Another Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) has come to an end. The 2023 show was on the same week as The Melbourne F1 Grand Prix but that didn’t matter. Who knows, it may have even helped. There were over 100,000 visitors to the Garden Show which was a wonderful outcome considering the rain we got on the Wednesday and the Friday night session which was basically a washout.Gardenworld was pleased to be selling plants with 4 other retail nurseries with the help of around 10 suppliers. The camaraderie between all these businesses was great but what was even more pleasing was to see the up and coming young horticulturists, landscapers and florists making an impact on this show. Some of the oldies have been doing this for too long, so this injection of youth did really re-energise everyone else.
Some of the show gardens were in the same spots, but some of them have moved so initially the show outside looked a bit thin on the ground, but sometimes change takes a bit of getting used to. Congratulations to Charles Albone for Best In Show Award. It utilised some shipping containers. It wasn’t my favourite garden, but did have a wonderful shade garden leading up to a spiral staircase. It also had some Aloe plicatilis that must have been 50 years old – amazing.Collector’s Corner our favourite shop at Gardenworld received a Gold Award for what was an epic ‘under the sea’ garden that no-one could ever possibly replicate, such was its detail and array of unusual plants and crystalised rocks. Well done to all concerned.It was great to see the indoor presentations televised and on big screens in the eating areas outside. Even I learnt how to do a vase display using nandina while eating my fish and chips!The plants that really stood out at the show included Ligularia (tractor seat plant), Agastache and Verbena flowers and large stark cacti and succulents including some stunning pieces from the Duality Garden.One thing the garden show did was inspire. I came home looking at my half baked backyard and looked at it in another light, with the possibilities that it could be, and like many of these shows, some possibilites will be hard to replicate, but others are downright achievable. Thankyou GardenShow. I will see you next year.
Advertisement
Some of the show gardens were in the same spots, but some of them have moved so initially the show outside looked a bit thin on the ground, but sometimes change takes a bit of getting used to. Congratulations to Charles Albone for Best In Show Award. It utilised some shipping containers. It wasn’t my favourite garden, but did have a wonderful shade garden leading up to a spiral staircase. It also had some Aloe plicatilis that must have been 50 years old – amazing.Collector’s Corner our favourite shop at Gardenworld received a Gold Award for what was an epic ‘under the sea’ garden that no-one could ever possibly replicate, such was its detail and array of unusual plants and crystalised rocks. Well done to all concerned.It was great to see the indoor presentations televised and on big screens in the eating areas outside. Even I learnt how to do a vase display using nandina while eating my fish and chips!The plants that really stood out at the show included Ligularia (tractor seat plant), Agastache and Verbena flowers and large stark cacti and succulents including some stunning pieces from the Duality Garden.One thing the garden show did was inspire. I came home looking at my half baked backyard and looked at it in another light, with the possibilities that it could be, and like many of these shows, some possibilites will be hard to replicate, but others are downright achievable. Thankyou GardenShow. I will see you next year.