The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show is on the horizon! It’s the perfect place for budding florists and flower enthusiasts to get inspiration, see the new emerging trends, and develop new skills.
The annual show has been going for nearly 30 years, and takes place on the beautiful world heritage site, Carlton Gardens. It’s the largest horticultural event in the southern hemisphere, and welcomes a whopping 100,000 guests every year.
They have a huge amount of things to get stuck into, from workshops, to exhibits, to competitions. With all of that going on, it would be easy to miss out on something amazing special – and we wouldn’t want that. So, we’ve put together a rundown for you, of what they have to offer, and the activities we would take part in.
The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show activities
Workshops
You’re spoiled for choice with plenty of great workshops to choose from this year from botanical art to indoor plant growing workshops. The Krystal Kokedama workshop will show you incredible sculptures made from living moss, while at Brush and Bubbles, they promise to unleash your inner Picasso while you sip on your favourite beverage.
John Bishop will be giving limestone cutting demonstrations, while Meredith Plain will be showing visitors how she creates her ceramic sculptures. Over at Diggers Garden the folks from Melbourne Skyfarm and other experts will be teaching you all you need to know to become the best gardener you can be.
There are just so many amazing workshops taking place this year! But the one we’re most excited about is Julia Rose’s wearable floral workshop. We think with all the wearable florals coming through the flower show this year, they’re definitely going to be en vogue this year. So you definitely can’t miss out on these.
You can take a look at all of the workshops on offer here.
Royal exhibition building
One thing you absolutely need to do is go for a stroll in the Royal Exhibition building. It’s transformed into the Great Hall of Flowers for the full 5 days of the show!
Here, you can peruse the flower market for the blooms you see on display, check out the indoor plant zone, and find inspiration from the displays by talented TAFE students.
You’ll also not want to miss the Wedding Showcase or the RMIT floral fashion exhibit. Both of which will display all the latest trends in flowers for 2023, perfect for keeping florists or flower enthusiasts of any level in the loop.
Flower competitions
There are tonnes of competitions happening this year, which is super exciting for us flower lovers. Competitions are a breeding ground for innovation, so whether you’re entering or just watching the artists do their work, there’s plenty of inspiration to be had!
In the floral design competition, local and international designers will be creating gorgeous interactive displays that you can see for yourself in the Royal Exhibition building.
We’re most looking forward to the shop window competition, which is open to anyone. This means professional designers, students, and flower lovers.
The gardens
The fun doesn’t stop inside! The gardens are meticulously curated every year, with incredibly talented landscapers, florists and artists all collaborating to create something special.
There will be a Wine Garden, where you can learn about nature’s influence on wine as well as try out a selection of delicious vino yourself.
Over at the mainstage, there’s a jam-packed line up of florists, landscapers and other experts, with a bunch of free seminars to enjoy.
Twilight Wonderland
This one is a must-see! For one night only, the Carlton gardens are transformed into a Twilight Wonderland. With award winning floral displays, guided tours, talks on the main stage, and a fresh flower market.
– this night sounds like a flower lover’s dream. And it doesn’t stop there, the gardens are also filled with sculptures and art, live entertainment, and refreshments.
Let inspiration strike
With all of that going on, it’s impossible to not find inspiration at a place like the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Whether you see new trends emerging from the professional displays and student projects in the Great Hall of Flowers, use the incredible creations from local artists as your muse, or learn crucial skills from unrivalled experts… There’s something for everyone.
The Flower Show is only running for five days, the competitions only have limited spaces, and the Twilight garden is one night only. So you can’t afford to hesitate, start planning your trip now and visit the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show website for more info. You won’t regret it!
