Success at Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
As the southern hemisphere’s largest garden and flower festival, and the fifth largest on a global scale, the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) had a jam-packed program offering something for green thumbs of all ages and experience levels, with fifty garden displays including the Welcome Garden with daily Tai Chi and meditation sessions, fantastical floral fashions, engaging hands-on workshops, inspiring educational talks from celebrity gurus, and endless family fun.
This year’s designs centred around themes of sustainability, positivity, community, and love, and the use of new technologies and eco-friendly materials.
The following is a snippet of some of the awards at the show:
The prestigious City of Melbourne Award of Excellence for Best in Show was awarded to Charlie Albone of Inspired Exteriors for his Show Garden, ‘The Container Garden’. An homage to outdoor living featuring two recycled shipping containers and an upstairs terrace, Albone’s display was also recognised with a Gold Show Garden Award and the Horticultural Media Association Award for best use of plant life.
Tied in first place for the Gold Show Garden Award was ‘TheBam Stone Garden’ designed by landscape architect Peter Donegan from Ireland, and ‘Aurum’ designed by Scott Wynd of MINT Pool & Landscape Design. Aurum also received the Mark Bence Construction Award and Innovative Design Award
The recipient of the Silver Gilt Show Garden Award was ‘Consciousness’ designed by Nadia Cole of Platylobium Landscape Design, with a four-way tie for the Silver Show Garden Award between ‘Villa Di Lusso’ designed by Renee Reiter of Invidia Landscapes, ‘Lunaria Pods’ designed by Inge Jabara of Inge Jabara Landscapes, ‘Mindset’ designed by Joel Barnett of InStyle Gardens, and ‘Composition’ designed by Christian Jenkins of Christian Jenkins Landscape Design. ‘Alone, Together’ designed by Matt York of Budling Design was presented with the Bronze Show Garden Award.
Showcasing the best of small space horticultural design, first place for the Boutique Garden Award went to Elliot Summers and Alistair Kirkpatrick of Stratis Landscape Architects for their 5m x 5m fire-inspired design titled ‘Karrikin Garden’. Top spot for the Ryman Healthcare Balcony Garden Award went to ‘Escape to the Balcony’ designed by Rebecca Mitchell for Little Footprint Studios, and first place for the Border Garden Award, went to ‘Seijaku’ designed by Rachael Saulle for Calibre Gardens.
The creativity and skill of tertiary students was recognised in the Achievable Garden Competition with the Award of Excellence going to ‘Tea in the Woods’ designed by Oliver Ashworth-Martin from Melbourne Polytechnic.
Innovative Design Award presented by Peugeot
‘Aurum’ designed by Scott Wynd of MINT Pool & Landscape Design
Boutique Garden Awards
1st Place – ‘Karrikin Garden’ designed by Elliot Summers and Alistair Kirkpatrick of Stratis Landscape Architects
2nd Place – ‘SLANT’ designed by Riley Cooper Landscape Design
3rd Place – ‘Tectonic Fluidity’ designed by Paul Pritchard Landscapes
Ryman Healthcare Balcony Garden Awards
1st Place – ‘Escape to the Balcony’ designed by Rebecca Mitchell for Little Footprint Studios
2nd Place – ‘City Sanctuary’ designed by Angelina Fox for Porch Envy
3rd Place – ‘Mosman Hideaway’ designed by Mitchell Kushturian for Exotic Living
Border Garden Awards
1st Place – ‘Seijaku’ designed by Rachael Saulle for Calibre Gardens
2nd Place – ‘Urban Wildlife Haven’ designed by Vivian Scarpari of Vivid Tones Horticulture
3rd Place – ‘An All-Aussie Bush Border’ designed by Tyler Howard
The Avenue of Achievable Gardens Competition
Award of Excellence – ‘Tea in the Woods’ designed by Oliver Ashworth-Martin from Melbourne Polytechnic
Best Use of Plant Life – ‘Urban Wild’ designed by Suzannah Kennett-Lister and Josie Wilson from Swinburne University
Creative Space Award – ‘It’s Not Nothing’ designed by Pauline Lane from Swinburne University
Main photo: Aurum MINT Pool and Landscape design