Floriade is Australia’s biggest flower festival and it is happening right here in Canberra. It is a month-long spring celebration (15 Sep-14 Oct) with music, food, arts and other exciting attractions.
In 2010, I’ve been to a tulip festival in Japan and it was grand. Floriade, though with smaller exhibits compared to that one I saw in Japan, has a charm of its own. It is more of a community celebration rather than extravagant displays. There are activities for both the young and young-at-heart. You can paint to your heart’s content at the Gnome Garden, arrange your own hanging flower-pot or take the ferris wheel ride to see a wider view of the Commonwealth Park.
I didn’t think twice when my friend asked me to join her last Saturday for this event. I haven’t taken any decent photos since I arrived here in Canberra (I’m still missing Singapore a lot) and I knew that Floriade will help me overcome homesickness and pick up the camera that’s been hiding in my cabinet for weeks now. And so it did! My enthusiasm for photography is officially back!
But it was not the perfect time to take photos. We went there at midday and the sun was too harsh to capture the intricate details of the flowers. Nevertheless, the colors of the tulips naturally popped, the ambiance of celebration is evident in every capture and we really had a good time admiring the beauty of spring. And I have another reason to see this festival again. I am planning to go this weekend just before sunset and see Floriade’s Nightfest when the park turns into an illuminated wonderland!
Autumn has probably just arrived in most parts of the world but here in the land down under, spring season has just started. Join me as I welcome spring with less sadness and more anticipation of better things to come.
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Great shots, estupendo :D
Gracias, RA. :)
Beautiful shots — and the knomes were especially cute, too!
They are, right? In fact, there were only 2 kinds; the painting done by the visitors made each one of them unique.
Dear “drifter”, I am always excited to read your new entry! I love your capture of the tulips eventhough they’re taken ’round noon time. I had been to tulip festival at LaConner, Washington and enjoyed so much the the fields of glory! Your clickathon definitely brought some nostalgic feeling as here we are into the autumn season and of corse it has its own glorious beauty. Looking forward to the pictures of Floriade’s Nightfest!
I’m so happy to hear that Janie. I have to admit though, autumn is my favorite season so I’m really looking forward to that here in Australia. Thank you!