David Jones Spring Flower Show

 

The David Jones Spring Flower Show is back and ends this weekend so you only have a few days left to see (and smell) it!

An abundance of glorious orchids are transformed into an underwater seascape in celebration of the Great Barrier Reef.

They've found many strange and wonderful plants to represent coral and anemones, and have helpfully named them (for people like me with limited knowledge of botany).

The most interesting fact to me, however, was the flower show's history. Over 80 years ago, the store staff started bringing in the spring flowers from their gardens to adorn their counters. The then leader, Sir Charles Lloyd Jones encouraged and formalised it. Over time it grew into a Rose show, then a Daffodil and Azalea festival. In the 80's it grew into the Spring Flower Show with the grandeur and opulence we see today.

So head to David Jones between now and Sunday to see these gorgeous blooms in the windows and on the main floor.

"The beautiful spring came, and when nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also." Harriet Ann Jacobs

Linking with #WordlessWednesday #PicturePerfectLinky #WWOAT #YourMoment #Allseasons #FridayBliss  #DND and #FloralFridayFoto

"The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but the wide world's joy." Henry Ward Beecher

 Perhaps not scientifically correct, but on this glorious day, it certainly feels that way. Realising I only had until this Sunday to see the David Jones Spring Flower Show, I tore off into town.

Gorgeous as always, but this time, there is a free session in a Bioptron light treatment, used in Europe to combat SAD or to find your inner glow as the assistant said to me. For one who can't sit still, I thought it ended very quickly and was surprised when she said it had indeed been 5 minutes. When it first started, I was thinking I would have to wave her over to shut it off, as I'd really only last a minute. I'm not sure if I have any lasting benefits but I did really enjoy the experience.

Reading the notes on the gratitude tree, it became clear that a lot of people shared the flower shows of the past, or just visits to David Jones with their now deceased mothers. As sad as it was to read, it was also lovely to think of those rituals once bonding and enjoyed buy mother and daughter, and that the daughter could bring her mother close by revisiting alone. Rituals are important, not for the formality but for the connection. It has got me thinking about my own kids, and what bonds I want to create like that, linked not just with me, but with a place so they have tangible keys to the memories.
One of the nice touches this year is the take home daffodil seeds, so hopefully in a while I'll have my own flower show...we shall see.








If you time your visit right, you can grab lunch in the Food Hall or take home dinner!














You can also tour online for those unable to make it, otherwise it ends this Sunday, Sept 20.

In their own words, David Jones writes "This season, there is magic to be found in the ordinary. You need only let the light in."








                              

Linking with #FloralFriday  #WWOT #WordlessWednesday #AllSeasons #AwwMondays and #NaturesNotes  

I wore a mask throughout but the spacing was fine and plenty of sanitiser everywhere. There are markings on the footpath for the outdoor window displays too.

Spring Flowers

Every year (well, traditionally every year - there have been some bumps in the road of late) David Jones puts on it's beautiful Spring Flower show. For those of you overseas, it's our Department store in the city and they fill it's windows and floors with displays of exotic flowers. There is usually themes - last year's was oceans and quite spectacular.

I always race out to see it (and this year dragged my mum along and made a 'day' of it with lunch). For me,  however, the David Jones Spring Flower Show is the start of Spring (and Summer) and the party season. From this point we roll into Halloween and Christmas.

There are weekends away, end of school and holidays.

There are 'let's make the most of the sunshine' outings and the outdoor festivals begin.

So the Spring Flower Show is like my alarm clock. It is the wake up call to 'get ready for the good times to come'. 

We are creatures of habit with many external routines and this one heralds the start of three months of fun.

Years of attending it and I only just realised it. It's an activity that provokes a shift in me, an event that marks time loudly in my calendar. 

So here's to the colourful burst of happiness and enjoyment ahead.

Do you ever realise you have traditions that take on more meaning than the actual event?

Linking with #DND (tho nature indoors) #BlueMonday  for the Irises and camera window #MCoW #WednesdayAroundtheWorld #TrafficJamWeekend #WWOAT  #GardenAffair  #HappyTuesday

I love they included the carnivorous plants (see right)

 

Flowers

Feeling a little flat after a stressful few days, I treated my self to a quick trip into town to see the David Jones Spring Flower Show. 

I have no idea why it makes me so happy. The perfume hits you as you walk in the door, and seeing so many people enjoying the displays makes me happy to be part of this community, even for a fleeting moment.

This funny tradition officially  marks the start of Spring for me.

Linking with #FloralFridayFoto  #GardenAffair and #DND because I realised I would miss the David Jones Flower Show because we're in lockdown....

David Jones Spring Flower Show

 I was lucky enough to go in to the David Jones Spring Flower Show with my mum before I left for Singapore. It was nice to get her out and enjoying the city. We had lunch at the lovely little cafe on the second floor after admiring the beautiful displays.

What I loved was the bar on the 7th floor packed with grey haired ladies 'making a day of it' with their champagne at midday.

I hope it long becomes a tradition like that for me and my friends in retirement. That seems like a small and achievable but very worthwhile goal.

"In between goals is a thing called life, that has to be lived and enjoyed". Sid Caesar

 

Linking with #FriendshipFriday  #DND #WednesdayAroundtheWorld  #SeniorSalonPitstop 

Earth laughs in flowers. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I had to race into the city to pick up my new sunnies (I know, it's all action and adventure here). I walked past David Jones to see their Spring Flower Show had begun. I was lured inside by the massive display of pink orchids. The towers of flowers are delightfully overwhelming and as I explored the floor, taking photos to the tinkling tunes from the Grand Piano, smiles were exchanged with fellow admirers. It was like we were in a secret club. There was a sense of community that is normally lacking from the busy mercantile frenzy.

It was genuinely uplifting, and I left with a joyousness that hadn't been there when I walked in.
















As simple as that, I was loving life.












What are you loving this week?





Linking with #Allseasons as I hope the flower show makes a return.