Immerse Your Senses – Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show Returns in 2017

The Southern Hemisphere’s largest and most loved horticultural event, the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, returns to the heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens in 2017 Wednesday 29 March – Sunday 2 April. Now in its 22nd year, the Show’s immersive Show Garden installations, the vibrant floral designs and innovative gardening products have been a drawcard for tens of thousands of attendees annually.

In addition to showcasing an incredible line up of Australian landscape and floral designers, the 2017 Show will also reveal a plethora of new features and experiences for all ages. From fresh flower and plant features to tantalising food experiences and expert presentations, the features will breathe new life into the gardens and promise to be a lavish immersion of all five senses.

Double Chelsea Flower Show Silver Gilt medallist and Selling Houses Australia co-host, Charlie Albone will be joining a cast of returning, award winning and new design talent creating the stunning Show Gardens in 2017. Albone promises to bring his award-winning flare to an already robust line-up of Australia’s foremost landscape design minds – producing extraordinary pop-up gardens for visitors to visually explore. A number of truly unique spaces will be brought to life by AQL Landscapes, Phillip Withers Landscape Design, Cycas Landscape Design, MPF Garden Company, Waddell Landscapes, Candeo Design, Tract Consultants and the Tree & Shrub Growers Victoria to name a few.

The Show Gardens will be complemented again by the Landscape Victoria Boutique Gardens Competition where a selection of five designers will create a series of intimate garden environments.

The entire interior of the Royal Exhibition Building will be an excess of all things flora; an explosion of colour and scent. The programming spans across two levels with stunning installations and will feature fresh flower sales from Flowers Victoria, RMIT floral fashions, main floral design installations from Australia’s foremost floral artists, live student design competitions and a jam-packed programme of horticultural and floristry industry experts giving insightful demonstrations and Q&A sessions on the Main Stage daily.

The hugely popular Gardens by Twilight returns in 2017, taking place on Friday 31 March. Evening visitors will be able to stroll through the entire Show, under the disappearing light, until 9:30pm. Twinkling festoon lighting will cast a dreamlike mood over the gardens, whilst patrons enjoy a glass of sparkling and wander throughout until the moon rises in the sky and the stars come out.

The City of Melbourne’s Urban Forest initiative will also feature prominently at the Show, with two spectacular mature tree woodland installations; indicative of Melbourne’s shift towards a more verdant and biodiverse CBD habitat.

Visitors to the Show will not go hungry with a series of garden-themed cafés, bars and high tea spaces scattered throughout the Royal Exhibition Centre and Carlton Gardens. Like the Show itself, this enhanced food fare will champion Victoria’s exceptional regional produce, catering to families and foodies alike.

Also returning to the extensive outdoor area in Carlton Gardens is the Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria Precinct featuring new release plant varieties and more. The Debco Achievable Gardens, Kids Under Cover Cubby House Challenge, ASV Garden Sculpture Exhibition and dozens of stalls from Australia’s foremost plant and garden retailers will also feature at the Show.

The 2017 Show is shaping up to be its best yet, with more floral features, experts and unmissable botanical experiences to be announced next year.

Tickets are now on sale to the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show via RACV Travel.