Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show 2025

We are incredibly proud to announce that the show garden, ǝ’skāp, received top honours at the 2025 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. The garden was awarded Gold, named the City of Melbourne Award of Excellence – Best in Show, and won the Horticultural Media Association Award for Best Use of Plant Life. This garden was designed and built in collaboration with Distinctive Gardens & Desert Flower Landscaping. This award was achieved with the help and generosity of so many suppliers which we are truly thankful to (see below).

ǝ’skāp is a garden designed to help you slow down, reconnect, and find a moment of peace. Now fully realised at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show 2025 in Carlton Gardens, this space is a serene retreat amidst the bustle of the event, where nature and design come together to create a harmonious escape. At its core, ǝ’skāp perfectly balances structure with fluidity. The bold, structured forms of Australian native plants are paired with the gentle, whimsical movement of grasses that dance with the breeze. Each plant was chosen not only for its beauty and texture but also for how it creates a dynamic, living tapestry.

Key features of the garden include the natural stone fireplace, complete with surrounding seating, designed to bring people together in a welcoming space. The grapevine-covered shade arbour offers a delicate balance of soft dappled light and structured steel, creating a stunning contrast in both form and function. A peaceful reflection pond mirrors the sky and surrounding foliage, adding to the tranquil atmosphere. Floating stairs and walkways guide you through the garden, inviting a deeper immersion into the space and its layers.

This garden was brought to life through a true team effort, with everyone at Yergan playing a hands-on role. Jason was instrumental in turning the design into reality—his experience was key in producing the detailed working drawings, which not only guided the construction process but also formed the basis for the renders created by Hanna Digital. He also designed the cantilevered pavilion, which became a central feature of the garden. He led the construction team on site, ensuring everything was planned and built to support the team through the process. Janek brought his carpentry skills to the project, working closely with Zac to complete the pavilion fit-out and oversee the structural elements, including the pond, walkways, and staircases. Haylee and Tahlia played key roles in bringing the garden to life and sharing its story with the public. Haylee designed the garden’s signage, landing page, and team t-shirts—giving the project a clear identity both on-site and online. Tahlia led the social media campaign, capturing the build through photography and drone footage, and promoted the garden through SA Life Magazine and SALIFE Gardens, you can read it here: ‘ǝ’skāp’ From mapping out the construction schedule to managing logistics, the Yergan team was involved at every stage of the project.

As the first South Australian team to build a garden of this scale for MIFGS, we are incredibly proud of what we’ve created. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of our sponsors and a network of passionate small businesses that share our love for landscaping and horticulture.

Although ǝ’skāp was designed for MIFGS 2025, its legacy will live on. The stunning shade arbour has been gifted to the Little Heroes Foundation, where it will be auctioned off at their annual gala ball. The proceeds from the auction will help fund vital research into Childhood Dementia, a cause we are proud to support. ǝ’skāp is more than just a garden—it’s a place for reflection, connection, and inspiration. We’re thrilled to have brought this space to life, and we hope it continues to inspire long after the show has ended.

Big thanks to Clint and the WaterPro team for filming, you can watch our interview here: ǝ’skāp

Photography: Tahlia Webster