But one tradition that hasn't changed is a beautiful Floriade display at the Canberra Centre.

The centre has teamed up with local schools, day care centres, and community organisations for its contribution to Floriade: Reimagined.

The resulting installation features individually crafted bees and tulips, the work reaching a height of 2.5 metres.

More than 2000 craft kits were handed out in the last two months so that each participant could create two tulips - one for the artwork and one to take home - a pipe-cleaner bee and a colouring-in bee mask.

Some of the schools which featured in the art installation included Covenant Christian School, Evatt Primary School, Jerrabomberra Public School, Kaleen Primary School, Neville Bonner Primary School, Mount Rogers Primary School, Nido Early School - Amaroo, Canberra Community, and Queanbeyan South Public School.

Other groups also participated including Majura Women's Group, Fraser Primary School and Guardian Childcare and Education Forde.

Canberra Centre general manager Gary Stewart thanked everyone their contribution.

"It's great to see the local community embracing the challenges we are currently facing and bringing Floriade to life in a completely new and exciting way," he said.

The Floriade art installation is being showcased on the level one glass floor display at the Canberra Centre until October 11.

The Canberra Centre will also be hosting gnome painting, tulip bloom sites, competitions, and a bee trail also highlights during the festival.

Floriade: Reimagined, meanwhile, sees Floriade taken to 130 sites around the city rather than in its traditional home of Commonwealth Park, as a result of COVID-19 crowd restrictions.

The festival of spring officially launches on Saturday and continues until October 11.

The program of live and online events is at floriadeaustralia.com.