By BRIDGET COOK
A DESIGN based on the Australia Garden at Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) Cranbourne has blossomed on the world stage, taking out prestigious awards at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
The Essence of Australia show garden won a prestigious Best in Show title and Gold Medal at the world’s largest flower show last week.
The garden included a total of 1453 Australian native plants and incorporated similar features to the Cranbourne Australia Garden.
The colours were 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 Cranbourne.
RBG director and chief executive Tim Entwisle congratulated the team members on their hard work and dedication.
“It’s a winning formula,” he said.
“Team up Australian plants, the best of international garden design and Australia’s premier botanic garden, and it’s a triumph.
“I like to think we also wooed with the stories behind the plants and a quirk or two.
“We had a grass tree nearly as old as the 500-year-old Hampton Court Palace next door, emu bushes that stop flatulence in sheep and a twitter-triggered ripple in our Gardiner Creek-coloured billabong.”
The garden was designed by Melbourne-based landscape designer Jim Fogarty and aimed to evoke the relaxed feel of Australia and the country’s love of native bushland.
“It’s been an incredible journey and the whole team has just done an amazing job,” Mr Fogarty said.
“To win Best in Show and a Gold Medal confirms just how stunning Australian flora can be when combined with bold design.
“Hopefully, this garden will inspire people to come and see the real thing during a trip down-under.”
The garden was presented in partnership with Tourism Victoria, Tourism Northern Territory, Qantas and leading UK tour operator Trailfinders, with hopes that it would attract tourists to Australia and the garden at Cranbourne.
