The variety of flowers.

Have you ever stopped to wonder just how many different flowers there can be in the world? How come each tiny seed or bulb can produce its own unique plant, with flower and seeds? It may be as tiny as a crocus or as huge as a Californian Redwood, and every size in between, each has its own characteristics. Here are just a few.

Cherry tree.




Canadian Maple flowers.


'Shay's' tulips - planted to celebrate her birth 5 years ago.


Felicia.

Grand Final Clouds

Many days when there have been wonderful cloud formations all around, I've been tempted to drive to the hockey centre to take photos from up in the stands. Today the clouds were obliging, even if the wind and temperature were not.

Darkening clouds over the grounds before the game.

Synthetic grass must be watered before matches and sometimes again at half-time.

If only they would bring rain.

Teams warming up.

In play.

Setting sun.

Around and About

These photos are of various scenes in and around Floriade and Commonwealth Park.

Pots of mixed flowers and baskets on stands.


Floral arrangement of Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise)


Anthiriums (just for Tanya)


Army helicopter pilots with a birds-eye view.




High Court of Australia


Pollarded basket willows.




Potting mix trial. (Kerri - do you have any spares?)


Replica of Cockington Green, a miniature village on the outskirts of Canberra. Modelled on Babbacombe in Devon, UK.


I wonder does she give coloured and flavoured milk?


Captain Cook Water Jet with National Library.




Elm in flower beside Commonwealth Avenue.


Violas on Commonwealth Avenue with Parliament House in far distance.

Japanese Garden - for the two Vals.

The white and cream violas, red camellias and the rocks are part of the Japanese garden display at Floriade. The sign (which you can't see) reads ... "Enter through the bamboo surrounds and traditional Japanese arch to enjoy the serene and austere Zen garden. The traditional rock garden is surrounded by thousands of pure white blooms representing the pebbles and sand traditionally used in this ancient gardening practice. In Japan each year the 'Tonami Tulip Festival' is held.

Floriade.

NO, this is NOT my garden. These flower beds are all part of the magnificent floral display known as FLORIADE, which is held in Commonwealth Park, Canberra, every year for four weeks from mid-September.

This year there are more than one million blooming bulbs and plants in designs which represent some 16 countries. The garden beds are inspired by flags, iconic symbols, history, flower festivals and traditional gardens from Canada, France, Spain, China, New Zealand, Turkey, England, Netherlands, Japan, America, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Colombia, Belgium, and Australia.

Plants include hundreds of thousands of tulips, plus violas, Dutch hyacinths, iris, ranunculus, English daisies, daffodils, jonquils and poppies.

Plantings are staggered so that not all are in flower at the same time to ensure that there are good displays throughout the four weeks of Floriade. At the conclusion of the show all garden beds will be removed, including soil, bulbs and plants. Commonwealth Park is the temporary home of Floriade, and has been for the past 19 years! Next year new soil will be brought in, and new bulbs will be planted in newly designed beds, ready for another spring spectacular.