25 days to go

Just 2 weeks until we're onsite now and the shed is starting to take shape. The Swinburne building apprentices have grasped the job with everything they've got, including massive enthusiasm and excitement. It's rewarding to hear that the buzz is filtering through everywhere we need it to. The floor panels are now almost complete and this shed is massive. On its own, it would cover a normal sized show garden site. Next week the walls will go up and the floristry team will be able to take a look at the canvas they'll be working with. The inside walls will be a little bit special you see - quite a work of living art, crafted with great care and skill.

The tables have been cut for the wine barrel cafe - they sit on the wine barrels like a skirt, and will have huge grevilleas growing up through them. People coming to listen to the educational sessions can sit with a coffee and rest a while with a beautiful view spreading out in front of them. We almost managed to get masseurs organised for tired feet and necks - alas events conspired to make us shelve the idea. I'm sure we'll wish that wasn't the case soon!

Tonight we had a construction team bonding night in front of a big screen with pictures of past MIFGS winning gardens, lots of analysis and experienced tips, a few beers and pizza. The preparation is intense as we all focus intently on the goal and try to cover all the 'what ifs..'

It's a great team - The Swinburne guys, the Arbour Construction guys & my team all pulling in the same direction with mutual support and enthusiasm. I'm so proud to be working with such a stellar bunch of people trying to make my vision an authentic reality. A very humbling experience. Thank you guys!

I spent some time at the nursery this week with Kris, my assistant designer. We laid out all the plants we'll be working with and made rules of planting combinations. Each plant was put next to another with a tick or a cross depending on whether they made each other 'sing' or cringe. Working with native plants can be quite tricky, as many of them have fine leaves to cope with extreme heat and lose less water. A fine leaf needs a large leaf behind it to make it 'sing', otherwise it tends to look like a mass of nothing much at all, particularly if it's not flowering. Autumn isn't the best flowering time for natives, so we're very reliant on getting the foliage contrasts to do a lot of the work. Combinations were finally agreed on for each area and now we can start organising planting plans for each area with picking lists for the nursery.

Plant grouping for textural contrast

A juliet balcony from Bentsticks : www.bentsticks.com.au

The fairy grotto has its first section built too! Gary from Bentsticks reported in tonight that little houses and ladders are curling up the tree trunks he picked up last week. He's excited at how it's looking and is eagerly planning the next part of the miniature village for our family garden. I'm dying to see how it's looking but still have much to sort out and need to stay focussed on the urgent stuff. If I go and visit him I'll be off in LaLa land wishing I was 5 again....