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News from Hampton Court Palace Flower Show – the ‘Essence of Australia‘ garden designed by Jim Fogarty for RBG Melbourne has been awarded GOLD and BEST IN SHOW.
As Tim Entwisle – Director and Chief Executive of the Gardens (plus Talking Plants and GardenDrum author) says:
“It’s a winning formula. Team up Australian plants, the best of international garden design and Australia’s premier botanic garden, and it’s a triumph!”
“Our garden exceeded expectations, a really big impact in the show and with materials recycled and plants donated to Kew Gardens in London, little impact on the environment”.
Essence of Australia design Jim Fogarty. Photo Tim Entwisle
Design features
– A total of 1,453 Australian native plants sourced from nurseries in the UK, Spain and Holland and prepared by UK nursery Hortus Loci.
– A timber-clad structure that references the rock formations of the Northern Territory such as Uluru and the MacDonnell Ranges and is symbolic of Melbourne’s modern architecture and contemporary design.
– The colours of the garden are based on red sands, natural timbers, charcoal, and red style lines on the timber structure to reflect the outback of Australia and the architecture located in the Australian Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne.
Fast facts
– The red sands and rocks in the garden have been sourced in the UK – no materials were sent from Australia (significantly reducing the project’s environmental footprint).
– The garden was constructed over a period of 19 days, including seven days of planting.
– The 1,453 Australian native plants were planted by a nine-member planting team comprising horticultural staff from the Royal Botanic Gardens and volunteers from the horticultural industry.
– The garden was constructed by Landform Consultants Ltd, who also built the gold medal-winning ‘Australian Garden presented by the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne’ at the 2011 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
– Some plants included in the garden are traditionally used in Aboriginal culture as food, medicine and ceremony.
– All plants will be donated to Kew Gardens after the show.
This garden was a magnificent culmination of clever design, perfect plant selection, and a team of ingenious Australian and UK helpers.
Visitors to the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show loved it – me included.
Australians can be very proud.
There’ll be a full story and images in September’s Gardening Australia magazine.