Winter’s waning and spring’s just around the corner Down Under. That means it’s time for Floriade 2014. It’s set for September 13 through October 12, 2014, in Commonwealth Park, Canberra, Australia.

If you happen to be headed to Oz, Road Trips Gardeners, you’ll find Floriade 2014 has not only flowers and plants and seminars with gardening experts, but also musical performances and culinary events.

Head Gardener, Andrew Forster, notes that getting more than one million bulbs to bloom on cue is no easy feat. He and his crew of 25 started back in February and March to mark out garden bed patterns and dig out all the pathways. The first bulbs were planted in early April, starting with the Pac-Man garden, as it’s located in the coldest area in the park.

They finished planting at the end of May: Tulips, Daffodils, Dutch Iris, Grape Hyacinth, Tritelia, Pansies, Violas, English Daisies, Poppies and Chrysanthemums. The mix of bulbs and flowers were chosen based on their ability to last for the whole 30 days of Floriade. The bulbs come from Broersen Bulbs in the Dandenong Ranges and the annuals from come from Oasis Horticultur
e in Sydney. Parsley and kale provide contrasting color, texture and green coverage.

Theme for this year’s floral extravaganza is “Passion”. (The name Floriade comes from the Latin word ‘floreat’ which means “may it flourish or bloom”.)

(Photo courtesy of Floriade 2014)