NBPCA and Floriade 2011

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

Its that time of the year again. This will be our 4th Floriade since opening our doors in 2008.

Floriade 2011 opens 9am Saturday 17th September and closes 5.30 pm Sunday 16th October.

Last year during the 30 days of Floriade we had close to 62,000 visitors and this year the weather is behaving quite nicely.

I will keep you updated on how things are going but please take the opportunity to visit Canberra to see the NBPCA, Floriade and on Sundays you can drive to and park in the National Arboretum Canberra and see the tree plantings and construction of our future home that we expect to be in by November next year 2012.

We have new bonsai and penjing from Melbourne on display after my recent trip to swap over trees.

See you .

Grant Bowie

[Grant Bowie]

Well I am heading off to work.

Floriade opens in one hour,

Grant

[Petra]

I'll look out for you,
i will be there 2nd - 6th october. Dont forget i want the royal treatment.

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

A little story.

The first people to enter the collection when we first opened 4 floriades ago were the first in today as well.

They have come back each year to visit us at Floriade.

Grant

[kcpoole]

Have a great month Grant an crew.
Post lots of pics for use here

Ken

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

The Acacia is in good flower this year and just about at its peak. Probably good for about a week from now so come and visit.

Acacia howittii in flower 17th Sept 2011.JPG

Grant

[Steven]

Hi Grant,

How did the opening weekend go? How many people through the gates of NBPCA so far?

The Acacia sure is looking nice!

Regards,
Steven

[NBPCA]

Hi Grant,

How did the opening weekend go? How many people through the gates of NBPCA so far?

The Acacia sure is looking nice!

Regards,
Steven

Attendance is up about 10% over the weekend compared to last year and all up about 8,500 visitors in just 3 days.

If the weather holds up it will be a bumper year.

Grant

[NBPCA]

Today we had a bit of a mixed day.

Some sun then some rain then some sun then some rain.

During Floriade we need to keep up the work on the collection and so we work out the back when we can.

Here is Leigh preparing a tree for display.

Leigh at work during Floriade - Copy.JPG

The current back of house is a bit crowded and we are looking forward to our new site when it is ready.

Grant

[Glenda]

Today we had a bit of a mixed day.

Some sun then some rain then some sun then some rain.

During Floriade we need to keep up the work on the collection and so we work out the back when we can.

Here is Leigh preparing a tree for display.

Leigh at work during Floriade - Copy.JPG

The current back of house is a bit crowded and we are looking forward to our new site when it is ready.

Grant

Is that the Japanese Red Pine you have been discussing of late in the background behind Leigh?

[NBPCA]

It is one of the red pines in the collection and has just been updated elsewhere. here viewtopic.php?f=131&t=6543&start=15

I also have a few reds at home so I am talking generically about them.

Grant

[Glenda]

Thanks Grant.

[NBPCA]

It was a cold, very wet and very windy start to the day today.

Not many visitors in the collection and the large twin tree Picea needed pinching so we put it on a trolley and wheeled it out into the center of the collection and worked on it.

IMG_4256 - Copy.JPG

IMG_4260 - Copy.JPG

The pinching out process will go on for a few weeks and distribute the vigour more evenly around the tree.

Grant

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

Despite some wet and cold weather we have had approx 35,000 visitors so far and today (long weekend Monday) looks great so expecting good numbers today.

Two weeks of Floriade to go so will we beat last years total of 62,000.

Grant

[NBPCA]

Its school Hols.

Leigh and mini Leigh.JPG