The 2013 Australian entry to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, was designed and built by award winning designer Phillip Johnson. Designed around his guiding principles of sustainability, the focal points of which are a billabong, gorge and series of waterfalls. This design, sponsered by Wes Fleming of Flemings Nurseries, is the first Australian entrant to win the coveted “Best in Show” award at Chelsea.

The finished design, based on Phil’s own garden in Victoria, took a total of 17 days and over 2,500 man-hours to build, transforming what once resembled a bare soccer pitch into a sustainable garden retreat.

Chelsea comes alive throughout the duration of the show, with shops around Sloane Square going to great lengths to get into the garden show spirit.

This year we were asked to assist a new entrant, Christopher Gursansky, with his first Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) display.

The design consisted of crisp formal lines, sophisticated and elegant, contrasted with the spontaneity of the wild flower gardens.  Avenues of Silver Birch reflect their trunks into the shallow river, pebble-filled ponds.  The garden is confident and decisive.

Christopher wanted to create a space which focused on simple beauty and immersing one’s self in nature.  There are no barbecues, televisions or kitchen sinks; the garden is organic and refreshing…A natural outdoor room, where the sky is the roof and hedging creates the walls.

An outdoor room where life is the hero.

Why have one backyard garden when you can have two? This question was the inspiration for the latest creation from Nick Pearson Landscape Design. His design creates two distinctly different gardens next to each other with a common flow, and some very creative ideas. Nicks designs include many small details which leave a finished result which can only be described as breathtaking.

This series shows the complete build from beginning to end of an amazing garden by Serene Surrounds.

Photos from the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, 2007.

Photos from the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, 2002.

This year saw Beutyliner used in multiple places by many different landscapers.  Urban ECO presented a meandering stream finishing with an impressively lit glass sculpture, while Jamie Durie presented multiple gardens with his Bali inspired tropical oasis being the stage for presentations on varying topics during the show.

Photos from the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, 2001.

Photos from the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, 2000.