Our family reunion in Canberra (see here) coincided with the tail end of “Australia’s Biggest Celebration of Spring”, the Canberra Floriade. Commonwealth Park is planted out with tulip bulbs, and some other floral varieties, and marquees and entertainment dot the grounds.
After first feasting on a huge morning tea hosted in the home of one of my nieces, some of us continued on to Floriade. Bill and I got lost and went to the wrong park, so by the time we caught up, that group had already settled to lobster rolls and champagne. I thought we were here to smell the flowers 🙂 The festival had already been running three weeks but the display was still in good condition. And as we wandered around admiring them and perusing all the food and goods on sale in the marquees my eye was drawn to the laughing clowns. No big stuffed teddies in my numbers, but “everyone’s a winner,” so they say. I brought home a few trinkets for the Christmas stockings. Including the tiara I am proudly modelling.
Another big family event at a cook-your-own steak pub (and they have fabulous pizza too) for dinner, and then it was back to our respective homes the next morning. For the next couple of days our Facebook group chat cluttered up with photos. Here’s a few from Floriade for your enjoyment.
(Click to open to a full view of the photo, but since they have been resized they may not enlarge)
The Reluctant Retiree 
Hi, Gwen!
Stunning colors! I gasped when I came to the large photo at the end with the magnificent black swan. I hope your year is going along well, especially your writing. I must say you definitely belong to yourself. What a gift! Joy in the place of sorrow, peace in the midst of pain…. (words to an old hymn that come to mind when I think about I Belong to No One. ) Thanks for sharing so much of your life with us (your readers).
Elouise
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What beautiful words to share with me Elouise, thank you.
My two manuscripts have progressed to the pitching to publishers stage, which is harder than the original writing in some ways. But until one receives an official rejection, there is always hope!
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Coming back to this blog space after a long time, although I have been posting infrequently now and then. Haven’t been reading much. Glad I began with this post. The pictures are so vibrant and full of life. By the way, I just ordered the Kindle version of your book. Looking forward to reading it.
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Hello Nadira! How wonderful of you to be reading my posts. I, too, have not blogged much as I have been working on another manuscript. And thank you so much for the leap of faith in reading my memoir. I hope it resonates for you, and although some parts are challenging, it is ultimately a story of triumph over adversity. A kind of everywoman’s tale! x Gwen
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The colors are so vibrant and beautiful. You, too! I could certainly do with lobster rolls and champagne!
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I just had a thought. Sending you an email.
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I love those spring colours, Gwen. It looks like you guys had a wonderful time.
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It was really lovely Jolandi. So nice to mingle with the family again. Shades of the crazy old days.
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I love all those flowers! We are in winter here, cold and damp, still beautiful in its own way. It is so nice to see brightly colored blooms though!
At this time of year in my hemisphere I am reminded of the flower shows my mother and I would attend some time around late February/early March when I was young. Just when all seemed snow bound and spring would never come, the local garden center would have an indoor flower show with all kinds of spring bulbs, shamrocks and assorted flowers. The also had a petting zoo of farm animals kids could visit. The years rolled by, we kids get older, garden center owners retired. I still have the memories.
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Those flower shows sound a lot of fun, Lavinia. We have had a very wet year, floods everywhere, and spring was mostly a non-event. Now we have officially begun Summer we are hoping for some warmer days. x Gwen
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How fabulous a family get together and the Canberra Floriade too. All that floral colour, gorgeous. I am guessing there’s some link to the Dutch Floriade other than the tulips! My ex husband was still living in Haarlem in 2002 when they held the Floriade with the rather delightful motto “Feel the art of nature”. My daughter and I were long gone from the Netherlands by then, but I remember he sent us photos.
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You’re right on the money there, Agnes. I read its inspiration was the annual Dutch Keukenhof flower display, and the first display was in 1988.
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Oh yes, of course living in Holland I did visit Keukenhof in all its glory. Quite an amazing achievement and very colourful, but perhaps the style an acquired taste for some of us. I am a big fan of the Dutch gardener designer Piet Oudolf and his freer and wilder style.
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What a gorgeous display of flower and girls with smiles.
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The colour and life put everyone in a good mood J
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Lovely lovely Gwen! Happy family times are sooo precious!!!
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It was definitely a wonderful family get together JoJo! Xx Gwen
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Wonderful photos, Gwen. I’m sure you know that Spring was a miserable affair in Victoria. I’d have been happy to swap. I love your tiara. I gave mine to my first granddaughter when she was three. 😘
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We have dress ups here every so often, Mary. My tiara might come in handy, haha. And yes, Spring was a non-event for us in Wollongong also. Now hoping for a better summer. X Gwen
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Good heavens! looks like the ground car will soon be the equivalent of the horse and buggy.
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Floriade is always so colourful. Glad you made it.
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I was very pleased Leggy Peggy when I realised others wished to go also x Gwen
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Looks like you still had fun, even if you showed up late. Love the spring photos, Gwen.
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A really good set of photos. A pity they don’t enlarge
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Lovely photos. I adore spring flowers and so it must have been a fun family get together. The photo of you wearing the tiara looks nice too!
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Thank you Marion. I was pleased to get to Floriade. Wasn’t sure if there would be time in our family get together schedule. The event was a credit to all who made it possible, including the volunteers. X Gwen
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