Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2024

‘THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS’
Designed by Emmaline Bowman, STEM Landscape Architecture and Design
Best in show and gold medal winner

With its colourful native plants, relaxation zone, pond and boulders, this Australian wildflower garden was picture perfect. However, it’s what was beneath the surface that Emmaline really wanted visitors to experience and appreciate, and subterranean sections of the pond and soil were visible through glass windows. “A thriving garden starts with the hidden ecosystems underneath,” she says. “I wanted to remind people that we need to take care of our soils and waterways.”

On one side of the pond, a wild meadow showcased the beauty of indigenous species, with native tobacco, everlasting daisies, chocolate lilies and grasses encouraging pollinators. The other side featured plants such as Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’, Grevillea ‘Bush Lemons’, wild rose (Diplolaena grandiflora) and Wolgan snow gum (Eucalyptus gregsoniana).

The design featured a salvaged timber boardwalk, an Australian Comet windmill (representing sustainability) and an arbour made out of reo mesh. Local field granite boulders added structure and elevation.

‘SALTBUSH’
Designed by Phillip Withers & Fiona Brockhoff
Gold Medal Winner

This design championed coastal and inland plants, and really demonstrated how indigenous species can bring the wow factor to a contemporary garden.

Featuring an eco-pool with water-filtering plants, a pizza oven, and different areas to explore, this garden was designed as a family-friendly haven. The gabion wall and frog-friendly wetland zone with water milfoil (Myriophyllum crispatum) and swamp pennywort (Centella cordifolia) “also provides a biodiverse habitat for fauna,” says Fiona. Coastal plants included sculptural moonah (Melaleuca lanceolata), coast banksia (Banksia integrifolia), and tough groundcovers bower spinach (Tetragonia implexicoma) and common sea-heath (Frankenia pauciflora). Silver banksia (B. marginata), grass trees (Xanthorrhoea australis), chocolate lily (Arthropodium strictum) and lightwood (Acacia implexa) brought the inland textures and smells. “Using indigenous plants allows us to learn about our local environment,” says Phil.

‘REFLECTION’
Designed by Christian Jenkins Landscape Design & Margaret River Trees
Silver Medal Winner

If there was an award for ‘world’s most dramatic plants’, the specimens in this garden would surely be nominees. This design showcased Australian natives on a colossal scale, including 5m-tall Queensland bottle trees (Brachychiton rupestris) and giant mature grass trees (Xanthorrhoea sp.). “I wanted to show
people how to make a contemporary, minimalist garden using bold Australian native plants,” says designer Christian.

Standing sentinel around the perimeter of the garden, these trees framed a central entertaining space featuring a 10m x 6m dark reflection pond and two limestone-clad pavilions. The pavilions featured green walls densely planted with varieties of peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.). But the stand-out heroes were the grass trees, their grass heads sprouting from gnarly, blackened trunks. “I love the shapes and character of those trees,” says Christian.

Photos by Simon Griffiths