Tiger in the tulips

Spring in Canberra always means Floriade is open for business - yes it's garish, predictable and a bit too commercialised - but it's also a perfect opportunity to admire its setting in this most picturesque park on the lake, especially if it's a warm sunny day to boot.

 

Floriade for Ella means the jumping castle is back in town........

 

and a chance to score a Cornetto from Grandpa......

meeting a stilt walking (non talking) butterfly amongst the flower beds for the first time.........

...and a professional face painter (non permanent tattoos an optional extra).......

 

and being convinced to visit the baby animal enclosure (even though "I'm a big girl now").  Even I thought that silkie bantam was adorable despite it's bad hair day!

It wasn't until we'd exhausted all those possibilities that Ella became interested in the beds of tulips and daffodils - picking out her favourite colours (coral red, orange red and red!)

and agreeing to pose for the annual picture amongst the flowers at Floriade.