Australian Native Plants Garden Design -A Coastal garden - Light & The Dissolve - MIFGS 2024

#MIFGS 2004 achievable gardens #gardendesign #Australian Native Plants Garden Design
From Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show - MIFGS Achievable Gardens 2024 - Coastal garden using Australian Native Plants by Zoe Hibberson.
Planting List
Leptospermum obovatum 'Starry Night'
Leptospermum laevigatum 'Coast Ti Tree'
Correa alba 'White Correa'Atriplex cinerea 'Salt Bush'
Leucophyta brownii 'Cushion Bush'
Poa labiliardieri / Poa seiberiana
Common Tussock Grass/ Blue Tussock Grass
Ficinia nodosa 'Knobby Club Rush'
Themeda triandra 'Kangaroo Grass'
Pelargonium australe 'Austral Storks Bill'
Carpobrotus rossii 'Karkalla'
Correa reflexa nummulariifolia Roundleaf Correa
Pratia pedunculata White Star Creeper
BUT IS IT ACHIEVABLE?
Despite the name and aim of the category as ‘Achievable Gardens’, in reality, the time, effort and expertise involved in the majority of displays at MIFGS is beyond the grasp of the average backyard enthusiast.
However ...
There are elements and ideas within my design that are easily adapted and achieved:
• Creating an insect hotel with ‘found’ objects to increase habitat and biodiversity in the garden. (A great group or supervised kid activity.)
• Repurpose and value items otherwise destined for landfill. Considering, where it came from? Who made it? The resources involved in creation or disposal.
• Treat native plants in an unconventional way - be creative and individual - your garden is an extension of you - it’s not a Pinterest page or a glossy magazine!
• Encourage planting of species endemic to the local area. High growth/success rate within existing conditions, low pest and disease rates. (Councils are a great source of information in this respect.)
The intention for my submission for MIFGS 2024, titled “Light and the Dissolve” is to present a coastal garden utilising mostly Bayside endemic and Victorian native species and respectfully draw on the tones and softness represented in Clarice Beckett’s artworks and interpret them via plantings.
The work of painter Clarice Beckett reflects Bayside, Melbourne and the nature of coastal environments.
Despite more than 100 intervening years, the local landscapes today are still familiar, the plant life is recognisable and despite human-led development, remains prominent throughout the area.
The Black Rock, Beaumaris and Sandringham areas in which she painted and lived, are interwoven with my own life. I often walk the same beach paths and vantage points and have often witnessed a winter sunset golden light or the morning stillness that she would often depict. I appreciate the detail in the coastal vegetation, colours of the cliffs and their relationship with Port Philip Bay.
The garden will feature water minimisation and conservation techniques via the use of appropriate, coastal adapted plantings typically found in the Bayside coastal area. Plants are selected for their tolerance of low nutrient, sandy soils and salts. Pest and disease problems are also low . Granitic sand/gravel will be incorporated into the design. Chosen for its rich colourings, it is synonymous with the local environment of beach pathways and provides excellent drainage and a mulch base.
Hardscape elements will be wholly sourced from recycled or ‘found’ objects that I currently hold or via suppliers within a 15k radius of Bayside. This reinforces my personal and business ethos to reduce carbon miles and choose sustainably where possible.
Indeed, Clarice Beckett was known to have ‘repurposed’ out of necessity, urgency or creativity, such impermanent surfaces as cardboard, cereal boxes or paper bags on which she would create many of her artworks.

[@susanlisson7066]

That’s beautiful and so unique. Love it and love the wall art/insect housing.

[@davescott8750]

Very Nice.

[@johnnyAGardening]

Thanks Dave, Zoe was great to work with, really knows her stuff....

[@davescott8750]

@@johnnyAGardening Love your channel, Matie, learned plenty from you about Succulents. The Garden is the Art!!!