flowers, the same stalls, the same overpriced everything and really not much else to do but walk around for an hour and you’ve seen it all. Now if we had something like re-enactments of ancient battles, with sword wielding soldiers or a maze to get lost in, or perhaps scale model displays with off-road radio control race tracks that kids and their childish parents could participate in….anything that isn’t as boring as a flower that does nothing except attract bees and stimulate sneezing. No wonder the event is free, if you had to pay for entry it’d be a ghost town. Actually, a ghost town isn’t a bad idea either!

Holden Caulfield10:50 pm 24 Sep 14

I’ve always thought Floriade has been massively overrated, but I do think Nightfest is pretty cool. So if the daytime part of Floriade has to exist to keep Nightfest viable then so be it!

aronde said :

I think I say it every year but Floriade really needs some sort of elevated viewing platform that is not an expensive ferris wheel! I am sure I am not the only one that finds it very difficult to appreciate the floral patterns unless I get an over head view. I have no idea how this could be done but surely some bright spark could come up with something that could safely accommodate the crowds and allow a true appreciation of the work that goes into the flower beds?

Monorail?

I think I say it every year but Floriade really needs some sort of elevated viewing platform that is not an expensive ferris wheel! I am sure I am not the only one that finds it very difficult to appreciate the floral patterns unless I get an over head view. I have no idea how this could be done but surely some bright spark could come up with something that could safely accommodate the crowds and allow a true appreciation of the work that goes into the flower beds?

Every year the same stuff, gets boring. Time to bring back something else to liven up the city, maybe a V8 street race?

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

I went last weekend with my family. It was good, but it seems to be getting smaller and smaller.

I agree it seems way smaller than years in the past and I was surprised to see parents letting their children stand on the heads of the giant transparent snails and letting kids punch the inflatable flowers like a boxing bag I’d hate to see injuries as a result one of the snails breaking.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back3:27 pm 24 Sep 14

I went last weekend with my family. It was good, but it seems to be getting smaller and smaller.

1967 said :

Well, yeah…..
But what about the free WiFi.
How good is that?
CBRfree

This thread needed some humour and you have delivered. Great wit.
PS Nothing is free, speaking of which, is the Capital Metro Agency promoting the Marrakesh Express at Floriade this year?

Well, yeah…..
But what about the free WiFi.
How good is that?
CBRfree

Thats why they provide big floraide shuttle buses from the city. Sorry you couldn’t find a park. Despite what you say it is a lovely event – esp. good for families with young children. Stop and smell the roses next time Mickey

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.