Floriade is over for another year, and while it was a slightly different celebration this year in the form of Floriade: Reimagined, the flowers remained the same, lighting up Canberra’s suburbs as a warm welcome to spring.
More than 90 community groups helped plant and care for the flowers that made up the tulip trail through the suburbs, brightening up local shopping centres and precincts and bringing a little piece of the world-famous flower festival to every corner of Canberra.
The Canberra community really engaged with and got behind the Floriade: Reimagined format this year, however next year’s festival still has a question mark hanging over it.
A spokesperson for Events ACT said while the Canberra community was on board with the ‘Reimagined’ format this year, the decision for the 2021 event “will be a matter for the incoming Government”.
ACT Labor has indicated it would continue Floriade in the Suburbs if re-elected, with plantings in the suburbs to coincide with potential future events in Commonwealth Park.
As for this year’s flowers, worry not – the one million bubs and annuals planted across the city won’t go to waste. The bulbs planted in community gardens will be donated to the community groups involved in their planting, with many of the bulbs to stay in the ground or be replanted next winter.
Plantings in Woden Town Park, Casey roundabout, Kippax Library and Kingston will remain in place, while the City Hill blooms will remain until the next planned planting.
The spokesperson for Events ACT said flowers from planter boxes and potted displays will be turned into bouquets and gifted to hospitals and nursing homes across the city.
“Events ACT ask that the Canberra community respects this process and leaves the flowers to be removed only by the Floriade team to brighten the day of those in hospitals, nursing homes and hospices,” they said.
Floriade: Reimagined was a month-long festival this year, running from 12 September to 11 October.
