Silver lining for landscaper

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE born and bred landscaper Greg Palmer has won a second silver medal at the famous Chelsea Flower Show.
Palmer, who returned to Melbourne last week, was part of the UK landscaping firm Wynniatt-Husey Clark.
The win could be claimed as a pat on the back for the horticulture industry in Yarra Ranges with Jamie Durie/Flemings Nursery team from Monbulk claiming a gold medal.
Palmer did his apprenticeship with John Stanhope at Black Spur Nursery, but said his passion for plants came from his grade five teacher at Healesville Primary, who encouraged him, and from his parents, who loved gardening.
“I always wanted to do something with plants and gardening and in 1980 my first job out of school was with John at the nursery,” Palmer said.
He started his own design and construction business AYUS Botanical about 15 years ago.
After working with Wynniatt-Husey in 2000 and 2001, the team put together a small garden in the 2002 Chelsea show, which gave them their first silver medal.
“We always said if we got suitable sponsorship we would do a show garden and this year we got that sponsorship, which was a fantastic opportunity.”
Only 21 Show Garden teams are selected from around the world to display their design, plantsmanship and construction capabilities in the top level QVC Garden competition.
Palmer said the pace was frantic with the team putting in 12- to 14-hour days for the 16 days they had to put the garden together.
“There were certainly parts of it where you questioned why you were doing it, but it is quite a buzz and I’d be more than happy to do it again,” he said.
Travelling and horticulture have given Palmer the opportunity to showcase his own talent and mix with the best players on the international horticulture scene.
“You meet a lot of people, especially at a place like Chelsea which attracts all manner of people and so-called celebrities through to very good, well-known garden designers.
“Whether they’re exhibiting or just taking it all in, they stop and talk and it opens you up to a lot of interesting people, who if I had stayed in Healesville I would not have had the opportunity to meet.”
Palmer said while he is thrilled to be part of a silver medal winning team, gold is the ultimate aim.
“What you aspire to is to do your best. We got brilliant feedback from the judges so when we do another one we will be better placed to understand what they are looking for,” he said.
“Silver is nice but you always want to go to the highest level. So gold will be next.”