Essence of Australia garden
RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show was a first for Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and partners
A flavour of Australian living came to the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, in the shape of The Essence of Australia show garden.
The garden celebrated Australian plants and contemporary design as seen at the multi-award-winning 15-hectare Australian Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, a division of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.
It was designed by Australian landscape designer, Jim Fogarty who previously won a Gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2011 for his Australian Garden. This year's design was presented by the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne in partnership with Tourism Victoria, Tourism Northern Territory, Qantas and leading UK tour operator, Trailfinders,
The design included several Native Australian plants that can grow in the UK and evoked the relaxed feel of the Australians’ love of outdoor living. It also celebrated the states and gardening landscapes of Victoria and Northern Territory as two key travel destinations for British holidaymakers.
Tourism Victoria’s Regional Manager UK & Europe, Claire Golding, said Victoria had long been known as ‘the garden state’, as it is home to 100 national parks and reserves. She added that, in Melbourne, gardens form a huge part of the urban culture, connecting the vibrant, cosmopolitan city with the outdoors.
The overall show garden design took inspiration from the Rainbow Serpent – an iconic creature from aboriginal culture which is often seen in aboriginal art and continues to be an influence today. As visitors viewed the Rainbow Serpent deck, they would gain an insight into the diverse natural attractions and landscapes including rock seams and outcrops, where the endless roads delve deeper into aboriginal culture, red sands, and an amazing array of Australian plants. The further 'inland' they looked, the more evident the importance of rain to the survival of many Australian plants was. The deck in the Essence of Australia garden even included a ford crossing, commonly found on outback roads that flood in the wet season.
