Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show Part 2: Reduce Reuse Recycle

A reoccurring them at the MIFGS was definitely the hot topic of the decade - the 3 R's. Whether it was reusing household objects to create amazing works of Art or putting discarded objects to practical use in the garden, those 3 R's were in the background - or foreground - of most of the gardens on display.

Art...

Kitchen cutlery put to good use - Shoal by Sunny Scott, a one off piece made from recycled stainless steel and reclaimed timber.

Body language by Martin Keogh, materials recycled stainless steel & recycled steel.

A fascinating combination of everyday objects that perhaps have particular meaning to the artist Denise Dempsey - Shrine of Memories.

Noel Muscat's Welcome to my World in steel.

These Sculptures were part of the Association of Sculptors of Victoria exhibition.

Gardens...

One Garden that based its entire theme around sustainability was designer Wayne DeKlijn's garden for Mitre 10 - Sustainable Living Garden Food For Thought. Paving is made from recycled crushed glass, tubs are from old tyres and an entire wall is made a feature through the use of leftover wine bottles. The garden has a casual feel and seems an achievable design to aspire to in both practicality and aesthetics.

Reducing the Footprint garden by student Tara Cull was another garden to completely embrace sustainability. Within the garden each specific element aims to promote sustainability, including the interactive water display which involves the viewer turning a wheel to pump water from an underground reservoir.

One of the largest gardens that made quite an impact if you began from the exhibition building entry was Imagine by Dirtscape Dreaming. Wendy Clark the designer behind Dirtscape is so inspirational - I still recall seeing her speak a few years ago and I hung onto her every word. Imagine won gold and it's not surprising, the garden was beautiful as well as inspiring with its use of native plants and a 7-8m fallen Red gum from Benalla which was sliced in half to form a bar.

The large garden incorporated a 'tunnel' created with acacia lime magic and a relaxing coastal garden. For more images visit the dedicated blog here.

A section of the exhibition was dedicated to achievable gardens, one of these demonstrated once again the use old tyres as planting tubs in a reasonably attractive manner.

Stay tuned for part 3 and the wrap up on MIFGS, the medal winners and the obvious return to Australian natives and gardens based on plantings.