• 25 May, 2016
• Author: Rossgardentours

Australian garden wins Silver Gilt at Chelsea

Let’s take a stroll around the Australian show garden designed by our friend Charlie Albone (from Selling Houses Australia). We were thrilled when Charlie took our group through the threshold into the heart of his garden where we could get an idea of how the garden felt to live in. Talk about garden envy! We didn’t want to leave.

Chelsea Flower Show has included an Australian garden along the Show Garden Avenue for many years; this year Charlie Albone returned, with his “Support, a Garden in Melbourne” (sponsored by Husqvarna). It’s surprisingly one of the most English-looking gardens here this year, with its pleasant geometric layout of pleached trees and tiered clipped box hedging designed for a Melbourne couple in which to get away from it all. Not a barbecue, outdoor bar or television in site.

Lines of box hedging (trimmed to perfection by Charlie’s Mum) and pleached lime hedges (Tilia sp.) give a crisp green boundary and definition to the space while the interior is decorated with cottage garden perennials such as these elegant sweeps of foxgloves (Digitalis sp.). The heart and soul of the garden, in our eyes, is the square of pure white peonies. Dazzling.

The Husqvarna Garden is super stylish and is sure to be a contender for the People’s Choice Award! Its charming formal English style is ordered and symmetrical and the axis of symmetry leads up to an enticing outdoor lounge. The attention to detail is incredible – perfect construction methods and well chosen materials anchor the garden and make it feel like its been here forever. We love the copper rill of water that delineated the design – its modern, elegant and understated.

Expanses of flowing, lilac-pastel-planting mixes European and exotic plants to showcase what you can grow in Melbourne. This flanks strong paths of perfectly laid blue stone granite setts (blue stone being so popular in Melbourne). These in turn are framed with narrow, shallow linear copper rills, formed by wrapping 4mm copper sheet over timber – simple and so effective. They even run down the stairs.

Congratulations to everyone involved in this years triumph – such a credit to the team. Well done Charlie and hats off to our mate Mick Conway, Construction Manager, for building a garden that represents Australia on the world stage. You’ve nailed it once again.

Photos: Heathcliff O’Malley for the Telegraph and Charlie Albone

Watch Better Homes and Gardens TV on Channel 7, Friday 27 May at 7pm to see Graham Ross at the 2016 Chelsea Flower Show! Or see the spectacle for yourself next year when we head to Chelsea Flower Show on Members Day.