MELBOURNE Flower & Garden Show celebrates 15th year
Media Release
The leaves may be changing and beginning to fall in March, but at the Carlton Gardens, things will be flourishing as the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS) moves in for its stellar fifteenth year.
Held at the heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens from 24th – 28th March, MIFGS 2010 is expected to attract more than 100,000 local and international visitors who will marvel at the floral carnivale inside the Great Hall of Flowers and draw inspiration from the landscaped gardens outdoors.
MIFGS is the largest and most successful horticulture event in the southern hemisphere, attracting garden enthusiasts, trade professionals and those who just want to see a truly spectacular world-class show.
With the event staged inside and outdoors at the magnificent 128-year-old Royal Exhibition Building and surrounding lush Carlton Gardens, MIFGS is also sure to be a hit with tourists and individuals who revel in the beautiful surrounds.
MIFGS Event Manager, Kathleen Rushford, is delighted with the number of exhibitors planning to display innovative products and services in 2010. The 500-plus exhibitors range from suppliers of floral and garden products and services to outdoor living and design sustainability.
“The show continues to improve every year, with more and more quality exhibitors coming on board to deliver a truly spectacular event.
There’s no better way to experience the world of outdoor living and design than at MIFGS. With hundreds of square meters of gardens, visitors won’t even notice the change of season. Things are always in full bloom at the show.”
Some of the major highlights of the 2010 show will include:
New
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Wine brand Lindemans will be offering visitors the chance to taste its crisp new range in the Lindemans Early Harvest Garden, created by celebrity gardener Meredith Kirton.
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Garnier will be offering natural pampering treats at ‘Garnier World’. What better way to unwind between perusing the sights at the show?
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The show’s official charity partner, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, will partner with florists from Flower Temple on a ‘Mary Poppins’ themed interactive stand to entertain little green thumbs (and grown ups) as well as educate everybody on the Foundation’s mission.
Favourites
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· The Garden Design Awards are presented at MIFGS every year, and recognise the best-of-the-best in outdoor landscaping. The highly coveted award program offers Gold, Silver and Bronze accolades to designers, in addition to a student and industry association award. Judged on the first day of the event, visitors have another four days to peruse the gardens and be awed by their collective beauty.
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Held inside the Royal Exhibition Building, the Great Hall of Flowers, as the name suggests, offers an astounding array of colour, colour, and more colour with exhibitors showcasing their designs. Head to the main stage for presentations, competitions and more. · On a smaller scale, students will be creating mini garden masterpieces at the Avenue of Achievable Gardens. Now in its fourth year, the gardens are designed and constructed by horticulture students at Swinburne University of TAFE, NMIT and Holmesglen. DIY cards are available for visitors to recreate each garden in their own backyard.
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The Student Floral Fashion Design Competition is held each day in the Great Hall of Flowers. Leading design students from RMIT University (Victoria) will compete in transforming flora into fashion in this inspiring and themed challenge. If you thought floral and plant life couldn’t be worn as spectacular frocks, think again!
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The competitive spirit continues with the Live Floral Student Design Competitions. The industry’s best talent battles head-to-head in this one-and-a-half hour challenge, creating floral masterpieces before visitors’ eyes. Who will win?
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Experience an outdoor world of shape and texture at the Sculpture Garden. Held outdoors, the sculptures are works of art from emerging and established artists, judged and sold to the highest bidder – from a few hundred to thousands of dollars! Grab a piece of MIFGS history at the show! The feature is organised by the Association of Sculptors of Victoria.
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Art will also abound indoors at the Royal Exhibition Building. A number of Victoria’s finest Art Societies will exhibit and sell artwork inspired by nature. Meet the artists and delve into the inspiration behind their work.
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Little ones will be entertained by performers and activities in the Children’s Garden, an enchanted garden-inspired space.
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Live entertainment: Don’t be surprised to hear a musical troupe or see roving performers making their way through the gardens. Entertainers will bring a smile to visitors’ faces of all ages.
WHAT: The largest horticultural event in the Southern Hemisphere showcasing stunning floral displays and inspirational ideas for around the garden.
WHEN: Wednesday 24th March – Sunday 28th March 2010.
OPENING TIMES: Wed, Thurs and Sun – 9am-5pm.
Fri and Sat – 9am-6pm.
WHERE: Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, Carlton.
TICKETS: Buy at the gate or book through racv.com.au/travel or call RACV HolidayLine on 13 1329.
Adult: $20
Concession: $17#
Family: $45
Child (6 to 16 years): $8
Child (5 years & under): Free
Group: $17*
# Tertiary Student Card, Pensioner Concession Card & Senior Card holders.
* Groups of 10 or more people, per person price.
WEB: http://www.melbflowershow.com.au
PHONE: (03) 9864 1111
MEDIA ACCREDITATION: Please contact Haystac
For further information and high resolution images please contact Haystac:
Georgie Cavanagh on 03 8689 2252 or 0409 803 642, g.cavanagh@haystac.com.au
Matt Ellenby on 03 8689 2218 or 0401 668 895, m.ellenby@haystac.com.au
ABOUT IMG:
IMG is managing MIFGS 2010 and is the world's premier sports, entertainment and media company. It is a diversified global business with two major business segments: IMG Sports & Entertainment, and IMG Media. IMG employs over 2,300 people in 30 countries. More information about IMG is available at www.imgworld.com
MIFGS 2010
Fact sheet
What
The world renowned Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS) returns 24 – 28 March to the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens for its fifteenth year. The show will once again bring the creativity and passion of Australia's top floral and landscape designers to Melbourne, delivered in stunning displays as well as a strong environmental message for gardening in the climate we live in. Coupled with an extensive array of garden and floral retail products, plus great food and entertainment for the whole family, the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show is a celebration of Australian lifestyle and our great outdoors. www.melbflowershow.com.au
Exhibitors
500+ retail, floral and landscape design exhibitors.
Awards
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Show Garden Design Awards, awarded first day.
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Student Floral Fashion Design Competition, awarded first day.
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Live Floral Student Design Competitions, (intermediate competition live on Wednesday at 9am, advanced competition live on Wednesday at 2pm, winners announced on Thursday on main stage at 11am.)
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Floral Design Awards, awarded first day.
Gardens
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Avenue of Achievable Gardens.
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Children’s Garden.
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Austem, Christian Jenkins, Guide Dogs Victoria (James Dawson Landscape Design), Savewater.
Art
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Sculpture Garden.
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Art for Sale.
New features
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Lindemans Early Harvest Garden.
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‘Garnier World’.
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Official show charity partner, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation will partner with Flower Temple
to create an interactive stand.
Fast facts
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1.5million people have visited MIFGS in the last 14 years.
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MIFGS has the largest single concentration of cut flowers in Australia outside of any growing farm.
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MIFGS has an $8 million economic impact on Victoria.
More than 600 people work on site at MIFGS at any one time during set up.
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