I See Wild
Phillip Withers Landscape Design has created an oasis at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.
Slabs of bluestone rise from a patchwork of hand-carved pavers and luscious grass bordered by plants, herbs and flowers. In the background stand several natural timber poles, neighboured by arms of towering cacti. Every glimpse of ‘I See Wild’ reveals something special about this garden space.
“I wanted a space where we could be immersed in nature. It’s a garden you want to sit out and be in,” says Phillip Withers. “I step out the back door, I see nature, I see wild.”
The garden is a vibrant celebration of biodiversity. Hulking crowns of agave pop against the soft green tones of nearby bushes and plants. Phillip explains that “the plants are a system. It’s a native backdrop but in the foreground it’s about a biodiverse palette of plants that work together that you can both use and feel good in”.
This garden is true to Phillip’s word. Fruit like strawberries, figs and feijoas are interspersed among other shrubs and flowers. Parsley, rosemary and thyme rest in their lush surroundings alongside leafy greens. Lemons and olives are planted by the fire pit.
“You wander around and you can go and pick the veggies in their own little area.”
The paving, seats and lookout are from Bamstone, located in Port Fairy. All involved in this project made community engagement their priority and involved local Indigenous groups to help design and engrave the custom bluestone pavers. Fourteen boys from Warrnambool’s Clontarf Academy collaborated to create the paving design, which tells a story through Indigenous symbols.
Sustainability was also a principle concern in this project. “One of the things we wanted to work on with this garden was a no-waste build campaign,” Phillip elaborates. The garden uses recycled materials from its mulch and toppings to a fort built from recycled apple carts by Castle and Cubby.
‘I See Wild’ has been awarded the Gold Show Garden Award and the City of Melbourne Award of Excellence for Best in Show. The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show runs from Wednesday, 29th March until Sunday, 2nd April.
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