OVER 100,000 GARDEN LOVERS FLOCKED TO MELBOURNE TO CELEBRATE THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE’S LARGEST HORTICULTURAL EVENT
More than one hundred thousand people converged in Carlton Gardens and the world-heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building this week to celebrate the 26th Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, presented by Scotts Osmocote. Boasting its biggest program to date, one of the world’s largest garden events had something for horticultural enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels, showcasing 80 world-leading landscape and floral designs, hands-on experiences, educational talks, and endless botanical inspiration.
“This week, Australia’s horticultural community came out in droves to celebrate our nation’s premier gardening event. It was an honour to deliver another successful Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show for over 100,000 passionate plant people with our biggest program to date, right in the heart of the city,” said Event Director, Marcus Gale.
Winning garden displays included “The Container Garden”, a multi-level Show Garden featuring two recycled shipping containers by Charlie Albone of Inspired Exteriors, which took out three awards including the City of Melbourne Award of Excellence for Best in Show. On the floral front, eighteen-time Show designer Matthew Landers took out the Gold Award for his stunning floral design in the Visual Display category alongside Olivia Coutts of Florals by Pemberley of Malmsbury and Collectors Corner Garden World.
the much-anticipated People’s Choice Awards, as voted by visitors, were announced. “Aurum” designed by Darin Bradbury of MINT Pool & Landscape Design was named the crowd-favourite Show Garden following its Gold Show Garden Award earlier this week. Coutts also took out the attendee-voted award in the floral category.
Recognising people who have made exceptional contributions to the Show and played a key role in its ongoing success, the inaugural Spirit of the Show Awards were also presented this morning. In the Carlton Gardens category, Martin Semken of Semken Landscaping was recognised for his commitment to the Show Garden competition, helping construct countless award-winning horticultural displays since the event’s inception in 1995. Dawn and Martin, the duo behind Peninsula Wild Flower, were bestowed with the inaugural award in The Great Hall of Flowers category for creating and presenting breathtaking botanical displays and endless inspiration for visitors, year after year.
The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show is the southern hemisphere’s largest horticultural event and one of the only garden events with a city- backdrop. The Show will return in March 2024.
