Real‑world learning and award success at the 2026 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

Melbourne Polytechnic Horticulture students and alumni showcased award‑winning gardens, creative floral design and industry‑ready skills at the 2026 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Their involvement highlighted the value of hands‑on, real‑world learning across horticulture, landscape design and floristry.

Held from 25 to 29 March, the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show is the largest horticulture celebration in the Southern Hemisphere. The event delivered an inspiring mix of world‑class gardens, creative displays and sustainable ideas for outdoor living.

This year’s theme, Kaleidoscope, celebrated colour, diversity and bold design. From large‑scale show gardens to detailed floral work and thoughtfully planted small spaces, the Show highlighted the strength of emerging talent across the horticulture and floristry industries.

Melbourne Polytechnic was proud to be a standout exhibitor, with students and alumni earning eight awards across multiple competitions, partnering on display gardens and contributing to community education and industry engagement activities throughout the event.

Excellence in horticultural education on display

Melbourne Polytechnic’s presence at the Show reflected its ongoing commitment to high‑quality training in horticulture, landscape design and floristry. Through hands‑on learning and collaboration, students demonstrated the skills and confidence needed to succeed in industry.

Working in a real‑world setting, students applied their training across gardens and floral displays, gaining valuable professional experience while showcasing the quality of their work.

2026 award achievements

Challenger Achievable Gardens Competition

The Challenger Achievable Gardens Competition allows students to showcase design skills, plant knowledge and practical construction techniques. The competition promotes sustainable, affordable designs, intended to be easy to replicate at home.

For students, the experience closely reflects industry practice. From concept development and planning through to construction on site, the competition provides a strong introduction to professional horticulture.

Silver Medal and Most Creative Use of Space Award

Nest by Liv Bunting and Lewis McQueen

(Certificate III in Horticulture AHC30722)

Nest is a contemporary habitat garden designed as a shared space for birds and people. A large, hand‑woven nest sits at the centre of the garden, inviting visitors to pause and experience the space from a bird’s perspective.

Silver Medal

Dopamine Garden by Pia Lefevre

(Certificate III in Horticulture AHC30722, Certificate IV in Landscape Design AHC42421)

Inspired by dopamine decor and fashion, Pia’s garden responds to the increasing grey tones of the built environment. Colourful planting and bold patterns are used to create a sense of joy and optimism.

Silver Medal and People’s Choice Award

Mild Confrontations: “You don’t think about comfort, you feel it” by Beth Gregory

(Certificate III in Horticulture AHC30722, Certificate IV in Landscape Design AHC42421)

Beth’s garden explores comfort as something shaped through plants and layout. The design shows how everyday gardens can support biodiversity, reduce heat and strengthen environmental resilience by working with natural systems.

Yates Border Garden Competition

The Border Garden Competition celebrates creative planting and strong design within a compact 2.4 x 2.4 metre space. With only 16 exhibitors selected by application, the competition highlights what can be achieved in small gardens. Melbourne Polytechnic were proud to have two students selected in this competition, winning one award.

Third Place Your Asian Veggie Patch by Connie Cao

(Certificate III in Horticulture AHC30722)

Patterns In A Small Space by Naomi Wang

(Certificate III in Horticulture AHC30722)

Water‑wise gardens in partnership with Yarra Valley Water

In partnership with Yarra Valley Water, five Melbourne Polytechnic horticulture and landscape design students presented water‑wise display gardens at the Show. The collaboration provided hands‑on learning while supporting long‑term water security in Melbourne.

The gardens demonstrated how households can create attractive, functional landscapes that use significantly less water, an increasingly important approach as summers become hotter and drier.

Afterrain, designed by Certificate III in Horticulture AHC30722 and Certificate IV in Landscape Design AHC42421 students Emerson Zandegu and Naomi Teo, shows how careful plant selection and simple design techniques can capture and direct rainwater through a modern garden. The design balances creativity with practical, climate‑responsive solutions.

Throwing Shapes was designed by Certificate III in Horticulture AHC30722 students Lauren Kish, Belinda McDowall and Ceinwen Thomas. The recent graduates share a strong interest in contemporary design, resilient native planting and water‑wise practices.

Australian Unity Hanging Baskets Competition

The Hanging Baskets Competition encourages creativity through a simple brief. For a small entry fee, participants receive a hanging basket and potting mix to create their own design for display at the Show.

This year, 26 Melbourne Polytechnic students entered, with two students placing in the Top 10.

Yasmin Cooper from Certificate III in Parks and Gardens AHC31024 entered with their design, Well‑BEE‑ing, featuring a bee hotel at its centre.

Ruth Martin Certificate III in Horticulture AHC30722 also placed in the Top 10 with a colourful design featuring succulent plants and crochet decoration.

Chrysco Flowers Student Floristry Competition

TAFE students from across Victoria competed in the Chrysco Flowers Student Floristry Competitions, with Melbourne Polytechnic students represented in both the Intermediate and Advanced categories. Four students from the Certificate II in Floristry Assistant SFL20115 competed in the Intermediate competition, while nine students from the Certificate III in Floristry SFL30115 entered the Advanced category.

Although no medals were awarded this year, the standard of work was very high. Designing and exhibiting floral works at a major industry event alongside established florists provided invaluable experience and a strong foundation for these student florists’ career progression.

Alumni success

Award‑winning Melbourne Polytechnic alumni Morayo Adeyemi @afarastudio (Certificate III in Horticulture AHC30722) and Katie Fraser @lateralgardendesign (Certificate IV in Landscape Design AHC42421) collaborated on a therapeutic garden for Therapeutic Horticulture Australia and Beyond Blue.

The garden offered both reflective and interactive spaces, inviting visitors to experience the health and wellbeing benefits of slowing down and connecting with nature.

Melbourne Polytechnic’s presence at the Show

Beyond competitions and displays, Melbourne Polytechnic played an active role in education and industry engagement at the Show:

• Horticulture Careers Hub, where staff shared career and study pathways information

• Floristry Registered Training Organisation Hub in the Great Hall of Flowers, offering course and career advice

• Industry placements, with floristry students gaining hands‑on experience at The Flower Market.

A well‑deserved congratulations

Congratulations to all students, staff and alumni who contributed to Melbourne Polytechnic’s success at the 2026 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Their dedication, creativity and professionalism made a strong impression across the event.

Thank you also to the teachers, department staff and student volunteers whose hard work and support helped make this achievement possible.

An award‑winning future in horticulture starts at Melbourne Polytechnic

Melbourne Polytechnic is proud of the awards achieved and the strong participation of our students across competitions and display gardens at the 2026 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Their involvement reflects the real‑world experience and practical skills developed through our training programs.

If you are interested in gardening, landscape design or floristry, Melbourne Polytechnic offers hands‑on learning and strong industry connections. Explore our accredited programs in arboriculture, beekeeping, floristry, horticulture, landscaping, parks and gardens and sports turf management.