6 days to go: BUILD DAY 6

We're halfway there but if this was a mountain, we'd be keenly looking for the way down right now. There's some crumpled looking bodies arriving in the mornings, mine included, needing many shots of caffeine before any reasonable decisions are made. I think in athlete's terms this is hitting the wall. We're all using muscles over and over again that continue to be shocked from the day before's insults, yet we're starting to see it come alive and are immensely proud at the same time. It really is a marathon.

Gorgeous plants everywhere starting to come together

Our site is heaving from deliveries of plants, mulch, sand, rock, timber... it goes on and on. We try to locate each one in the place we will use it, but seem to be relocating things constantly anyway. Kris and I are racing to get plants in position so we can get more room for more of them in the holding area. It's amazing how many disappear into each little area. All credit to the guys at the nurseries growing these though - it's been spread across 3 but the absolute bulk of it has been grown at Humphris Nursery in Mooroolbark. Kris and I worked on a planting plan to approximate numbers with no real conviction that it would work out like that. We organised the deliveries to be placed on trolleys designated for each area, but have found that we are mixing it all up anyway. Some things are working as we imagined and others just aren't. Somehow though, the amazing dispatch and nursery teams at Humphris have positively jumped into action with every frantic call for something different to be delivered 2 hours ago. This isn't easy to achieve I know, it's not easy to rustle up trucks at a moment's notice when stores all over Australia need their deliveries as well. I hope when every member of the huge Humphris team visit their stand and see how exquisitely beautiful their plants look in this setting, they'll forget the agony of the last little while and just feel really proud of themselves. Kate has taken on an enormous job in the Humphris office, slipping in to manage the administration side of this whole display and the mountain of paperwork it creates. I remember my first year at the show and the wall of forms that looked like wallpaper with red deadlines all over them. A daunting start to every day until it was over. Without these magnificent plants we don't have a garden though, and because of them, we have something really special. thanks team Humphris!

The Arbour elf

Today's build started with rain and more rain, but luckily it cleared quickly and they guys could get on with putting up the beam that arrived today, then finish the roof of the shed. Stewart got to play with his blowtorch to age it quickly - having way too much fun with the fire extinguisher close by. We had his team of students with us this morning, and they were great helping me move the massive trees that arrived yesterday. The flooring is at a grinding halt while more fence palings were sourced, so we got them going on the framework for the sales tanks. Each cut down rainwater tank will be packed with either plants or flowers for sale, so we're building a false bottom for them to sit on.

Meanwhile, the Arbour team were up on the roof with Stewart finishing off the sheeting. It looks so amazing from the hill behind the heritage listed parterre garden - the photo shows the wave shape and the stunning colours of the tin. Later today they got going on the retaining wall for the sand dune - part of the coastal garden area. I'm looking forward to filling the sand dune up tomorrow and getting the horticulture student team working on the planting of it. It's going to look fantastic with the gorgeous yellow beached boat at the end. We're aiming to have the sand dune done and the family garden done tomorrow - a big day again, but we all need to tick some things off! The BBQ has arrived, I'll find a salad and get some music organised - morale is everything as people get tired and the best way to boost it is have some fun!

The shed from the back with parterre in front.

8 days to go; BUILD DAY 4

The shed from the upper walk

There's lots of action around us today as most of the other landscape sites are started and deliveries arrive in earnest. There's plenty of interest and admiration for the shed and the boys are rightly proud of what they've achieved so far. We've got a problem to solve though, as we're 1 beam short for the end wall. It will finish off the end nicely and will be quicker than packing the gap between the tin roof and wall top with small pieces of timber. Sourcing proves difficult though as these massive 9 metre beams are cut on demand and we need it today. Many phones are running hot as contacts are massaged and pleading is done. Eventually Anthony strikes gold with a source nearby who will have one ready for us tomorrow. Fantastic!

Anthony looks intent on working it out

Today's tasks for the boys involve the shed roof. We're keen to get the tin on by tonight to give the students free reign to get the fence paling floorboards down tomorrow. Stewart has had some hardwood timber battens lying in a pile at home for years, so they've been prised out of his hoard to make an appearance on the roof. Stewart says he's been saving them for something just like this. I think he's been just saving them. They're the perfect colour though to complement his tractor distressed Oregon beams, so he's happy to let them go... for now. He's got space in the backyard for more stuff now and it's only a matter of time.

Stewart's precious roof battens... Make sure you see the roof from the upper walk - it's a wave!

Natural bracing and old methods of fixing..

Rohan has managed to get some of the plywood down that forms the base for all the paths, making it easier to clean up at the end. We've found a way to vastly reduce the amount of material we use for the paths by putting in a garden bed in front of the shed and having a ramp in only one place. It deals with the height issue off the ground and means we only have to build it up in one place. We've also decided to replace much of the granite toppings with a mulch path. Not as easy to negotiate with a pusher, but much easier to pull it up afterwards and it can be recycled. So the plywood goes down so we can drive a bobcat onto the site later and pick it all up easily. I think it might be going to the bushfire area which is great news.

The plants started arriving today by the trolley load - there's so much to do now it's a little overwhelming. We can barely find places to park all the trolleys and have to keep an eye on where they all go so the paths are kept clear to work on.

Gardens like this don't happen without the foresight of major sponsors, and this one is no different. Heading up our group, the ones who approached me some 12 months ago, are Humphris Nursery. This family wholesale business develops amazing plants for wholesale to nurseries under labels like Garden Assets and Coolabah. Austraflora are another sponsor who have developed the 'King in the Garden' range of plants for Melissa King, represented in our heart garden. In the shed and cafe you'll find magnificent cut flowers from Austem, all passionate companies embracing and celebrating the uniqueness of Australian Flora at MIFGS through this garden 'Imagine'. We're all grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their vision!

Tomorrow we'll start work on the kid's garden planting area. The fairy master, Gary, is coming in the morning to see the location he's got for the fairy grotto, so I want those plants in place early. so much to do, so many sore muscles, so little sleep...