Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show blooms with success

The 2024 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) presented by Scotts took over Carlton Gardens and the Royal Exhibition Building from March 20 to 24, showcasing some of the world’s best garden and floral designs.

The annual show offers a world-class program from leading Australian and international landscape and floral designers, transforming the heritage-listed site into a five-day garden celebration.

One of the show’s main attractions was the Landscape Design Show Gardens displaying eight unique garden designs, with Emmaline Bowman of Stem Landscape Architecture & Design and Liam Riley of ID Landscaping sweeping the competition with five awards.

Their design, titled, Through the Looking Glass, won gold in the Show Garden category, as well as receiving the coveted City of Melbourne Award of Excellence for Best in Show.

“Every year, we are honoured to welcome some of the world’s best garden and floral designers to Melbourne,” event director, Marcus Gale said.

“From previous Best in Show winners to first-timers, and a collection who flew in just for the occasion, this year’s talent mix is second to none and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all awards winners and those involved.”

The Great Hall of Flowers saw locals flock to see some of the best floral designs, including a Wedding Showcase and the RMIT Floral Fashion exhibit from some of Victoria’s most talented TAFE students.

For one night only on Friday March 22, MIFGS hosted Gardens by Twilight – a night-time, ambient experience for festival-goers to enjoy the show’s exhibitions under Melbourne’s setting sun.

MIFGS also featured an Indigenous garden in collaboration with the Elders of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria for the first time.

“An incredible amount of work goes into producing every exhibit, and this year’s program boasts some of the best we’ve seen in almost three decades,” Mr Gale said.

MIFGS runs annually and is the largest horticultural event in the Southern Hemisphere.

Despite criticism from heritage groups of the event’s environmental impact to the World Heritage listed Carlton Gardens, MIFGS continues to host a world-class event which saw tens of thousands of plant-lovers welcomed to the gardens. •