Christian receives gold for garden of nature and nurture

RNR Outdoor Living co-owner Christian Jenkins attended this year’s Melbourne Flower and Garden Show (MFGS) with a garden for mental health organisation beyondblue.

Due to his success and the innovative nature of his design at MFGS, Christian was invited to create a show garden for the New Zealand Flower and Garden show.

“I flew over in May for a research trip and meet with the plant suppliers, which are the most important part of any show Garden,” Christian said.

“After a few weeks of planning, I flew over by myself eight days before the show opened. Most gardens had a week’s headstart and at least five workers each day.

“I hired a local carpenter and his apprentice for the first four days then completed the garden alone, working an average of 14 hours a day.”

International judges were flown from across the globe to judge on four different categories – design, impact, plants and construction.

“My garden was called Nature and Nurture. It was a lush tropical garden designed to re-connect the viewer to nature, to boost our sensory awareness, improve our feelings of purpose and make us feel happier and more relaxed,” he said.

“Drawing inspiration from the wonderful Balinese culture and lush tropical rainforest, the garden was bathed in palm trees, cycads and a myriad of other tropical plants.”

Christian scored a gold medal for his design, missing out on the overall best design of the show by one point.

Due to his exemplary skill, dedication and creativeness, Christian has been invited to attend the Singapore Garden Show in 2020, an invite not given out lightly.

Next year, he also plans to create a Japanese-inspired garden for beyondblue at the MFGS.

“I have been at 12 MFGS, winning nine awards and People’s Choice awards in 2015 and 2016,” Christian said.

When he’s not at Garden shows, Christian can be found at RnR Outdoor Living, a landscape display centre at 206 Surf Coast Highway, Grovedale, which has eight mini garden show displays.

Christian and his team are always happy to offer practical garden advice and create special gardens to suit client’s requirements.

For more information visit, rnroutdoorliving.com.au or see the ad on page 15.