Winners Revealed 2024 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
Today, Australia’s best garden and floral designs were announced at the 2024 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, presented by Scotts. Marking the official opening of the five-day festival, the awards recognised some of the country’s best established and emerging horticultural experts and their enchanting works, showcased throughout Carlton Gardens and the Royal Exhibition Building until Sunday.
Sweeping the Landscape Design Show Garden Competition with five awards, including the coveted City of Melbourne Award of Excellence for Best in Show, was Emmaline Bowman of Stem Landscape Architecture & Design and Liam Riley of ID Landscaping. Inspired by rural Australia with a sustainable lens, the duo’s design entitled “Through The Looking Glass” prioritises minimal impact and celebrates the beauty of nature’s hidden world. Crowned by an iconic Australian windmill, the garden’s accolades also include the Gold Show Garden Award and the Horticultural Media Association Award for best use of plant life.
Fellow winner of the Gold Show Garden Award was “SaltBush”, a visionary design by 2017 Best in Show winner Phillip Withers and Fiona Brockhoff which pays homage to Victoria’s renowned coastline. The recipients of the Silver Gilt Show Garden Award were event debutants Annika Zetterman and Kajsa Björne for their creation “New Nordic Notes”, inspired by their Swedish roots.
Three exceptional gardens were awarded the Silver Show Garden Award. The winners were “Inner Journey” by Christian Jenkins of Christian Jenkins Landscape Design in collaboration with Margaret River Trees, “Australian Idyll” by Nadia Cole of Platylobium Landscape Design, and “A Moment in Time” by Ireland’s Peter Donegan of Peter Donegan Garden Design, which features a retired Piper PA-28 Cherokee plane. Riley Cooper of Riley Cooper Landscape Design and Horticulture took out the Bronze Show Garden Award for his competition debut entitled, “Gratus.”
Recognising the best of small space garden design, “Innersanctum” by Paul Pritchard Landscape Design was awarded first place in the 5m x 5m Boutique Garden Competition. “In Living Colour” by Panacea Landscapes won the Balcony Garden Award, and “Oasis” by Emma Sheppard-Simms and La Muxlow secured first place in the Border Design Competition. Sheppard and Muxlow’s plants will be donated to the Royal Children’s Hospital at the conclusion of the event.
The Challenger Achievable Garden Competition recognised the next generation of horticultural creatives with the Award of Excellence going to “Look Within” by Madeleine Holyman and Andrew Sargood from London College of Garden Design. “Mountain Landscape” by Seb Ryder from Melbourne Polytechnic also took out top spot in the Hanging Basket Competition.
In the major floral competitions, both Dayne Robinson of Marjorie Milner College and The Posy Crew achieved the Gold Floral Design Award. The enchanting exhibits by Collectors Corner (Gardenworld), Big Leaf Boutique, and Thrive Flower School also collected the Gold Visual Display Award.
“Every year, we are honoured to welcome some of the world’s best garden and floral designers to Melbourne to showcase an exceptional array of horticultural inspiration. From previous Best in Show winners to first timers and a collection who flew in just for the occasion, this year’s talent mix is second to none and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all awards winners and those involved,” said Event Director, Marcus Gale.
“An incredible amount of work goes into producing every exhibit and this year’s program boasts some of the best we’ve seen in almost three decades. Stand out themes in all garden and floral categories include sustainability and social connection, as well as culture and community, as reflected in our first Indigenous Show Garden in collaboration with the Elders of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. We look forward to welcoming tens of thousands of plant lovers to the grounds this week to relish in one of our greatest shows yet.”
Offering something for green thumbs of all shapes and sizes, new program additions include a Bloomin’ Wheels showcase, interactive and edible cultural gardens, and the Challenger Seafood and Sips experience. The all-new Urban Forest entertainment precinct, presented in partnership with the City of Melbourne, will also transform the Royal Exhibition Building forecourt with DJs, food trucks and workshops for ticket holders and passers-by to enjoy.
The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, presented by Scotts, is the southern hemisphere’s largest horticultural event. It will run daily until Sunday 24th March at Carlton Gardens and Royal Exhibition Building, with extended hours on Friday 22nd March for Gardens by Twilight.
