The Southern Hemisphere’s Largest Horticultural Event Returns to Melbourne
After much anticipation, the world-renowned Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, presented by Scotts Osmocote, is thrilled to announce its return to the heritage listed Carlton Gardens and Royal Exhibition Building. It will run from Wednesday 30th March through to Sunday 3rd April 2022.
The coveted festival will unite plant lovers and flower fanatics from all ages with an enchanting collection of never-before-seen floral and landscape designs, educational talks from industry elites, hands-on workshops, and a catalogue of the latest and greatest gardening products.
The crowd favourite Show Gardens will headline the 2022 program with an extraordinary display of horticultural oases from some of the world’s best landscape designers. Over five days, visitors will be invited to vote for their favourite creation to win the acclaimed People’s Choice Award.
The Boutique Gardens will be a haven of inspiration for urban dwellers with a clever collection of 5m x 5m designs from the nation’s top architects, landscapers and students. The precinct will also host the inaugural Ryman Healthcare Balcony Garden Competition, celebrating the changing nature of the Australian backyard. Over in the Achievable Gardens, budding horticulturalists will showcase a series of approachable gardening solutions using quality materials. Previous graduates will also return to exhibit new works in the first-ever Emergent Gardens.
Transporting visitors to heirloom heaven, the Diggers Club Urban Farm will join forces with Melbourne Skyfarm to present a sustainable installation playing on the theme ‘What’s Old is New’. The concept will showcase heirloom vegetable and flower varieties grown in an ultra-efficient and productive urban farm set. As part of the design, the Digger’s will also reprise their signature pumpkin stack – the perfect backdrop for the ‘gram. The team will also host daily workshops, teaching guests how to sow seeds of their own.
Inside, the Royal Exhibition Building will be transformed into a floral paradise. Visitors will experience award-winning floral displays, a dedicated wedding showcase, floral fashions by RMIT students, floral-inspired High Tea and have the opportunity to purchase their own blooms at the Flowers Victoria Flower Market. Dressed in blossoming botanicals, the Main Stage will host free daily seminars and live demonstrations from an extensive line-up of floral artists, gardening experts and celebrity landscapers.
More than 200 of Australia’s best artists will exhibit their latest collections on the mezzanine level of the Royal Exhibition Building and throughout a selection of outdoor spaces as part of the revamped Arts and Sculpture Precinct. Meandering through each creative space, aesthetes will have the chance to enjoy live demonstrations by esteemed artists and even purchase original pieces to adorn their garden or home.
From 6pm through 9pm on Friday 1 April, Carlton Gardens will transform into a twinkling paradise for Gardens by Twilight. Accompanied by the dulcet tones of emerging Melbourne musicians, city goers can experience the Show under a whole new light. Sip on a glass of bubbles and enjoy an indulgent selection of gourmet bites from local culinary delights.
Truly a family friendly affair, the Victorian Schools Garden Program will offer daily interactive and multisensory experiences for little green thumbs. The new Horticulture Careers Hub will provide helpful advice for secondary students looking to join Australia’s thriving landscape and design industries, and parents can chat to qualified landscape builders, gardeners and designers at the Landscape Advisory Centre. The NGIV Precinct will also provide a suite of backyard inspiration, as a select group of emerging designers present their unique gardens.
Demonstrating the Show’s increased commitment to sustainability, the new Sustainability Space will play host to the festival’s sustainability partners, Bio Gro and Closed Loop. Helping to reduce the event’s environmental impact, organisers aim to divert more than 60% of waste from landfill in 2022.
“Over the past two years, many of us have turned to plants to breathe new life into our living spaces. Australia’s horticulture industry has shown incredible resilience and we are thrilled to welcome back a phenomenal line up of designers, artists, brands and businesses to Melbourne in March 2022. We look forward to uniting established and emerging talent with visitors of all ages,” said Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show Event Director, Marcus Gale.
“The team at Scotts Osmocote is delighted to become the official presenting partner of the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show in 2022. With Australians spending more time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic many people turned to gardening as a way to escape and connect with nature. We are excited to be able to engage with those people new to the garden category, as well as reconnect with the more experienced gardeners who have come to know and love the range of Scotts Osmocote products,” said Scotts Osmocote General Manager Asia Pacific, Andrew Martin.
Tickets are now on sale at melbfloweshow.com.au. High-res event imagery is available here.
EVENT DETAILS
Location: Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens
Wednesday 30th March 9:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday 31st March 9:00am – 5:00pm
Friday 1st April (Gardens by Twilight) 9:00am – 9:00pm
Saturday 2nd April 9:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday 3rd April 9:00am – 5:00pm
