Acclaimed Australian landscape designer Jim Fogarty and director and chief executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Dr Philip Moors in ‘The Australian Garden’, pictured above, which won a gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.By Emma Sun
THE team behind Cranbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens is celebrating the win of the coveted gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in England on Tuesday night.
‘The Australian Garden’ presented by the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne won multiple awards before winning the prestigious award at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show 2011.
It features almost 2000 hand-picked Australian native plants and depicts the journey from the dry and tough outback to the urban east coast using water as a guide.
Award winning designer Jim Fogarty said they were proud and happy to have received the gold medal at the most prestigious garden show in the world.
“It has been nearly a two-year project which has involved meticulous planning,” he said.
“Our garden is packed purely with Australian native, rare and unusual species and we’re delighted to be educating people about the range of colours, plants and stories of Australia.”
Director and chief executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Dr Philip Moors said they were honoured to accept the award.
“The reaction from visitors to the show has been universally complimentary and we’ve been inspired by the enthusiasm and interest in our plants and gardens,” he said.
“This is a tremendous accolade for Australian horticulture and design. We would not be here without the generous support of the Victorian government, our sponsors and our donors.”
City of Casey councillor Amanda Stapledon congratulated the team on the win.
“I am so proud of the Royal Botanic Gardens and it’s achievements over the years and so thrilled of their current achievement at the Chelsea Garden Show; this is the most prestigious acknowledgment and well deserved,” she said.
“Now the world knows what a jewel we have here in Cranbourne.”
More than 157,000 people attend the RHS Chelsea Flower Show every year, which is seen as the peak of excellence for landscape design and horticultural display. Visitors from around the world will have a chance to learn the stories, colours, textures, sounds and scents of Australia when the second and final stage of the 18-hectare Australian Garden opens in 2012.
The Australian Garden presented by the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne was one of just eight gardens allocated a prestigious Main Avenue site at the Chelsea Flower Show.
