Colourful blooms welcome spring around the city

Winter will soon be a distant memory for Sydneysiders as colourful flower and plant displays spring up around the city this week.

Today, residents and visitors woke up to beautiful displays in 16 city locations. The displays will be in place for eight weeks until Sunday 11 November.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City of Sydney's bi-annual Living Colour displays are always popular with visitors, residents and people working in the city.

"Living Colour is a great way for Sydneysiders to celebrate the change of season with glorious bursts of colour across our city streets, squares and parks," the Lord Mayor said.

"Workers will be able to take a lunchtime stroll through a colour-filled Martin Place and residents and visitors will be able to enjoy a plant-lined King Street in Newtown.

"These are some of Australia's largest seasonal floral displays of their kind. They will brighten up our public spaces and encourage residents, workers and visitors to spend time in our city."

The displays can be found at St Mary's Cathedral forecourt, Kings Cross, Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, King Street Newtown, Martin Place, Queens Square and Hyde Park Barracks, QVB and Town Hall, Sydney Square, Union Square, Castlereagh Street, Customs House, AMP forecourt, Taylor Square, Springfield Gardens, Green Square Library forecourt and Devonshire Street.

Designs are featured in 900 planter boxes, 450 hanging baskets, 23 floral towers and a spectacular pyramid.

Plants in the displays have been grown without chemicals and pesticides. Growing techniques like soil inoculation and wick matting reduce water use by 25 per cent when compared to traditional nursery overhead watering techniques.

The annuals, natives and herbs used in the displays include delphiniums, pansies, golden marjoram, heuchera, daisies, sage, calendulas, kangaroo paws, gaura, snapdragons, mint, chocolate mint, sedum 'gold mound' and nasturtiums.

At the end of the displays, the plants will be given to schools and community gardens, centres and groups.

For media inquiries or images, phone mobile 0400 331 027 or email [email protected]

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Jack Begbie. Phone 0481 759 580 or email [email protected]