Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show 2022
DATES: 30th of March to the 3rd of April 2022.
LOCATION: Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Garden
WEBSITE : https://melbflowershow.com.au/
TICKETS: https://melbflowershow.com.au/visitor-information/ticketing/
THE BEST OF THE 2022 MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW
This autumn, the world-renowned Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, presented by Scotts Osmocote, returns to Carlton Gardens and the Royal Exhibition Building. From Wednesday 30th March until Sunday 3rd April, the southern hemisphere’s largest horticultural event will inspire plant lovers and
flower fanatics of all ages. With so much to experience, these are the top Show features to get excited about in 2022.
BACKYARD INSPIRATION
Bigger and better than ever, the festival’s outdoor program will boast more than 30 enchanting garden displays across seven categories including the Scotts Osmocote Welcome Garden by Candeo Design, and the first-ever Celebrity Show Garden designed by 2022 Australian of the Year and champion wheelchair tennis player, Dylan Alcott. Fully accessible, ‘Tramlines’ will incorporate native plants and shrubs from Victorian nurseries and be auctioned at the event with 100% of proceeds going directly to the Dylan Alcott Foundation. Other new features in 2022 include the inaugural Ryman Healthcare Balcony Gardens and the London
College of Design Border Gardens, both celebrating the changing nature of the Australian backyard. The Secret Garden Melbourne Ideas Competition will also make its debut showcasing the works of three finalists who have reimaged an underutilised ‘grey’ space in Melbourne’s CBD into a thriving ‘green’ oasis. The lucky winner will be given the chance to co-design a permanent city installation with renowned landscape architect, Jack Merlo. The crowd-favourite Landscape Design Show Gardens will return with captivating horticultural displays alongside the Boutique Gardens with a
clever collection of 5m x 5m designs from the nation’s top creatives. Over in the Achievable Gardens, budding horticulturalists will showcase a series of approachable gardening solutions using
quality materials with previous graduates returning to exhibit new works in the first-ever Emergent Gardens.
MAKE, TASTE AND TAKE HOME
In a Show first, Scotts Osmocote Indoor Plant Zone will provide a haven for indoor plant lovers with an A-Z of species to explore, free advice from gardening experts and a curated selection of plant care products.
For those looking to get hands on, 15-minute indoor planter and succulent growing sessions will be hosted by the Scotts Osmocote team each day, with attendees taking home their new creations. Set beside the stunning Carlton Gardens lake, oenophiles will be eager to explore the Wine Selectors Wine Garden complete with wine tasting masterclasses to educate visitors on how to identify the flavours they find in their wines. Those with a palate for fresh produce can learn about the intricate history of heirloom veggies and how they can grow their very own at home at The Diggers Club Urban Farm. Inside the Royal Exhibition Building, visitors will be spoiled for choice with a stunning selection of interactive workshops including table centrepieces and Japanese kokedamas. Australian rising star, Morgan Hipworth, of artisan bakehouse Bistro Morgan, will headline the luxurious High Tea feature with his signature culinary delights. Guests will receive a specially curated treat complete with custom-designed recipes to take home. Hipworth will also present a pop-up Bistro where Show visitors can purchase his renowned treats
FLOWER POWER
The Great Hall of Flowers will boast an incredible collection of award-winning floral displays from some of Australia’s top established and up-and-coming designers.
HORTICULTURE AFTER DARK
From 5pm until 9pm on Friday 1st April, Carlton Gardens will transform into a twinkling paradise for Gardens by Twilight. Accompanied by the dulcet tones of emerging Melbourne musicians, city goers can experience the Show under a whole new light thanks to leading landscape lighting and design specialists,
Gardens at Night. Sip on a glass of bubbles from The Prosecco Van and enjoy an indulgent selection of gourmet bites from local culinary delights. Over in the Royal Exhibition Building forecourt, the brand-new Autumn Night Garden will come alive with sprawling light displays, food trucks, and free live performances from over 20 Melbourne-based musicians, from 4:30pm until 9:30pm, Wednesday 30th March until Saturday 2nd April.
GRAB A MONET TO-GOGH
More than 500 works from some of Australia’s best artists will be showcased on the mezzanine level of the Royal Exhibition Building and throughout a selection of outdoor spaces as part of the revamped Arts and Sculpture Precincts. Meandering through each creative space, aesthetes will have the chance to enjoy live demonstrations by esteemed wood, limestone and clay sculptors, and even purchase original pieces to adorn their garden or home.
REALISE YOUR POTENTIAL
The all-new Horticulture Careers Hub will provide helpful advice for secondary students looking to join Australia’s thriving landscape and design industries, and parents can chat to qualified landscape builders, gardeners, and designers at the Landscape Advisory Centre. The NGIV Precinct will also showcase a suite of backyard inspiration for attendees, as a select group of emerging designers
present their unique gardens.
A FAMILY AFFAIR
Offering something for the whole family to enjoy, daily Indigenous yoga and earth connection sessions will be hosted in the Beyond Blue Charity Garden by Wayapa Wuurrk alongside interactive Indigenous Plant A Seed and Bushfood sessions by CERES. Victorian Schools Garden Program will also provide a selection of hands on and multisensory experiences for little green thumbs.
REDUCING IMPACT
Demonstrating the Show’s increased commitment to sustainability, the new Sustainability Space will play host to the festival’s sustainability partners, Bio Gro and Closed Loop with flower beds made from recycled materials and a wealth of educational resources. Helping to reduce the event’s environmental impact,
organisers aim to divert over 500m3 of waste from land fill in 2022.
All thanks to our friends at the exhibition management team Bohemian Rhapsody Weekly Magazine is proudly covering the exhibition (media: Katherine Kelly and Robert Wilson) please stay tuned for more details.
special thanks: Zoe Morley
photo below: Erkin Kalayci