#landscape Archives - Andrea Whitely Garden Consultant

The historic fountain in Carlton Gardens-the centrepiece of the display gardens and sculpture exhibition

We all need to look at other gardens and the work of other people to get the creativity bubbling away again every now and again…so this year I jumped on a plane and headed east to attend the world-famous, marvellous Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

Victoria is known in this country as the Garden State of Australia and I was most impressed with the design work on display created by Victorian-based landscape students, professionals as well as the superb blooms perfectly presented by the floral industry. Such brilliant creativity on display for thousands of visitors to enjoy.

This is a costume made entirely of flowers

The boots on this creation were made entirely from cineraria leaves

March is always a lovely time to visit Melbourne, cool crisp mornings, mostly sunny days and mild evenings made longer with daylight savings (something we don’t have in Western Australia). It was also buzzing with excitement and lots of rev heads were checking out the Formula One Grand Prix which takes place around Albert Park Lake each year. A great time to visit this wonderful city, steeped in history.

Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show takes place at the historic and stunningly beautiful UNESCO World Heritage-listed Carlton Gardens and Royal Exhibition buildings. The day we were there, the sun was shining and the trees were starting to turn in the park, a fabulous setting for a walk through the show.

Sit back and relax…it’s time for an armchair view of MIFGS-Australia’s best-known garden show where thousands of people flock each day to check out the incredible floral art and inspiring garden designs.

Sunshiny yellow blooms-is that a banana I see?

An Instagram moment here’s proof that I was there.

a parasol entirely of everlasting flowers

The stunning artwork and floral creations combine for an oooh ahh moment for my friend Lis

another shot of this amazing bee created entirely of flowers

A very long wedding table-each place setting created by a different florist

This was fascinating-so many florists participating in The Wedding Table

A really fun display paying homage to Australian home life

The landscape designers displayed their artistic talents at MIFGS, providing inspiration for those starting a new garden, renovating an older one or people like me, in the horticulture industry seeking a shot in the arm of new ideas. There were so many snippets of brilliance.

I loved the way that the displays were executed, not a single black plastic pot to be seen.

So much interest in such a small space

Sculpture featured throughout the show, this reminded me of something I saw at the LA Arboretum in 2015

Each display garden was clearly explained with these information sheets

Step through the circle…

Love this up-cycled fireplace-repurposed for outdoor use-what a great idea!

My absolute favourite designer garden-imagine your feet in the rill on a hot day while enjoying a long lunch outdoors

So many sensational ideas, so much talent, so much diversity of plant material…as we headed off back to the tram for the trip back to my friend’s house my feet were aching and my head was spinning! I am officially re-inspired!

…and finally…have you ever wanted to grow 6! different apples on the one tree?

Finally, it feels like summer here in Perth and we are getting some hot, sunny days, easterly winds and dry heat. The children arrive home from school all red-faced from their bike ride or walk and ready for a dunk in the pool and a long, cold drink. I love the heat that summer brings and adore all the gorgeous summer blooms that I have in my garden. They make me happy.

Magnolia ‘Teddy Bear’

My garden is only 4 years old and as much as I could, I salvaged favourite plants from the old garden. I have planted tough plants in our garden, which will bloom for us, mostly all year round but especially in the summer when we are spending lots of time outdoors enjoying the long days and warm evenings. I have a good collection of Salvias, Roses and Succulents and I guess our space has a “formal cottage” feel due to the diversity of plants.

Want White?

It’s hard to beat this hardy Iceberg rose which seems to bloom most of the year. We planted it on my first Mothers Day in 2000.

I planted this pretty hibiscus along the pool fence last year, sweet delicate blooms

These bees are going crazy in this magnolia-the fragrance is overwhelming

Our garden survives on the two allowable reticulation waterings per week. We do not have a bore on our property, if we did we would be able to water three times a week. I hand water my pots, they are not on drip irrigation.

I group plants together depending upon their water requirements.

Frangipani grown from a cutting from a friend-you don’t always need to buy all your plants, donations are fun to nurture along.

This frangipani smells like roses and was taken from a cutting from my friend Helens’ cattle station near Broome

Apricot Brugmansia-the fragrance is divine when you’re taking a dip in our pool

This year, my veggie garden is having a bit of a rest and I have planted lots of Salvias and a couple of roses in that bed behind a hedge of Rosemary Tuscan Blue. I, of course, still have herbs and veggies growing in pots! I just can’t resist having fresh herbs for my cooking.

Potted Chilli-so pretty in a shady corner

Burgundy Iceberg-because every good host serves up white and red

The garden is fertilised with mature compost and liquid fertilisers like Seasol Powerfeed and Compost Tea, a great product I picked up in the USA. I try and keep it all as organic as possible. I use anything organic that will bind together our ancient but gutless sand that lies beneath my feet.

Pretty in Pink…..

so many of us forget about this great plant-Oleander-it blooms all year round-this is a “borrowed” plant as it’s feet live in our neighbours yard.

David Austin ‘Jubilee Celebration’ planted for my 50th birthday

This is a climbing pelargonium that I have growing in terracotta pots

I love this geranium..another slip cutting form a friend, happily dwelling here now

Rosa Pierre de Ronsard, slowly making his way up and over my arbour

I just love the lime green colour on the new Pierre de Ronsard buds

This is Hibiscus ‘Apple Blossom’ and it’s an awesome screening plant…and you get flowers!

I mulch my garden every two years with wood chips that I get from my friendly Arborist and I top it up with lupin mulch for pots. We re-use a lot of the leaves and nuts that drop from our Eucalypts for mulch too, they get raked up by Dr Garden Consultant and put into the garden beds.

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ was a favourite of my friend Margy who we sadly lost to cancer a few years ago-I always think of her when I look at this plant

This rare tradescantia was give to me many years ago by as nurseryman from down south.

I’m not really one that likes being told that I can’t do something- and so, I break all the rules for our climate. You can have a pretty garden in the summer. You can have an organised, abundance of flowers. You can have lovely garden on just two waterings a week. You can have a healthy patch of lawn. You can create a habitat garden in an urban setting.

I am always observing my garden to see the huge variety of bugs and birds that come to visit, I have provided lots of height variation so that we get a variety of birds and insects and somehow in this relatively small patch of dirt, we have created a habitat where they all seem to live in happy harmony and no-one eats too much of what they shouldn’t, everyone is kept in check by the other. Even Jazz, the Labradoodle chases away the doves when they eat too much of her kibble!

What’s flowering at your place this summer?

Tag: #landscape

Design Inspiration at Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

Some like it hot…some more than others!