This year’s Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS) attracted huge crowds. The five-day floral and landscape fest ran from March 24 to 28 at the Carlton Gardens and the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. The official crowd tally came to 110, 234 people – and this exceeded last year’s show by several thousand.
“The show was brilliant this year,” said Event Director Greg Hooton. “We couldn’t have asked for better weather and the crowds seemed to really enjoy the show.”
MIFGS, which was presented by Mighty Helpful Mitre 10, featured over 500 exhibitors in landscaping, floral design and retail.
“We had more exhibitors displaying at the show this year, providing visitors with plenty to see and do from purchasing seeds and gardening tools to seeing stunning floral and landscaping displays,” said Greg.
“The landscape designers also put on a spectacular show outdoors. The trends seen this year included sustainable gardens, innovative design for small spaces and edible gardens, with the majority of award winners displaying innovation in this field.
Universal Magazines again had a stand at the show, the Outdoor Design & Living Zone. The stand was a huge success with thousands of magazines available for sale - and everything selling out! Available for sale at the stand were Universal Magazines’ leading outdoor and landscape titles Outdoor Design & Living; Backyard & Garden Design Ideas; Outdoor Rooms; Outdoor Design Source; and various BGDI specials including Outdoor Entertaining; Good Garden Design; Green Garden & Home; and Waterwise Gardens.
Universal Magazines, in conjunction with LIAV, also sponsored three gardens at the show - Ros McCully Garden Design; Tom Remfrey (Tom's Secret Garden); and Philip Dyer (Garden Living Space). The gardens, designed and built by LIAV members, were on display in the Outdoor Design & Living Zone at MIFGS.
Category Winners at MIFGS 2010
City of Melbourne Award of Excellence for Best in Show
Tree & Shrub Growers Victoria
Gold Show Garden
The Wave Garden
Designed and constructed by Paal Grant Designs in Landscaping & Entanglements
Sir Walter Buffalo Garden
Designed by Jason Hodges and constructed by Greenart Gardens
Silver Show Garden
The Health & Wellbeing Garden
Designed and constructed by Natural Inspirations
The Nest
By Patio Landscape Architecture & Design
Designed by Jamie Durie, construction and project management by Semken landscaping, “The Nest” construction by McKinna Sheetmetal
Shift
Designed and constructed by Jake Stone Design
Bronze Show Garden
Attracting the Birds
Designed by Jenna Mellerick
A Garden for our Future
Designed by Adam Cox
Modern Living Anston Show Garden
Designed and constructed by Ian Barker & Associates, presented by Flemings Nurseries
Island Tranquillity
Designed and constructed by Ros McCully Garden Design
Reclaimation
Designed and constructed by Garden Living Space
Curvaceous
Designed and constructed by Christian Jenkins Design
The Royal Horticultural Society Comeadow Award
1st – The Wave
2nd – Sir Walter Buffalo Garden
3rd – Modern Living Anston Show Garden
Horticultural Media Association Award for Best Use of Plant Life
Tree & Shrub Growers Victoria
LIAV Student Landscape Design Competition
Winner of the Don Fleming Student Award
Attracting the Birds designed by Jenna Mellerick
Ford Sustainability Award
savewater! Plant Solutions
Gold Outdoor Exhibit
Tree & Shrub Growers Victoria
Oasis Horticulture designed by Vivid Design
Bronze Outdoor Exhibit
Flemings Nurseries
Mersey Valley
savewater! Plant Solutions
Gold Floral Feature
Amazing Malm
Designed by Michael Strownix with thanks to Nellie Castran Gallery and Constance Zikos
Out of the Woods
Designed by Melanie Stapleton of Cecelia Fox
Flowers Vasette
Silver Floral Feature
Ikebana International Melbourne Chapter
Flowers Victoria Growers Avenue
Bronze Floral Feature
Glasshaus Nursery
Richard Go Floral Matrix
Tesselaar flowers Shop Window Competition
1st – Marjorie Milner College
2nd – Kim Wiebenga
3rd – Wona Bae
4th – Sarah Wilson
Highly Commended – Holmesglen Institute Floristry Department
RMIT Floral Fashion Design Competition
1st – Laura Li
2nd – Jemmy Sham
3rd – Holly Hesterman
Melbourne Markets Floral Design Award
Flowers Vasette
The Mark Bence Construction Award
Sir Walter Buffalo Garden
Images (top to bottom): Universal Magazines' Outdoor Design & Living stand at MIFGS; and the three sponsored gardens - Ros McCully Garden Design; Tom Remfrey (Tom's Secret Garden); and Philip Dyer (Garden Living Space).
