why yards.
MIFGS24
Yards debut at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
Yards debut at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
In March, a team of four from Yards traveled to Melbourne to provide construction support for Semken Landscaping in building the renowned Irish designer Peter Donegan's 2024 Show Garden, titled "A Moment in Time."
Peter extended an invitation to the Yards team, after Director Ben French and Peter connected at the Australian Institute of Horticulture in Cairns the preceding year.
The garden was built to raise awareness to the 107,000+ people who walked through the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show's gates and we thank every single person who this heartfelt story resonated with and took the time to vote for the garden, with the garden awarded the People’s Choice Award, as well as the Silver Show Garden Award at the 2024 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.
To you and your completely magical team that are Yards, thank you for everything you did to make this journey, our friendship and the show garden possible and to retell a story set 40 years ago of a minds that necessitated a light shone upon it, with a respectfully deserved grace and eloquence. The detail required, the skill to do so and the responsibility fell to you and your team in particular in the final days leading to reveal. I think now we, achieved that and it was better because you were there. What a humbling privilege to stand by your side and know we did right for those who deserve(d) more. Thank you my friend, take a bow" - Peter Donegan MSGD
This garden tells the story of an Air Force veteran who returns to a place he hoped to recall as home. The garden remains as if he had never left, telling the story of a man returning from service who is calm and placid in his demeanor but is now broken inside. The design aims to highlight the stories of returning veterans who have not fallen in service, and thus, no headstones are present. Though their bodies have not been lost, what remains is a mind that can never be the same as it was prior to.
The garden’s intention was to highlight the struggles some may face when returning to civilian life, post service in our armed forces. The broader team were honoured to hear the stories of veterans and their families and we thank all of those who have served, past or present.
The design features a fragmented path winding to an aged, grassed roof wood cabin and a Piper PA-28 Cherokee aircraft, the project that once was a wished for return to flight of a then younger man, not complete in its repair or trajectory stalled by tree growth over time, stimulated only by the turbulence of what comes with the witness of conflict.
The garden is in support of the Defence Force Welfare Association (DFWA) whose purpose is to promote and protect the interests of serving and former members of the Australian Defence Force and their families. We hope this project will honour the heritage and proud traditions of the Australian Defence Force.
If you or a family member are in need of support, help is available from many wonderful organisations such as the DFWA and we encourage you to reach out to discover how they can assist you.
