Designer Ian Barker shines at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden …

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”There are lots of leftover spaces that people have forgotten – it happens all over the world. For example the conversion of the High Line in New York from an abandoned railway line above the city into an aerial greenway. In a leftover space there’s a container and some rubble so I’ve designed the garden around that theory,” Barker says.

An aficionado of the perennial movement, ultra fashionable overseas at flower shows such as Chelsea, and ”making its way down south”, Barker says he chose many of the perennials for the romantic way they embrace autumn through their colours, whether flowers or foliage. Carpets of Coreopsis ”Rum Punch” is a prime example, starting off the season almost pale yellow and mellowing to deep burgundy in autumn.

Achilleas or yarrow have been used to maximum effect, their flat flowerheads a country addition to the meadow-like garden. Sedum ”Autumn Joy”, a classic perennial, also makes a strong appearance, chocolate-coloured Cosmos enhances the soft yet rich palette and Berberis ”Ruby Carousel” lives up to its name in the autumn garden. Creating a new green pocket doesn’t necessarily have to be about completely transforming a space but working with what is already there, reintroducing what existed in the past and combining this with new and pioneering design elements, he says.

”Hopefully this design will influence the future of urban landscape planning to create a healthier and more sustainable city.”

The show finishes on Sunday.