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On for the next five days, and open late this Friday night, The 2019 Melbourne International Flower And Garden Show is not to be missed. If you get the chance to join the droves of greenthumbs clambering to witness the latest garden innovations and creative installations, be sure to seek out the following highlights. And if you can’t make it, scroll away for an abundance of inspiration, plus a handy directory of who’s leading the way in Australian landscape design and floristry.
‘Every year we are awestruck by the imagination showcased by our landscape and floral designers, and 2019 is no different,’ introduced Marcus Gale, Event Director. With head Show Garden judge, Andrew Laidlaw, agreeing that ‘as a collective group of gardens the standard is as high as it’s ever been in the history of the show’.
Top honours, The City of Melbourne Award of Excellence for Best In Show, was presented to Tract Consultants’ ambitious The Loggia garden. Combining dry climate species from Australia and the Mediterranean, this design heroes warm terracotta (which almost got stuck in customs!), a contemporary take on historic architecture and hot climate planting.
‘Each garden and floral installation is not only visually arresting, but the judging panel revelled in seeing displays that carried a strong message, as well as being aesthetically brilliant,’ added Marcus.
We toured the award-winning wellbeing-themed garden that Ryan McMahon of MUSA Landscape Architecture created with event charity partner Beyond Blue. Journey chronicles the UK-born designer’s personal experience on a path towards improved mental health, taking inspiration from the form of an aeroplane – a symbol used to represent the importance of connection to friends, family, and place. The two social spaces located towards the end of the path, as well as a dry creek bed bordered with bright planting in stark contrast to ‘blueness’, build on Ryan’s concept.
The Sensory Garden, an innovative, accessible and tactile design appealing to those with low vision or blindness, created by Kangan Institute and Bendigo TAFE students in partnership with charity partner Guide Dogs Victoria is also a highlight. In another Show-first, beacon audible technology has been installed throughout the event to guide vision-impaired attendees.
Last, but not least, our pals at The Diggers Club are encouraging visitors to learn more about heirloom seed varieties, welcoming them through an eye-catching archway display of fruit and vegetables, from pumpkins, zucchinis, tromboncino, eggplants, squash, corn, carrots and more.
Tomorrow we’ll be back to bring you an in-depth look at a covetable tiny home and urban farm on display!
