Find a garden of earthly delights at Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

Cultivate your green thumb with expert tips from Australia’s best gardeners and florists.

NOT JUST FOR

Melburnians gifted in the landscaping and gardening department, the Flower and Garden Show, which returns for its 22nd year this month, is a lush interactive experience that’s a sight for sore eyes among Melbourne’s urban jungle.

Over five days, floral and gardening experts will share their knowledge on the main stage, while retailers will share advice on the best tools, plants and designs for your garden. Walk through the immersive Show Garden installations at Carlton Gardens and marvel at the pop-up mini gardens by people with greener thumbs than yours. Follow the scent of fresh flowers into the Royal Exhibition Building as Melbourne’s best florists showcase their brightest blooms across two levels. Join floral design workshops on making wildflower posies to crafting a flower crown, and find inspiration as RMIT fashion students return with their annual showcase of plant-based designs alongside floristry students, who will go headto-head in flower arranging competitions.

Last year’s Gardens by Twilight returns on Friday March 31, so check out the show at dusk with a glass of wine and some dinner or bar snacks from the garden-themed café and bar, which will be championing Victorian produce. The Digger’s Club plant conservation group will take the show’s foodie focus a step further, creating an edible garden where visitors can learn about plant and vegetable varieties not found in supermarkets.

Whether you’re looking to redo your entire garden or just spruce up your indoor spaces with some greenery, the 2017 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show is the place to be. ■ à Royal Exhibition Building, 9 Nicholson St, Carlton 3053. 03 9864 1111. www.melbflowershow. com.au. 9am-5pm. $29-$65. Mar 29-Apr 2.