‘Straya Inspirations

A recent visit to Melbourne, Australia, inspired countless garden ideas. I am so grateful for this experience, and I’d love to share some of the garden beauty and trends I picked up that can be translated to Colorado gardens. 

One of my biggest takeaways is that gardens are so diverse! There are many, many styles of gardening, and even more ways to interpret those styles. During my brief visit, I saw naturalistic, Indigenous, formal, boutique and farm styles. I also saw gardens celebrating various Australian landscapes, as well as several categories of show gardens at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Seeing so many interpretations of “gardening” further solidifies my belief that gardens are deeply personal, artistic spaces.  Let this be your reminder to explore your creativity in gardening!

Another takeaway is that native plants—often also called Indigenous plants—are trending on the other side of the world as well as here. It seems like this is truly a plant palette of our times. Climate change is pressing on every corner of Earth. The need is present and growing for plants that can withstand the difficulties ahead. Many gardeners seem to be placing their bets on the plants that have been withstanding these difficulties for A LONG TIME. 

Reconnecting with Indigenous groups and reincorporating their stewardship practices also spans the globe in its relevance. Every region has its own beautiful, place-based Indigenous heritage. Across all boundaries, landscape practitioners have the opportunity and responsibility to celebrate and support Indigenous voices. Here and abroad, this is the right thing to do. Additionally, including Indigenous people into gardening practice immensely enriches land stewardship outcomes.

Finally, I observed heavy usage of non-plant elements to give gardens character. Hardscaping, water features and art all enhance a space. Show gardens seemed to take this even further by using props to emulate daily life: cups of tea, books, drying laundry. I took this as a reminder that a garden is a personal space for you. Leave room under the shade tree for a lawn chair. Plant herbs close to your kitchen. Put a bird feeder by the window for easy viewing. You can make your garden a place you want to be, a place that fills what you’re looking for.

I can only try to summarize the richness of Melbourne’s gardens in less than 500 words, but I hope you feel inspired to make your space your own, create abundantly, honor the Indigenous peoples and plants where you live, and continue to find joy in gardens aplenty.