The SA connection at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
This week, a group of South Australian landscapers and garden suppliers will stand in the middle of Melbourne’s Carlton Gardens having created their own stunning oasis as part of the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Landscaper Tahlia Webster takes SALIFE inside the journey from the ground up.
Shortly, I’ll be standing in the middle of the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, surrounded by a garden that our team has worked tirelessly for the past year to create. For the first time, three South Australian landscaping teams will present a 200 square metre show garden at MIFGS.
Named e’skãp (pronounced escape), it is not just a garden – it’s a story of the people behind it, the plants that bring it to life and the place it represents. More than an exhibition, it’s a space for pause, reflection and reconnection, built with passion and dedication.
This isn’t about competition; it’s an opportunity to share our journey. It’s a chance to come together, face challenges and feel the satisfaction of seeing something take shape after months of hard work. The greatest reward for us is the sense of completion. Through our connection with the Little Heroes Foundation, we hope the garden will continue to impact lives long after the event ends.
The dream
For 25 years, Rob Cooper, founder of Distinctive Gardens, dreamed of creating a show garden at MIFGS. When the opportunity finally arose, it wasn’t just about building a garden — it was about bringing to life a space where people could reconnect with nature and escape the noise of everyday life. What started as a single vision soon evolved into something much more; e’skãp became a collective effort, a collaboration of South Australian talent coming together to create something that none of us could have achieved on our own.
As I became part of this journey, e’skãp transformed into something more than just a garden – the design unfolds as you walk through the Australian landscape, starting with the cool shade and beauty of the glory vine-covered arbour. From there, it leads you toward the peaceful reflection pond, where the calm encourages you to pause. The garden opens, offering space for quiet moments of solitude or shared experiences with others.
When you step into e’skãp, the welded staircase guides you deeper into the garden, where native plants and grasses spill through the structure, softening its edges. The reflection pond ahead mirrors the sky above and surrounding trees.
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As you enter the cantilevered pavilion, the glory vine overhead offers a cool shade. A large Acmena smithii hedge creates a sense of depth, while Brachychiton rupestris and Banksia integrifolia stand tall in the distance. There are open patches of Zoysia japonica, while close to the firepit, are Calamagrostis and Miscanthus.
Teamwork and talent
My role has focused on the plants. I’ve spent hours refining the layout, selecting quantities and working with Carl Heyne from Heynes Wholesale Nursery to perfect every detail. The challenge has been ensuring each plant finds its place while fitting within the bigger vision.
As planting approaches, I’m excited to lead a talented team of horticulturalists and landscapers, and together we’ll place native Australian species alongside Mediterranean varieties, creating a beautiful green tapestry. I’m particularly excited about the glory vine (Vitis coignetiae), which will grow through a steel arbour – the interplay between the hard steel structure and the soft vine will be a key feature of the garden.
While Rob may be the visionary behind the project, he’s quick to acknowledge that it’s a huge team effort. Bringing this ambitious garden to life has required the skills, creativity and hard work of several talented individuals and businesses, including Jason Schulz, owner of Yergan Landscape, whose expertise has been fundamental in transforming our vision into a buildable reality. Jason has not only created the detailed working drawings that make this complex project possible, but is also leading the construction.
Malcolm Berce, owner of Desert Flower Landscaping, is responsible for the stunning freeform natural stonework in the firepit area, which will serve as the garden’s focal point. Malcolm’s expertise in working with natural stone has been invaluable in bringing this beautiful feature to life. The firepit, with its organic design, will undoubtedly be a standout drawcard for visitors to the garden.
The challenge
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Building a 200 square metre garden is a massive task, but transporting it 800 kilometres to Melbourne adds another layer of complexity. For months, we’ve been preparing, sourcing and organising every detail. With the show fast approaching, the pressure is building. Moving tons of materials, plants and people requires careful planning, multiple trucks, and coordination to ensure everything arrives in perfect condition.
Giving back
After MIFGS ends, we’ve decided to gift the garden’s structure to the Little Heroes Foundation. Key elements, such as the steel structure and reflection pond, will be auctioned at the foundation’s gala to raise funds for childhood dementia research.
Our team is so proud to support this cause. As Rob explains: “This garden is a way to keep giving long after the event ends. Knowing that something we’ve poured so much heart into will help families facing tough times makes all the hard work worth it.”
The community
None of this would have been possible without the incredible support from the South Australian community. Local businesses, suppliers and individuals generously provided the materials, plants and resources we needed. Rob says: “One of the first to step in offered plants even before we’d finished our pitch. That early enthusiasm really helped drive the momentum.”
We’ve been fortunate to work with amazing sponsors whose contributions were essential in making this project a reality, allowing us to focus on creating something meaningful for both the show and the Little Heroes Foundation.
But it’s not just the businesses. It’s our friends, family, fellow landscapers, and the wider community who’ve poured their time and energy into this. “The support we’ve received from every corner has been overwhelming,” Rob says.
Rob Cooper of Distinctive Gardens, Tahlia Webster and Jason Schulz of Yergan Landscape, and Malcolm Berce of Desert Flower Landscaping.
A lasting impact
As MIFGS draws near, I am reflecting on the lasting impact that e’skãp will have. This garden isn’t just about plants or design, it’s about the experience it creates. It’s about people slowing down, reconnecting with the land and rediscovering stillness.
If you happen to be in Melbourne next month, I invite you to visit e’skãp and to pause; feel connected to the land and breathe in the space we’ve created with love and intention. If you can’t make it to Melbourne, you can follow our journey on social media. We’ll share every step, from the first plant in the ground to the final reveal.
Creating e’skãp has been one of the most rewarding – and challenging – experiences of my life. It’s one I’ll never forget.
The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show runs from March 26-30 at the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, Melbourne.
This article first appeared in the Autumn 2025 issue of SALIFE Gardens & Outdoor Living magazine.
