A few of our favourite things …

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“Grass trees in halls, and queens on their thrones, Hills Hoists on lawns, and an Elkhorn alone” … these were a few of our favourite things at this year’s Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

Ludo, Celeste and I trekked around MIFGS last Wednesday, ostensibly so I could report on what was happening in the Achievable Gardens section. I am writing an article for the Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA) on the trend towards more compact gardens, and what that potentially means for plant breeders. So it was only natural that I took a look at these smaller competition gardens. However, we found inspiration in many different ways …

“Grass trees in halls” … Check out this Xanthorrhoea specimen from West Australia!

A large blackened sculpture resembling a charred tree with green-tipped branches is displayed in an ornate hall with arched windows, painted walls, and wooden floors.

“Queens on their thrones” … Me in my element, purveying the fine Flamingo Hotel indoor garden put together by the Biophilia Collective

A woman sits on a wicker chair surrounded by lush green plants and foliage-themed wallpaper. She is smiling, wearing a blue top and black trousers, in a room with a chequered floor and natural, tropical decor.

“Hills Hoists on lawns” … the very functional, yet highly pleasing “Australian Case Study Garden” put together by Eckersley Garden Architecture and Australian House & Garden.

A lush back garden with various plants and flowers, a brick path, a rotary washing line, and a wooden structure. Two trophies are displayed on a low brick wall in the foreground under a sunny blue sky.

“And an Elkhorn alone” … Robbie Lucas from Holmesglen Institure of TAFE found a lovely way to display this Platycerium bifurcatum in his “Life Outdoors” display in the Achievable Gardens competition.

A mounted staghorn fern in a black frame hangs on an orange patterned wall, with sunlight casting shadows. Green trailing vines hang to the left.

There was so much more to see! Check out some of our favourite MIFGS “things” below!

A gorgeous Guzmania in the Flamingo Hotel

Close-up of a pink star-shaped bromeliad flower with pointed petals and green leaves, displayed in a white pot indoors.

The Collectors’ Corner definitely caught our eye with this Tillandsia “tree”!

A lush indoor display features a tall tree draped with moss, surrounded by vibrant green plants and large, upright geode-like purple crystals, with a shimmering blue and silver backdrop.

A different perspective on the Cubby House Challenge

Colourful butterflies, both blue and orange, appear to fly along the curved, layered wooden surface of an abstract installation, creating a dynamic and whimsical scene.

Heads Up! A modern take on the cubbyhouse tradition. By the Buildher Collective, Beirin Projects and Bellemo & Cat. And one of Ludo’s show favourites.

A large blue sculpture of a human head composed of stacked horizontal layers stands outdoors on grass, with trees and people visible in the background.

Celeste and friends at Emmaline Bowman’s “Living Garden”.

A smiling child with short brown hair stands outdoors, with a colourful rainbow lorikeet perched on their shoulder. An adult and trees are in the background, and the sky is bright and clear.

‘Dream to Conquer, Conquer to Dream’ by Michelle Simnett

Wire sculpture of a seated human figure with flowing hair, positioned on the edge of a brown rectangular structure outdoors, surrounded by trees and greenery.

‘Antediluvian’ by Gavin Roberts

L’orbe Du Plantes by David Figliuolo

Nepenthes in ‘Brazztralia’

Texture and tone … I usually don’t have much time for Phormium tenax. However, here its vertical strappy nature goes well with the corrugated fence.

Guess whose favourite this was?

I really liked the way that Charlotte Wiltshire found a way to increase the number of plants on this ‘balcony’. Growing shade-tolerant species under the bench adds a lushness in otherwise under-utilised space. Well done!

Seam Lam’s naturalistic plantings, seemingly inspired by Piet Oudulf (think High Line in New York), were beautiful. Here Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’, Echinacea purpurea and Perovskia atriplicifolia delight the eye. However …

I just thought Seam placed her bird-bath in a very awkward position on an extremely narrow path.Yes, I am a mum! All I could think of was bruised heads as tiny tackers took the corner too quickly. The Achievable Gardens are small. But that is the point, make the garden work within its contstraints.