It was only last Tuesday morning that I noticed the tip of Floriade’s infamous ferris wheel peering out over the tree tops of Commonwealth Park as I drove out of Civic and toward Parliament House. What felt like only yesterday is now a reality—winter has been and gone, and spring now well underway here in the nation’s capital.

It also means that Canberra’s world-class floral extravaganza has returned to Commonwealth Park for its 27th year and it opens this weekend; promising yet another fantastic program of events inspired by the 2014 theme Passion.

But getting more than one million bulbs to bloom on cue is no easy feat; it takes a lot of planning and preparation.

For 14 designed garden beds, preparation started way back when summer rolled into autumn earlier this year and involved the help of about 25 gardeners to mark out garden bed patterns and dig out all the pathways. Yet the Floriade team is much larger than that with its success relying on more than 170 dedicated and passionate volunteers to help bring the event to life each year.

The first bulbs found their home in the earth in early April with the Pac-Man garden the first to be planted due to its cold location within the park.

With more than 1 million plants that make up Floriade 2014, planting them all wrapped up at the end of May before the winter chill settled in with many of the gardens now ready to bloom, if not already. But what many will not know, is that kale and parsley is also often used to achieve contrasting colours, textures and green coverage when designing the gardens.

Says Head Gardener, Andrew Foster this year’s mix of bulbs and flower beds reflect a literal representation of things that people are passionate about.

“For the romantics there are the Pulsating Hearts and for the foodies, the Cookbook,” says Andrew.

“There’s even something for the sports fanatics and the gamers with a Sports Balls garden and the Pac-Man garden that will really come to life during NightFest.”

The Pac-Man garden also happens to be Andrew’s favourite, as he himself played video games as a kid.

See if you can decipher the other designs when you visit…Here’s a some hints to get you started:

• People collect them; children love them.
• There are four of these in a year.
• You can’t play an instrument without these.
• Family, friend, stranger, lover. We are all the same.
• There are many cultures but we all share it.
• Iconic David Jones symbol, forever associated with fashion.

From tulips to daffodils, dutch iris to pansies, poppies and more the colours are magnificent and the bulbs a plenty. But if you think the removal is easy, then think again.

The process is almost as big as planting them, which is why on the last day of Floriade volunteers are invited to have a dig and take some bulbs home with them. All the soil is then collected and return to Martin’s Fertilizers in Yass who screen it and re-sell it as a Floriade mix.

In addition to the beautiful flower displays, visitors to Australia’s largest celebration of spring can pick up gardening tips from experts in the field, listen to inspiring musical performances, enjoy culinary demonstrations by world-renowned chefs and keep the kids entertained with an exciting line up of activities.

Floriade 2014 presents a vibrant and varied program of events over the next four themed weeks with something for everyone, including the little people and your furry four-legged best mate.

For the first time since the introduction of fencing at the event in 1999, visitors will be able to bring their dogs to Floriade for the first ever Dogs Day Out. Partnering with RSPCA ACT, the one-day only will take place on Tuesday 7 October to not only enhance the festival’s atmosphere but to raise awareness about the RSPCA’s important work.

The Independent Property Group Foundation has also joined the Festival alongside the RSPCA ACT as the second charity partner. In an exciting first for Floriade, the Foundation’s My Cubby House Rocks project see some of Canberra’s most well-respected professionals construct six architecturally-designed cubby houses, including one that is accessible.

Five of the cubby houses will be auctioned off on the final day of Floriade, with funds raised going to The Centenary Hospital for Women and Children and Boundless Canberra. The sixth cubby house will be raffled rather auctioned.

Indira Naidoo, one of Australia’s most inspiring authors, journalists and television presenters will deliver presentations inspired by her first book, The Edible Balcony in the Inspiration Hub on Sunday 14 September. Be amused and delighted as famous characters from Shakespeare serenade the crowd with Emily Griffith Technical College’s Passion of the Bard pop-up performance. Additional roving entertainment will be provided by the Canberra Theatre Centre and the CDP Theatre Producers magical musical adaptation of The Gruffalo.

The Passion for Fashion Competition returns colourfully blending fashion and flowers in a stunning display of creativity, while if you prefer a more relaxing approach you can recline on the lawns of Stage 88 for performances by the Canberra City Band.

Stop by the Gigalees Circus Workshop with the kidlets for some fun that begins with a madcap demonstration by the comedy duo Wilma & Daisy, or kick a ball at the Kids Football Club’s Kidsoccer.

Unearth the capital’s most creative treasures as Floriade explores the theme Arts and Culture with resident gardener for Yours magazine, Charlie Albone headlining week of the floral celebrations. Passionate about beautiful gardens, you can catch him on Saturday 20 September as he chats about his favourite gardens from around the world.

Immerse yourself in floral workshops, learn about the Japanese art of flower arranging (Ikebana), discover your inner artist in a life drawing class, or sift through historic photographs and learn more about Canberra’s fascinating past. And that’s just week one!

Spoil your tastebuds and delight your palate with of Food and Wine in week two. Sip some of the capital region’s most prestigious wines, discover the scientific reason our tastebuds experience certain flavours, sample a selection of the best local produce and even try some bush foods that can be found in your own backyard. Celebrity chef, Miguel Maestre from Network Ten’s The Living Room will headline as he invites foodies to join him on a Spanish culinary exploration.

As the moon rises over Commonwealth Park, the flower beds will come alive in new wacky and wonderful ways as NightFest returns for five spectacular nights from Wednesday 24 September until Sunday 28 September. Get your giggle on with a comedy show, sip on a cocktail in the Moonlight Lounge or meander through an illuminated wonderland and the night markets. But there is so much more that you can do so be sure to check out the program.

Floriade isn’t Floriade without a bit of family fun, and there’s a whole week dedicated to it from Monday 29 September to Sunday 5 October. Discover what prehistoric life was like with dinosaurs and fossils, travel through outer space or become a giant as you stroll through a miniature village. World famous wildlife conversationist Bindi Irwin will attend Floriade on October long-weekend to showcase her passion with her Wildlife Warriors presentations in the Inspiration Hub on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October.

From spectacular garden beds to resourceful veggie patches and the capital’s beautiful spring weather, Floriade is the perfect time to rediscover Outdoors and Adventure. During the final week, get up close and personal with nature, learn about endangered animals, take part in sustainability workshops and grab gardening tips from experts in the field with The Living Room’s Barry Du Bois set to wow visitors with his DIY demonstrations.

For what was only ever meant to be a one-off celebration in 1988 to mark Canberra’s 75th birthday and Australia’s bicentary of European settlement, Floriade certainly has bloomed. So make sure you venture out to visit the southern hemisphere’s largest floral festival and embrace the passion.

The essentials

What: Floriade 2014

When: Saturday 13 September to 12 October 2014

Where: Commonwealth Park, Canberra

Highlights: NightFest – Wednesday 24 to Sunday 28 September

Cost: Floriade 2014 is free; Nightfest is a ticketed event with prices starting from $10.