35,000 red tulips dropped in Melbourne street-art laneway

A FAMOUS Melbourne street art laneway has received a splash of colour overnight, with the arrival of 35,000 red tulips. The team behind the floral treat say they want to promote sustainability, offering workers, tourists and residents free bunches for the day.

MELBOURNE’S famous street art laneway received a splash of colour overnight with the arrival of 35,000 red tulips.

The burst of free flowers were dropped on the footpath in Hosier Lane to promote locally-grown flowers, giving workers, residents and tourists free bunches for the day.

Joost Bakker, of Bakker & Co growers in Monbulk, said three trucks arrived at 4am to unload the blooms.

ED SHEERAN PERFORMS IN HOSIER LANE

NBA STAR BEN SIMMONS GET HOSIER LANE MURAL

HOW HOSIER LANE BECAME A STREET ART MECCA

Jahla Smith and Eliza Hughson from Torquay. Thousands of tulips turned up overnight on Hosier Lane. Picture: Nicole Garmston

“The flowers weren’t quite good enough to sell so we thought we’d give them away,’’ Mr Bakker said.

“Our main intention is to promote a sustainable local industry and encourage people to buy Australian-grown flowers. There are a lot of flowers coming in from overseas.

The tulips were dropped off from 4am in Hosier Lane. Picture: Supplied

Thousands of tulips that have turned up overnight on Hosier Lane to promote locally grown flowers. Picture: Supplied

“There’s no labelling laws so we would ask consumers when they buy flowers to ask if they are grown locally.’’

Melbourne City Council gave the flower men permission to drop the blooms in the laneway.

@IanRoyall