Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2023

Sustainability, naturalistic plantings, wildlife-friendly habitats and arid climate plantscapes were all recurring themes at this year’s MIFGS. The manicured hedges and formality of previous years were gone, replaced with softer swathes of meadow-like plantings and undulating beds of textural shrubs combined with organic shapes and a focus on recycled materials.

For garden designers, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate their skills while showcasing unusual plants or revealing familiar plants in new ways.

Achievable gardens

One of the highlights of the Melbourne Flower Show is the Avenue of Achievable Gardens Competition. This is where landscape design students are briefed to build a small garden that can be easily replicated by home gardeners. The competition provides students with hands-on experience and offers visitors fresh ideas. Here are a few of our favourite gardens…

‘Restorative Garden’
Reece Dellora & Carrie Chen from Swinburne University of Technology
Reflecting on the impact Covid-19 lockdowns had on so many, designers Reece and Carrie built a relaxing, restorative space. A stone retaining wall created a split-level garden, evoking a feeling of being immersed in nature. Soft curves were integrated to encourage people to slow down. “We wanted natural shapes and an emphasis on a calming palette of green foliage and white flowers,” says Reece.

‘Tea in the Woods’
Oliver Ashworth-Martin from Melbourne Polytechnic
UK-born Oliver remembers the first time he smelled the scent of a crushed lemon-scented myrtle leaf: “It was a catalyst for my love of Australian plants,” he says. He wanted to memorialise that moment in this sweet garden, featuring an intimate seating area (with a brew of tea) among natives. The colour palette of deep greens and silvery blues with bursts of yellow and burgundy was designed to reflect the array of natives found in country Victoria.

‘The Circles of Life’
Daniel Althaus from Melbourne Polytechnic
Designed to represent the Australian ecosystem in a residential setting, this garden featured densely planted groupings of textural native species, including cushion bush, everlasting daisy and tussock grass. A meandering gravel path was edged with groundcovers such as Casuarina ‘Cousin It’. Every plant was chosen for its ability to support wildlife, while a frog-friendly pond was the garden’s life force.