After my little stint at last year’s Melbourne International Flower And Garden Show (MIFGS) Border Gardens, I returned to Carlton Gardens to showcase my interpretation of what a balcony garden could look like. Small space design is tricky, so I was excited to showcase my Balcony Garden at MIFGS 2024! I received second place in the Balcony Garden design category. As you know, I don’t like to toot my own horn, but it was worth the time and effort that went into it. Read on for my tips and tricks for small space design further below.
What Inspired You To Enter A Balcony Garden For MIFGS?
I like to take on work that I can give 100% to. Many years ago, I submitted an entry into the Boutique Gardens, but it was a more extensive space garden that required a lot of commitment, and I wasn’t ready then. Nor did I have a strong landscaping team that would also commit to the project.
This time, I needed to handle a garden display size that wouldn’t be a huge time commitment but would also play to my strengths and attention to detail. Small space design is exceptionally tricky as mistakes are easily spotted – there is nowhere to hide them!
I love designing smaller gardens as they showcase my problem-solving skills and make spaces multifunctional and aesthetically pleasing.
Design is second nature to me, and yes, I had a good design, but I also had to make sure that the landscaping team had the time to pull off a display of this size to a high standard. I partnered with one of my favourite landscapers to bring my vision to life and maximise the tiny space we had to design.
I’m a big believer in fate, and I received some “signs”, as I call them, that I should participate this year. Given the cost of living, I felt quite strongly about creating a cost-effective garden that people could put together. I tried to convey that everything is possible with some hard work, good planning/research, and investment in suitable materials and plants.
The Elysium Balc-style
This year’s design was titled ‘Elysium Balc-Style’. Why? First, the word Elysium came across randomly while watching a movie on Netflix at the right time (when I was stuck finding a title for my design).
However, the concept within the movie was spot on—in fact, it was perfect! It felt so right! Elysium means paradise. The movie’s premise was about a paradise destination, so this is great. I am creating a home paradise, as doesn’t everyone deserve one?
In coming up with the design, I drew on my experiences as an overseas student where I had minimal funds and lived in an apartment that was just a tiny boxed room with white walls. There was nothing warm, inviting or lovely about it. It was clean, yes, but it wasn’t home.
My parents didn’t have much money, and I couldn’t work as an overseas student, so I couldn’t afford many nice things. I stayed there for ages and, over time, developed an excellent relationship with my landlord. He allowed me to have a couple of pots and a fish tank—all of which meant the world to me and made me feel less homesick.
I learnt that you could have nice things, but you needed to shop for bargains and make them mean something personal to you. It had to resonate and make you feel happy. I’m not keen on brands and never will be, I’d rather have stuff and plants, etc., around that remind me of people and experiences in life that are special. Having these personal items and making the space around me more personalised made me feel better about my surroundings and optimistic about having something nice to come home to.
I thought the connection to nature must not be lost, and if you occasionally splurge on something to decorate the space with, why it’s an oasis, after all! This was the brief for my balcony garden: “The”Elysium Balc-style is a leafy paradise in a tiny balcony—a versatile and multifunctional space!
Given pressing economic times, putting things together and maintaining them is cost-effective and straightforward. It feels calming, open, and inviting. It has elements and visual cues that can be personalised.” This is my version of paradise at home on a tiny balcony that is also a versatile space!
Describe What Plants Are In Your Balcony Garden, Why You Chose Those Plants & How You Came Up With The Design
The competition could be more specific on this front. There is no spec sheet per se, and the conditions on every balcony garden differ. Some balconies are not balconies but “atriums,” so you can’t even fit a chair in them!
In my reimagined space, I imagined a sunny balcony with shady spots and low-maintenance, textural plants in different shades of green all around me.
‘I wanted to create a calming and peaceful space where I can picture myself chilling and, when necessary, working. And the best part? It is super easy and affordable to put together!’ However, I needed it to be practical, too.
I wanted greenery all around, but there needed to be a working area/storage space and a place to lounge. That drove the balcony layout, and that’s how I came up with the idea of a custom multifunctional table/storage unit that can be used for many things.
I love art, so putting a hand-drawn mural on the wall was a no-brainer. I wanted to convey that anyone could enjoy something like that. You don’t have to have something expensive or hire someone to do that for you, and if you get bored with it or make a mistake, you can paint over it!
Coming up with the flooring was tricky as I had to work within the limitations of the materials that the MIFGS organisers had provided (the whole structure sits on wooden pallets), so I balanced what I love to play with in all of my designs – groundcovers and natural pavers as the primary flooring.
I also snuck in a beachy element by having sand in a small nook where my lounge chair was, as I love the beach and the feeling of the sand when I’m relaxing. After all, this was a home oasis, right? So why not explore different ideas? Sand is lightweight and an excellent idea for balcony gardens. Still, before installation (if someone was ever considering this), it would be prudent to research the building and drainage rules impacting your apartment.
On that note, the drainage aspect would heavily influence the choice of planting, so without a clear brief from the organisers, I selected plants I love that are shallow-rooted, and some have worked in balcony gardens I’ve designed. Not everything on display would suit all conditions, so this needs to be thoroughly researched before planting (if there is no drainage or other concerns). Anyway, the design is just a prototype! There is no reason not to have a living green floor on your balcony. You have to think through the limitations and make it happen!
If Someone Wants To Create A Similar Balcony Garden Where's The Best Place To Start?
They should start with a list of must haves in the space and consider how the balcony area interacts physically and visually with the other areas of their apartment. Plant selection is also crucial, and many times, it’s just by trial and error. Balcony areas/rooftop gardens are probably the trickiest to ensure plants thrive.
Consider all aspects – sun, shade, wind, watering capabilities, soil depth, etc. are essential and must not be overlapped. It’s a problematic cost, depending on the design and what you want to achieve. The least you could spend would probably be a few hundred dollars for some medium-sized pots and a couple of plants, so it doesn’t get you far!
Timewise, probably invest a couple of days to design a good area and allow for a good day at least to implement it – taking it slow and steady to curate the space to your liking.
Share With Us Some Of The Feedback You Received For Your Balcony Garden
One of the best things about being involved in an event such as MIFGS is the feedback I receive from the visitors. If my display relates to people, then I know I’m onto a winner. And let’s not forget about the kids – they couldn’t stop playing with the sand and trying to sit in my seat. Here are some comments from visitors who stopped by:
*Your garden has so much personality
*I legit feel so calm here; it’s like an oasis
*Those styling items are adorable
*Your ideas for space and storage are on point!
*The Monstera wall hangings are pretty
*It looks quite easy and budget-friendly to put everything together
*OMG, that background pic is cool!!
What Are Some Trends That You Noticed At This Year's Event?
Plants – I’m playing with various plant styles but still strongly emphasise native plants. I’ve seen several gardens mixing plant species, e.g., natives with exotics, which is my style, so it’s nice to know that natives are prominent in many designs showcased this year. Pure native gardens, though, still have a strong demand.
Materials – Earthy elements, so lots of green, beige and white.
Style – Embracing gardens with cultural or historical/rustic themes.
Shapes – There is still a mix of angularity, but there are a lot of curves. I guess curves cost more and take more time, so it’s great to see more organic shapes in the designs, but it’s a whole level of commitment
New ideas – I like using the rammed earth seating in one of the displays, as it’s another new way to create that space. It has the same design but a new material. Similarly, the fine mesh trellising used in one of the other displays also has a solid, wavy structural element.
Art – I’ve always emphasised the arts and tell my kids that it’s a solid element to our humanity, spirituality and emotional wellbeing. It was so great to see others use it in their designs, too, and it was exciting to see it used in different ways. For example:
*The winner of the Balcony garden competition this year had a fantastic mosaic chair with a beautifully striking motif (it took five months to make)
*Strong colour emphasis and cool ideas line a thick red line through the garden
*Colour play with the choice of plant life
What Does It Mean To Come Second Place, And What Exciting Projects/Events Do You Have Coming Up?
It’s nice to feel validated by my peers and those who have more experience than I do, and speaking to one of the judges was great.
It gave me an insight into the judging process and criteria being assessed, so maybe I’ll be back to do the Boutique Gardens in a few years!
It was also fantastic for my family as they are always 100% behind me and had to make sacrifices, so this was a nice thing for them as well.
I also want to thank my clients who always support me. After all, I had to take time for their designs to do this, so I couldn’t have done it without their patience! I need to evolve my design further, though, before I do that, so I’ve been given quite a few opportunities recently to do something entirely different in several designs, some of which I have not done before. This includes:
– Artistic feature and masonry walls that are a little different
– A colourful front yard based on my 2023 MIFGS Border garden
– A garden with earthy elements is a little test for me as I love colour so I have to concentrate on lots of green, beige and white. I also love Spanish gardens and Mediterranean gardens, but this one has a bit of an Australian twist.
– A fernery and a natural large water pond
– Designing an alleyway and balcony garden combo!
There’s heaps to do and lovely clients to work with, so I’m extremely grateful for these opportunities. It’s a privilege to help my clients love their outdoor spaces!
To read more about the 2024 MIFGS event, have a look at the blogs below:
If you need further suggestions, design, or plantscaping for indoors or outdoors, please get in touch with us for a 90-minute consultation.
Refer to our packages for further details on how we can help you in the consults and subsequently throughout your garden implementation process.
Our passion is your garden! xx
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