The new botanical Collection debuted in January 2021, and exceeded expectations for introducing a new range of LEGO sets, designed for display around the home. Bringing us 3 sets – The Floral Bouquet, Bonsai Tree and Bird of Paradise Flower – all suffering from ‘hard to getness’ in their first few months – the LEGO Group has now revealed two more sets for release on May 1, available to preorder from 15 April…just in time for Mothers’ Day in some countries (Australia included).
The new sets include an Orchid, designed by Mike Psiaki, and a selection of different Succulents, brought to us by Anderson Ward Grubb, lead designer on the Floral Bouquet.
Last year’s sets have had pride of place in our living room for the last 12 months, without dropping petals, wilting or starting to smell funny. They haven’t even accumulated too much dust, despite a lack of dusting. Last year’s sets demonstrated some really clever parts usage, from the use of nougat coloured car bonnets as rose petals; through to pink frogs as blossoms in a bonsai tree, and this years sets are looking to be equally exciting: Bringing us a mixture of CBBS shoulder armour and elven shields making up the orchid flowers, dark green helicopter canopies as leaves, alongside a collection of Forestmen’s hats and bionicle claws forming up different aspects of the succulents. Such neat parts usage, pushing the envelope of the shapes now available to builders embraces the essence of creative LEGO play, and elevates it to a whole new level. Of course, frogs are back, and we also also see the Demogorgan head from Stranger Things: The Updside Down appear in a lighter, slightly less menacing colour…
New LEGO® Botanical Collection sets provide the perfect perennial project for adults looking to relax and unwind
Billund: April 14th: The LEGO Group announces two stunning new additions to its Botanical Collection; a LEGO® Orchid and a LEGO® Succulents selection.
Perfect as a thoughtful gift for a plant lover or for adding the finishing interior design touches, the new sets are designed to provide an immersive building experience for adults that lets creativity bloom.
With 73% adults saying they often research new ways to destress1 and over 72% saying play helps them relax2, the new sets could provide a fabulous floral project for those looking to get creative while finding moments of mindfulness in their day.
The LEGO Orchid (10311) set and the LEGO Succulents set (10309) will be available to pre-order from April 14th from LEGO.com and selected retailers at ($49.99). They will be launched officially on May 1st, just in time for Mother’s Day in many markets.
Let’s take a closer look at these what these two sets have to offer.
LEGO Orchid 10311
Age: 18+
Piece count: 608
Measures over 15 in. (39 cm) high, 11.5 in. (30 cm) wide, 9.5 in. (24 cm) deep when complete.
Pricing: 89.99 AUD / 69.99 CAD / 49.99 EU / 44.99 GBP / 49.99 USD
Recreate the showstopping blooms of a flowering orchid with this blossoming build. This new set features six large flowers and two newly opened flowers which can be customised to create a flawless arrangement for any space, without the worry about how often to water it.
A LEGO built blue fluted vase and bark mix made from LEGO elements completes this beautiful display of pink and white blooms which can be customised and rebuilt time and time again as the builder finds a moment of balance and harmony for them and their décor.
“The design of this set was inspired by a real Orchid we had in the office throughout the design process, so we could see how the flower changed through the seasons,” said Michael Psiaki, Lead Designer at the LEGO Group.” A challenge with this set was creating a cylindrical pot from LEGO elements that would be fun to build but also beautiful to look at.”
As I mentioned earlier, there are some interesting elements at play in this set, including the return of the bright purple frog, the recoloured/reprinted demogorgon head and the helicopter canopy
LEGO Succulents 10309
Age: 18+
Piece count: 771
Measures over 5 in. (13 cm) high, 6.5 in. (17 cm) wide and 6.5 in. (17 cm) deep when complete.
Pricing: 89.99 AUD / 69.99 CAD / 49.99 EU / 44.99 GBP / 49.99 USD
The LEGO Succulents set is the gift that keeps on giving with nine individual succulents in their own containers. The separate plants and cacti can be built and connected together artistically or displayed individually and rearranged depending on the season or the décor with this ultimate low-maintenance display.
The Succulents set comes with three separate building instruction so friends and family can unwind together as they enjoy building the flora. “They say having succulents in a room helps you focus, and we hope this set gives the same feeling,” says Anderson Ward Grubb, Senior Designer at The LEGO Group. “We wanted to create a set that offers a relaxing and mindful building experience to help adults switch off from their busy lives and to most importantly re-focus on something they enjoy.”
One of the nifty things with the succulents is the way that we get to build multiple small pots, each containing theirt own plant, and able to be connected to each other using a technic axle, carefully concealed in the secret compartment beneath the Forestmen hats.
I am really excited to see both of these sets: last year’s offerings were amongst the highlights of the new sets being marketed to adults, and this year’s offerings look similarly appealing. Timing the release to around a week bofore Mother’s day in Australia, with a chance to preorder them is a stroke of genius. My wife has never been a big fan of cut flowers, but I think the Orchid might just do the trick for her. I won’t push the friendship and completely outsource the review. Unless…
Once again the LEGO Group has excelled itself with the selection of furniture used to model these sets, and I am particularly impressed by the wall mounted units containing the various succulent pots. If you know where to find this shelving, please let me know.
These sets are now available to preorder from LEGO.com, ideally for delivery in time for Mother’s Day. You can find them at LEGO.com- consider using our affiliate links to help support the blog. (Australian links – change to your local online store)
At $89.99 AUD, both of these sets are amongst the more affordable sets aimed at older builders, and will look great on display. I’d love ot know what you think of them. Leave your comments below, and until next time,
Play Well!