At the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show this year, Beutyliner and Trelleborg (our EPDM supplier) amongst many others have joined with Phillip Johnson Landscapes to create a garden in support of the 5000 Poppies project.

Between 2014 and 2018 Australia will commemorate the Anzac Centenary, marking 100 years since Australia’s involvement in the First World War. And in 2015, there will be a large number of activities commemorating 100 years since the Anzac Gallipoli landing.

5000 Poppies Pond

The initial aim of 5000 Poppies is to “plant” a massive field of handmade poppies in Federation Square, Melbourne on Anzac Day 2015 as a stunning visual tribute to Australian servicemen and women for more than a century of service in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. The display garden at MIFGS is a taste of what will be seen later this year.

Hand Knitted Poppies

After the Anzac Day, 5000 Poppies are hoping to tour the project nationally from 2015 to 2018 with the ultimate aim being to gift the entire project to the Australian War Memorial for all Australians to enjoy.

The 2013 Australian entry to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, was designed and built by award winning designer Phillip Johnson. Designed around his guiding principles of sustainability, the focal points of which are a billabong, gorge and series of waterfalls. This design, sponsered by Wes Fleming of Flemings Nurseries, is the first Australian entrant to win the coveted “Best in Show” award at Chelsea.

The finished design, based on Phil’s own garden in Victoria, took a total of 17 days and over 2,500 man-hours to build, transforming what once resembled a bare soccer pitch into a sustainable garden retreat.

Chelsea comes alive throughout the duration of the show, with shops around Sloane Square going to great lengths to get into the garden show spirit.

This year we were asked to assist a new entrant, Christopher Gursansky, with his first Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) display.

The design consisted of crisp formal lines, sophisticated and elegant, contrasted with the spontaneity of the wild flower gardens.  Avenues of Silver Birch reflect their trunks into the shallow river, pebble-filled ponds.  The garden is confident and decisive.

Christopher wanted to create a space which focused on simple beauty and immersing one’s self in nature.  There are no barbecues, televisions or kitchen sinks; the garden is organic and refreshing…A natural outdoor room, where the sky is the roof and hedging creates the walls.

An outdoor room where life is the hero.