@Pavell said:
"Indifferent about the bamboo, but the rest are great"
Same here

And I just published my reviews of the other two of the Four Gentlemen!

I’m loving the new broad/pointed leaf piece, the shape is perfect! I had to google the flowers listed under 10342 to identify it, but the new piece used as a campanula bud/flower is delightfully reminiscent of a little (upside-down) ghost! Fingers crossed for a printed version some day! I’m still holding out hope that these botanicals yield a dark tan recolor of 24866 at some point - I still dream of proper Corinthean columns for my SPQR Colosseum.

I actually like the bamboo one—it’s cool and I like the look. And the flower arrangement one is very nice but that seems pricey for what I see there.

so 10345 Flower Arrangement is really butterfly battle pack. Cool.

I have so many Botanical sets already I'm starting to get very selective about what I buy! I love all of these, but I'll probably just buy the two remaining "Four Gentleman" sets due to price and space limitations.

@rslotb said:
"Budding florists? Someone was having fun there..

But I see only two pieces that are really new/specific: in pretty pink, there is a light royal blue flower petal part, and the broader leaf/petal part that is also in the Flower arrangement. Others are still really clever uses, full points for the umbrella top.

Did I miss some new parts? "

Same set, the piece with the pale green eggs also has white bells that are new. I can’t place the pale green buds on the orchid, so I’m not sure if those are new or not.

@PurpleDave said:
" @rslotb said:
"Budding florists? Someone was having fun there..

But I see only two pieces that are really new/specific: in pretty pink, there is a light royal blue flower petal part, and the broader leaf/petal part that is also in the Flower arrangement. Others are still really clever uses, full points for the umbrella top.

Did I miss some new parts? "

Same set, the piece with the pale green eggs also has white bells that are new. I can’t place the pale green buds on the orchid, so I’m not sure if those are new or not."

Those were tulip parts introduced in 21353 Botanical Garden

The smaller leaves on 10343 are using a rounded corner version of the classic 1x2 "baby bow," I bet that's in like 30 sets by the end of next year

While I have no particular interest in flowers in general, I have to admit these botanical sets from LEGO keep getting more beautiful with each batch. LEGO's doing an amazing job with these!

@HJB2810 said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @Pavell said:
"Indifferent about the bamboo, but the rest are great"
Same here"

Funnily enough, I was just with my mum and showed these to her, and the bamboo was the one she said she liked the most. It's weird seeing non-AFOLs' opinions on sets."
It's definitely not a bad set. It's just that I personally prefer the more colourful ones.

When I look at the Lucky Bamboo, I can't help but see 3 recoloured Classic Space rockets...

I was going to buy the Orchid from 2022 for somebody, but i'll get this smaller version instead to save some money.

Well everyone called the new Orchid and Bamboo sets when we say the 4 icons on the other two sets, but don't think they're as well done as the Plum and Chrysanth. The Orchid flowers look far too angular with the parts choices, and the bamboo looks somehow like a set of mechanical pipes rather then bamboo to my eye. The ring parts between the stacks look like brackets rather then growth rings. They've just not got the same NPU.

As for the bouquet and flower arrangement... They're far better designed and do have some NPU especially on the orchids, and the use of the butterfly stud, but they really don't look like sets that are worth the asking prices. Which is a shame as I normally love the botanical sets, but these feel like a miss.

@Spectator_S_Lego said:
"Those were tulip parts introduced in 21353 Botanical Garden"

An, that explains why my gut reaction was to hate them.

So what about the thin tan discs on the bamboo? I thought maybe the 3x Technic disc, except the bamboo stalks are 2x. It’s not the tea saucer, either, because that’s a bit smaller than 2x.

@GrizBe:
Funny thing is, you can buy potted bamboo around here, and the set looks too natural for what they sell. There will usually be three stalks, rail straight, except one may have a section that’s a very clean coil. So I don’t know if they just grow these into a form that automatically forces them into that shape, or if someone has to get the spiral started by hand, but there’s no way they grow like that in nature.

That bamboo just pops, ya know?

@PurpleDave said:
" @Spectator_S_Lego said:
"Those were tulip parts introduced in 21353 Botanical Garden"So what about the thin tan discs on the bamboo? I thought maybe the 3x Technic disc, except the bamboo stalks are 2x. It’s not the tea saucer, either, because that’s a bit smaller than 2x."

I thought maybe a wheelchair wheel with a bar through it to connect it to the parts of the stalk above and below it, but not sure if they are the correct size for this. I don't have one handy to check that.

It seems botanical becoming its own theme. Thats great cant wait to pick them all up eventually

I love the botanicals. But, I really dislike the flesh tone flowers they keep making. There are so many prettier colors they could have chosen for the potted orchid. Using the light nougat for the petals makes it look totally bland & boring. I don't recall ever seeing a real Orchid in that shade.
Same with the Dahlia in the pink bouquet. Not a color I've ever seen in a dahlia. The rose in that color in the original bouquet ruined it for me.

@PurpleDave said:
"Funny thing is, you can buy potted bamboo around here, and the set looks too natural for what they sell. There will usually be three stalks, rail straight, except one may have a section that’s a very clean coil. So I don’t know if they just grow these into a form that automatically forces them into that shape, or if someone has to get the spiral started by hand, but there’s no way they grow like that in nature."

Here in supermarket house plant sections, the Bamboo we get is usually one of 3 different designs. Its either 5 stalks with the tallest in the middle, then two shorter ones either side, and two shorter again in a rectangular tray. 3 rings inside each other of descending size. Or varying numbers of ones that have been made to corkscrew as you mentioned. Otherwise in garden centers its the typical grass clump of them.

Think that the ring parts used should have been a dark tan rather then the light tan to make it look more natural growth.

@paulvdb:
Wheelchair wheels are about the same size as bicycle wheels (the newer wheelchair even uses the bike wheels that go on the food cart for the new half-frame bike). Definitely too big.

Why do they feel the need to kick the backside out of every theme that starts to do well? Started off with a few amazing sets, now they are pushing out as many as possible and I’ve completely lost interest in them…

@PurpleDave @paulvdb

They could just be a new wheel that was designed for an as yet unreleased set. I can see some moulded spokes on a zoomed up image of it and it seems to be fitting through a bar.

EDIT: I just put together those pieces with the wheelchair wheel from a juice cart, and it isn't too far off. It still looks a bit bigger than the picture, but that could maybe be the image. I would place my bet on a new wheel piece though.

@Maxbricks14 said:
"I was going to buy the Orchid from 2022 for somebody, but i'll get this smaller version instead to save some money."

Buy the 2022 one for yourself. It's well worth getting and one of my favourite sets.

I've just recently started buying the Botanicals sets and I'm really enjoying them.

I had a feeling there'd be a bamboo release, because of the "four gentlemen" and three of them had already been released as Lego sets, except for bamboo.

@HJB2810 said:
" @edmi said:
" @SweSarah said:
"I really love how these look, but it doesn't feel like they're built with lego anymore. Instead it seems like a model kit just to build flowers. Are there other uses for those leaves and petals than for the botanical collection?"

I love the sets, but I have to agree with you. Those are not lego-ish anymore..."

I do only see three new pieces...
I hate highly specialized pieces though (like that big petal piece), but when useful pieces like the fern element came along, I am happy."

I don’t think so, but it’s eye opening how many of the plant specific pieces have come out in the past two years, although not specifically debuting in a botanical set. Even the Minion hairpiece is starting to look like it was NPU when it was used as Minion’s hair!

@HJB2810 said:
" @PurpleDave @paulvdb

They could just be a new wheel that was designed for an as yet unreleased set. I can see some moulded spokes on a zoomed up image of it and it seems to be fitting through a bar.

EDIT: I just put together those pieces with the wheelchair wheel from a juice cart, and it isn't too far off. It still looks a bit bigger than the picture, but that could maybe be the image. I would place my bet on a new wheel piece though."

What? Huh. That tan compound curve really disappears into the white background, doesn’t it? I didn’t even realize it stuck out from the 2x2 round bricks. Anyways, I remember the bike wheels being a little bigger than they are. When I pulled up the original wheel in LDraw, it’s actually smaller than 2x2, with about half the thickness of the tire sticking out farther. Obviously it’s not the original wheel, since that’s not designed to be able to connect in that manner, but if the wheelchair wheel is the same diameter, maybe they did use that after all. Clear wheel with a tan tire, and all that would stick out is the tan.

@Zordboy:
@Huw called the orchid, too, which seemed likely because the earlier orchid didn’t have any branding to match the previous two, was way out of scale with them, and has been out long enough that it’ll likely retire well before the plum and chrysanthemum. Seeing them all lined up, the gold bands and wooden stands really help tie the group together, though the orchid pot looks a bit too close to the chrysanthemum pot.

Wow, these look amazing. The Botanical line is one of my favorites with LEGO and I am glad to see them embracing the new Botanical name for the overall theme. Hopefully this is a good sign that this will be a thriving line for years to come :)

"I do only see three new pieces...
I hate highly specialized pieces though (like that big petal piece), but when useful pieces like the fern element came along, I am happy."

The fern element is somewhat guilty of the same issue: it's been used as something other than a fern, but always as foliage - so is it really that clever?

The exploasion of this theme is wild.

@PurpleDave: I recently got the Plum Blossom and Chrysanthemum and they look amazing next to each other so these two are a must-buy for me seeing as they are so good altogether.

Would love to see a carnivorous plant collection

Love the look of all of these. Just wish the pink bouquet had a vase to go along with it.

@PianoManDan said:
"Love the look of all of these. Just wish the pink bouquet had a vase to go along with it."
Yes. I'm sure even a selection of optional add-on vases would go down pretty well.

@Huw said:
" @pteric said:
"Would love to see a carnivorous plant collection"

You are in luck, then: https://brickset.com/sets/10329-1/Tiny-Plants"

Technically thats only 3 of them though, and at small scale. (The sundew, pitcher and flytrap). Admittedly, some variant of those three covers most carnivorous plants, though I think theres a market for larger versions of them, or for the weirder and more exotic end of the scale like the Titan Arum and Rafflesia.

@GrizBe:
We just need Audrey II and Frank the Plant.

@PurpleDave said:
" @GrizBe:
We just need Audrey II and Frank the Plant."

I'd love an Audrey II. You'd think with the current themed plants like 76433 Mandrake, it'd not be much of a stretch for Lego to make one.

I have been hoping that Lego would produce a version of Lucky Bamboo. My real one is getting rather large and slowly uncoiling, so this will be an ideal replacement.

Lego greedflation reaching to all the themes. Glad to see SW isn't the only one. But, where are the exclusive minifigs??!!

@StyleCounselor said:
" But, where are the exclusive minifigs??!!"

Good excuse to do the Little Shop of Horrors, Audrey II, with Seymour and Audrey I figures.

@GrizBe said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" But, where are the exclusive minifigs??!!"

Good excuse to do the Little Shop of Horrors, Audrey II, with Seymour and Audrey I figures."

And the dentist! Give Steve Martin his first minifig. Wait, this is the Frank Oz version, right?

In my opinion, these sets are a misunderstanding of the sales numbers when compared to the people buying them. The botanicals range has done well, because it was niche. "Oh wow, look at this, Lego has never done this before!" You can already see in the comments that the awe factor is dwindling. And the usefulness of the parts in alternate builds is questionable (other than for serious MOCers) On the other hand 10328 should be available forever. Roses that last forever will always be a seller. Personally, I have never bought a Lego product for display only - it's a toy... if you can't play with it, what's the point?

@iknow_kung_fu said:
"In my opinion, these sets are a misunderstanding of the sales numbers when compared to the people buying them. The botanicals range has done well, because it was niche. "Oh wow, look at this, Lego has never done this before!" You can already see in the comments that the awe factor is dwindling. And the usefulness of the parts in alternate builds is questionable (other than for serious MOCers) On the other hand 10328 should be available forever. Roses that last forever will always be a seller. Personally, I have never bought a Lego product for display only - it's a toy... if you can't play with it, what's the point?"

Not too mention how these 'display' items start to look in a house with lots of delicious cooking and forced air. Very soon, all those little, intricate, delicate parts get coated with grease and dust. It's a brown-grey, furry mess.

I think that turned Mrs. StyleCounselor off these the most. Too hard to keep clean.

I largely keep my Lego away from the cooking and forced air heating. But, these sets really only make sense if they are in the common areas of your home.

@PurpleDave said:
" @GrizBe said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" But, where are the exclusive minifigs??!!"

Good excuse to do the Little Shop of Horrors, Audrey II, with Seymour and Audrey I figures."

And the dentist! Give Steve Martin his first minifig. Wait, this is the Frank Oz version, right?"

I was joking. However, these are good ideas.

@PurpleDave : Theres a version of Little Shop that isn't The Frank Oz version? Okay, seriously I know there was the origional 1960's film and the musical first, but the film with Rick Moranis and co is definitive.

@StyleCounselor : Joke or not, I could quite easily see them grouping mini-figs with some botanical builds. Though which version you go for some things would be debatable... Invasion of the Body Snatchers Pod, Day of the Triffids Triffid, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Killer Tomato...

@iknow_kung_fu said:
"In my opinion, these sets are a misunderstanding of the sales numbers when compared to the people buying them. The botanicals range has done well, because it was niche. "Oh wow, look at this, Lego has never done this before!" You can already see in the comments that the awe factor is dwindling. And the usefulness of the parts in alternate builds is questionable (other than for serious MOCers) On the other hand 10328 should be available forever. Roses that last forever will always be a seller. Personally, I have never bought a Lego product for display only - it's a toy... if you can't play with it, what's the point?"

And this is a misunderstanding of the people buying them. Hint, this comment section isn’t the target, so their awe or lack thereof isn’t relevant.

Botanicals have been going steady since they launched four (4) years ago, if the only demand was the “oh wow Lego hasn’t done these before” factor then these would have petered out way earlier.

@GrizBe said:
" @PurpleDave : Theres a version of Little Shop that isn't The Frank Oz version? Okay, seriously I know there was the origional 1960's film and the musical first, but the film with Rick Moranis and co is definitive."

The historic Redford Theatre recently put the original Roger Corman film on their schedule. An interesting bit of trivia is that the entire thing was filmed in one day.

" @StyleCounselor : Joke or not, I could quite easily see them grouping mini-figs with some botanical builds. Though which version you go for some things would be debatable... Invasion of the Body Snatchers Pod, Day of the Triffids Triffid, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Killer Tomato..."

Mars Attacks! Martian with, uh…whatever plant happens to appear in the film…

@PurpleDave said:
"Mars Attacks! Martian with, uh…whatever plant happens to appear in the film…"

The..... erm.... Grass on the White House Lawn? With Super Secret Service Presidential Lawn Mower Operator.

@GrizBe said:
" @PurpleDave said:
"Mars Attacks! Martian with, uh…whatever plant happens to appear in the film…"

The..... erm.... Grass on the White House Lawn? With Super Secret Service Presidential Lawn Mower Operator. "

Tomato with a couple to argue over its pronunciation.

@GrizBe:
@TheOtherMike:
You know, part of it takes place in the desert, so I’m going to have to go with a dead tumbleweed. And we can call it the BotACK! ACK! ACK! Collection.

Looks like a great wave! Though beatiful, I'm not really for the bouquet sets, too much hassle finding a fitting vase and getting the flowers to stay in it nicely. But I love the ones that comes with a pot, finally there is a new larger one of those. Pricey though, of course. Will get when on discount.

The more different flowers on stems TLG designs, the more fun I can have practicing my flower arranging skills!

I first fell in love with the botanical sets because they used old pieces for new things we never saw before, it seems a little bit sad that now they're making new pieces just for botanical sets. Nice builds though, might have to get some.