2016 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show Review
Australia boasts some of the best flower shows on earth.
We have some of the world’s most creative horticulturists and designers who cultivate and create inspiring gardens and floral designs that can be viewed in beautiful parks around the country. These shows also provide spectacular entertainment for the whole family, making a visit an enjoyable day out.
We have curated a small list of what we think are some of the must-see shows to check out in 2017.
Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (VIC)
What: Spectacular floral displays and landscape designs.
When: 29th March – 2nd April 2017
Where: Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, Melbourne
Image source: Facebook / Wikipedia
For those who love to be inspired by beautiful, creative floral designs, head to the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS). Exhibiting stunning projects and gardens created by world leading designers, the MIFGS sometimes feels more like an art gallery than a floral show.
The show is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and will run from the 29th March – 2nd April 2017 at the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens.
As well as the floral designs, there are workshops, handy tips, and food and entertainment to make it a fun day out for everyone. Returning in 2017 is the highly popular ‘Gardens by Twilight’ for those of you who would be unable to make it during the day or just like to see the flowers by moonlight.
The show extends until 9:00pm and includes highlights such as live fire acts, street buskers, light shows and music. This is one show not to be missed and is well worth the trip to Melbourne to see. For more information, see our review of the 2016 show.
Kings Park Festival (WA)
What: Native Australian wildflowers at their finest.
When: Early September
Where: Kings Park, Perth
Image source: Weekend Notes / Botanic Gardens and Park Authority
Kings Park Festival is dedicated to showcasing Western Australia’s wildflowers and native floral in one of Australia’s National Biodiversity Hotspots.
Kings Park includes displays of wildflowers found from every region of the state, in recognition of the unique and stunning flora produced there, and the need to protect our native plants.
Located in Perth, the park itself is one of the world’s largest inner city parks and produces all the seeds and plants for the Festival. Running for the entire month of September, it was a spectacular event in 2016, and looks set to out-do itself again in 2017 with events such as walks, talks, exhibitions and music.
The Adorable Florables are also sure to make an appearance, encouraging kids to become involved in preserving and enjoying native wildflowers.
Tesselaar Tulip Festival (VIC)
What: Vivid tulips in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges.
When: Early September 2017
Where: Silvan, Victoria
Image source: Facebook / Facebook
If you’ve always wanted to travel to the Netherlands to see those fields of perfect, colourful rows of tulips, this is the festival for you.
The Tesselaar Tulip Festival displays over 1 million tulips in over 150 varieties. This festival is a bright, visual feast set in Dandenong Ranges’ farmland, a stone’s throw from Melbourne.
Typically running during September, this festival will be sure to delight any flower lover. With themes such as ‘Dutch weekend’, ‘Children’s week’ and ‘Yarra Ranges week’, and live entertainment, market stalls and food and drink, this festival can be enjoyed by the entire family.
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers (QLD)
What: A town full of breathtaking flowers and a multitude of events mean you’ll never be bored when visiting this festival.
When: Mid-September 2017
Where: Toowoomba, Queensland.
Image source: Tangledinmaps / Instagram
Australia’s longest running horticultural event, Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, is set to return next spring in the “Garden City”, located 130kms from Brisbane. Taking place over 10 days in September, this festival just keeps getting bigger and more vibrant every year.
Flowers and floral displays are central to the carnival that also celebrates food, wine and culture in country Queensland. There is also a street parade with all the floats and performers decorated in the brightest flowers and intricate designs. The flowers are best witnessed at Queens Park, Picnic Point and Laurel Bank – which has a Scented Garden specifically designed for the visually impaired.
Floriade (ACT)
What: Floriade is a vibrant and colourful extravaganza that transforms our capital city into a feast for the senses.
When: Mid-September to mid-October 2017
Where: Commonwealth Park, Canberra
Image source: Floriade / Floriade
Returning for its 30th year, Floriade will once again become ‘Australia’s biggest celebration of Spring’ in Canberra’s Commonwealth Park. It has become a permanent highlight on the ACT social calendar and attracts around 500,000 people each year, who come to see the more than 1,000,000 blooms that decorate the park!
The festival also boasts music, workshops, artistic displays, cultural celebrations and much more entertainment. If that wasn’t enough to blow your socks off, NightFest takes place over a long weekend and hosts a star-studded comedic line-up for you to enjoy.
Floriade is open to the public for an entire month, so there is plenty of time to explore. Typically running from mid-September to mid-October, check out the website for more information.
Brisbane International Garden Show (QLD)
What: An abundance in horticultural knowledge and the ability to purchase a wide selection of plants makes this the perfect show for the budding gardener.
When: Early October 2017
Where: Pine River Park, Strathpine.
Image source: Facebook / Facebook
It’s easy to imagine that the Sunshine State can produce a stunning array of flowers and plants and the Brisbane International Garden Show does not disappoint. Hundreds of brightly coloured flowers decorating the lawns of Strathpine’s Pine Rivers Park and many more are available to purchase.
You can wander through displays that will give you inspiration for your garden and also purchase new releases and unusual species at the dozens of nurseries. There are always expert gardeners giving workshops, demonstrations and tips, including the likes of Graham Roos (host of Better Homes and Gardens), Costa Georgiadis (host of ABC Gardening Australia) and Annette McFarlane (garden feature writer for the Sunday Mail) in previous years
Located in Pine River Park, Strathpine, this show typically runs in October. Check out the website for more details closer to Spring.
Heading to any of these stunning flower shows will delight and inspire your own garden and floral designs. There is no better way to say goodbye to the cold winter months than by seeing any of these colourful displays during Spring.
Know of any other flower shows we should check out? Let us know in the comments below!
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Main image source: Twitter / Pinterest
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