A TRIO of Bendigo TAFE horticulture students have been awarded bronze medals for their showcases at this year\u2019s Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.<\/p>\n
Clair Derwort, Fleur Clausen, and Craig Wilcox took home the honours as part of the Achievable Gardens design competition, with each having to create and display a self-designed garden.<\/p>\n
Derwort designed a cottage rose garden and said she used a mixture of Australian and European influences with a tip of the garden to the past and future.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mixed plantings of natives and exotics in the garden acknowledge the collaborative efforts of horticultural influences in Australian history and future,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the late Queen\u2019s passing, the roses are a slight nod to her influence in the Australian horticultural scene. It\u2019s a juxtaposition of new and old.\u201d<\/p>\n
Derwort said support from Bendigo TAFE teaching staff, and learnings from the course itself, meant the three students went into the show with full confidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur educator Stan Smith and Bendigo TAFE have supported our learning by encouraging us to be prepared and to challenge our creative thinking,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur course knowledge enabled us to confidently and professionally design, construct and deliver three very different, yet refined gardens.\u201d<\/p>\n
In comparison to Derwort\u2019s cottage-inspired creation, Wilcox produced a low-maintenance courtyard-style garden for the show.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to create something that gives the feeling of a beautiful Japanese garden but doesn\u2019t require weekly hedge clipping or raking up leaves,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
An environmentally friendly style garden was what Clausen aimed for.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the impact of climate change upon us, I\u2019ve looked at how we can futureproof gardens even in small spaces and urbanised areas,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also made this a garden that bees and butterflies want to be in by including flowers and perennials to attract them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Preparation for the displays took three months with more than ten students involved in the design, planning, sourcing and construction in the lead-up to the show.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A TRIO of Bendigo TAFE horticulture students have been awarded bronze medals for their showcases at this year\u2019s Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Clair Derwort, Fleur Clausen, and Craig Wilcox took home the honours as part of the Achievable Gardens design competition, with each having to create and display a self-designed garden. Derwort designed […]<\/p>\n