Design, Inspiration and Colour
Melbourne celebrates horticultural ingenuity
By Karen Smith
What draws over 115,000 visitors to Melbourne’s Carlton Gardens each year for the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show? The reasons are many and varied – from stunning floral displays to world-class Show Gardens.
The Show Gardens and landscape designs are always a major attraction, particularly for those of us in the horticultural industry. Gabrielle Stannus has covered much of the show’s landscape highlights in this issue, so let’s turn our attention to some of the other standout aspects.
With over 900 exhibits, there was no shortage of opportunities for visitors to give their credit cards a workout. An impressive variety of plants was available for purchase, from dry-climate succulents to lush tropical beauties like heliconias. Garden tools, fashionable overalls and hats, worm farms, compost bins, shade houses, and a vast array of garden ornaments added to the lively market atmosphere.
The venue itself is a feature worth celebrating. The Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens is always a drawcard, and when filled with exquisite floral installations, it’s truly spectacular.
I was personally a little disappointed to see Collectors Corner Garden World absent this year. However, the displays that did feature were creative and beautiful. The hanging floral arrangements were a particular highlight, offering a unique perspective as visitors walked beneath them.
And who doesn’t get a lift from seeing the colourful, billowing costumes of the stilt walkers? These whimsical performers parade through the show, delighting children and adding to the lively atmosphere. Fun fact: stilt walkers have been entertaining crowds at fairs and festivals for millennia!
Workshops and expert talks catered to those keen to expand their knowledge on gardening, plant care, and sustainability. Many visitors showed a particular interest in horticultural therapy and connecting with nature for personal well-being – an encouraging sign for the industry.
What about industry professionals? What do we gain from events like this? For young people entering the industry, there’s so much to absorb. Emerging designers learn from seasoned professionals, and the chance to network with both industry peers and the public is invaluable. Participating in competitions like Achievable Gardens, Balcony Gardens, or Border Gardens can open doors to new career opportunities, either with established firms or through launching independent ventures. The exposure alone is a priceless stepping stone.
As Kate Anderson from Open Gardens Victoria shared, attracting attention to your stand is essential. In the past, their standard 3m x 3m cubicle-style stand struggled to engage visitors. To remedy this, they began offering a grant to a student or emerging designer to create a display garden, transforming their stand into a genuine attraction. It’s a win-win; the designer gains invaluable exposure, and Open Gardens Victoria increases its engagement with the public.
This year’s grant winner, Natalie Back, delivered an outstanding result with her design ‘The Sustainable Sanctuary’. Natalie’s display demonstrated that beautiful gardens can be created on a modest budget, featuring soft, swaying ornamental grasses and textural plants arranged around a pergola and seating area. Staying within her $10,000 allocation, she pre-purchased small plants months in advance and grew them to size. The public and the Open Gardens team were thrilled with the result – a brilliant initiative nurturing emerging talent. For more, visit the Open Gardens Victoria website.
Entertainment and experiences like ‘Gardens by Twilight’ add yet another dimension to the show. This evening event allows those who can’t visit during the day to experience the gardens in a magical, illuminated setting, accompanied by live entertainment – another excellent reason why the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show remains the most significant event of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Let’s hope it continues to flourish for decades to come.
Awards
No show would be complete without awards, and the lucky recipients were:
City of Melbourne Award of Excellence – Best in Show
əskāp – Distinctive Gardens
Horticultural Media Association Award – Best Use of Plant Life
əskāp – Distinctive Gardens
Mark Bence Construction Award
Nostalgia – Paul Pritchard Landscape Design
Gold Awards
əskāp – Distinctive Gardens
Nostalgia – Paul Pritchard Landscape Design
Silver Gilt
In Ratio with Africa – Matt York
Silver
ODE – Candeo Design
Doable – Jason Hodges
Yutori – Christian Jenkins & Bailyn Jenkins
Between Moments – Ben Hutchinson Landscapes
Boutique Gardens
1st Place: RE-SET – Earthcore Landscapes (Gold)
2nd Place: Room to Breathe – Lone Pine Landscapes (Silver)
3rd Place: The New Nature – Michael Rochelle, Carla Perry & Alistair Kirkpatrick (Bronze)
Challenger Achievable Gardens
Excellence Award: States of Green – London College – Zoe Rush, Emily Rubira
Gold: States of Green – Emily Rubira & Zoe Rush, Alafia Australis – Morayo Adeyemi, Elemental Garden – Joel Emmins
Silver: Bush Bathing – Katie Fraser, Mi Casa Es Tu Casa – Mia Zielinski, Mediterranean Musings – Adam Clements, Evergreen Escape – Jake McCorkell
Bronze: Back to Basics – Mitchell Reynolds, Verdant – Rangi Jamieson, A Space for Reflection, Learning and Connection – Various Designers
Best Use of Plant Life: Mediterranean Musings – Adam Clements
Most Creative Use of Space: Alafia Australis – Morayo Adeyemi
Balcony Gardens
1st Place: The Artist’s Garden – CLeed in partnership with Foundry
2nd Place: Green Escape – Sharp Landscape Creations
3rd Place: Come to Your Senses – Panacea Landscapes
Border Gardens
1st Place: The Ancient Colours Garden – Terre Verte Landscape Design
2nd Place: Death is Life – Living Space Ecology & Hort Occulture
3rd Place: A Life-Sized Garden – Hayato Shimomura