Tulip Top Gardens to re-open but still no decision on Floriade

Tulip Top Gardens will re-open this year, but no decision has been made about this year's Floriade location. Picture: Jess Barraclough

Coach-loads of visitors are already booked into the popular Canberra region attraction Tulip Top Gardens which is due to re-open in spring after being closed last season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The family-run gardens just off the Federal Highway over the border at Sutton will be celebrating its 25^th year of operation when it re-opens from September 11 to October 10.

Co-owner Pat Rhodin said they would be guided by NSW Health but so far it was all systems go. "At this stage, it's reasonably back to normal," she said.

2020 was the first time the gardens, which feature 1000 blossom trees, had not been opened to the public.

This week's announcement by Tulip Top comes as a final decision has yet to be made about what format Canberra's festival of spring, Floriade, will take this year.

Floriade did not take place as a big event in Commonwealth Park last year due to the ACT government's concerns about the coronavirus risk, with plantings spread throughout the city in Floriade: Reimagined.

An ACT government spokesperson said on Wednesday that a decision about whether Floriade would go ahead in Commonwealth Park had not yet been taken. But last year's Floriade Community program - in which 300,000 bulbs were distributed to more than 90 community groups which planted and maintained them through spring - would be repeated in 2021.

"Events ACT is taking learnings from our delivery of the Enlighten Festival and working through options for events scheduled later this year. This process also includes involvement from the Office of the Chief Health Officer, to ensure events are delivered in line with public health directions," the spokesperson said.

"A final decision has not yet been made about Floriade 2021 event dates and format. The Floriade Community program will continue in 2021, however the scale of the event in Commonwealth Park will be determined in coming months."

No decision has been made on whether Floriade will return to Commonwealth Park this year. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

Pat Rhodin, meanwhile, said while she was disappointed Tulip Top couldn't open last year, the summer rain had been very welcome as they undertook their plantings for this spring. There had been lots of inquiries with coaches and other large groups already booked in.

"We're looking to it," she said.