Chisholm Institute student Tanya Kathleen won the People’s Choice Award in the Achievable Garden category for her Live in Joy installation at the 2025 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Congratulations Tanya!
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Describe the garden in 5 words.
Calm, moving out to vibrancy.
What was the question you were asked most often?
Most commonly, whilst feeling the flowers, people asked their names.
What piece of feedback will you always remember?
So many people commented that the garden felt happy.
What was an obstacle you had to overcome and how did you do it?
I really liked the mature Jasmine specimens we borrowed from Merrywood Plants. Their wilder, gnarly-ness brought balance to the lush, smooth espaliered plants and trees that made the living walls. I wanted to show the whole of the plant, however I knew if I hid the pots below the floor level, they would look short, so instead, I decided to add in a planter box and our Education Manager, Shaun Leeming built it on site.
The obstacle I struggled the most with though, was self-doubt. Delivering my first garden, while representing Chisholm on such an important stage, at times it was internally very loud. What helped me the most was self-compassion – everything I was doing I was learning how to do whilst carrying it out; seeking advice and help; and having a brilliant team around me, even people I met on site were amazing and encouraging. Having the right people around you can bring out the magic within you.
Would you do it again?
Absolutely! I thoroughly enjoyed creating the garden and doing the build with my Chisholm teachers and fellow students. I have learned so much along the way that now I’d change how I carried out much of the process, however the garden would look almost the same – I’d still keep in all of those gorgeous plants and flowers.
The stage is yours – what do you want to say?
It has been an amazing honour to be part of the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show – our industry’s biggest event. I am very new to the industry and have been delighted to find everyone I encountered during the lead up, the build, show and bump out phases to be warm and encouraging. Thank you again to Chisholm’s Bec Bennett, Anita Meister, Shaun Leeming, Jacob Keller, Rodney Thorne and Liz Rowe. Thank you to everyone who attends and supports the show, it holds a significant place in my heart, and I know it is very special to many people. Thank you to our generous sponsors Edu-Flora Student Nursery, Merrywood Plants, Maria Simonelli sculptor, Botanix Plant Supply, Green Circle Plant Nursery, Terra Nova Plants, PlantNet, Mulga Native Plants, JD Propagation, Regen Nurseries, Mansfield’s Propagation Nursery, Warners Nurseries, Shapescaper, Yarrabee & Castlemaine Stone, Lighting Options, Bunnings and Madewell Products.
It is such a brilliant tapestry we create to bring an idea to life.