Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

Kids treated to Mary Poppins and butterflies at this year's show

Children are guaranteed to have fun at this year's Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS) with two special features. The Alannah and MadelineFoundation, a national charity keeping children safe from violence, will engage the little ones with a Mary Poppins themed display inside the hall and the Children's Garden will come to life with a burst of colour and plenty of daily scheduled activities to entertain the kids.

The Mary Poppins themed display is being brought to life by Flower Temple to treatchildren to a magical space inspired by the famous carousel scene from the childhoodclassic. The interactive display allows children to walk through the display to see flowercovered carousel horses and an interactive flower wall that allows children to placeflowers in the wall as they walk past.

The Children's Garden will be created by Georgeous; Simply Georgeous Occasions forits third year, and will include the ever popular bubble machine, animal enclosure, pot-aplantsection and face painting. An amazing butterfly enclosure will also make its debutto the show.

The butterfly enclosure will allow children to get up close with the delicate creatures,which will perch on their coloured wands. This new activity along with the classicentertainment will keep little green thumbs amused for hours.

IMG Event Manager, Kathleen Rushford is ecstatic about the Mary Poppins display andthe scheduled entertainment for the Children's Garden this year.

"Children's activities have become major features of the show. The garden is growing insize each year, which means that we can cram in more fun for the kids including thebeautiful Mary Poppins display and the amazing butterfly enclosure.

"The Alannah and Madeline Foundation's display will amaze children and adults alike asit takes them through a story that we all know and love so much with interactiveelements to get everyone involved.

"I also love the fact that children will not only be entertained, but also educated on howmuch fun growing your own flowers and veggies can be," she said.

The Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria (NGIV) will be kindly donating all of thepots, trowels and seedlings for the pot-a-plant section for children to take home andwatch grow.

MIFGS is presented by Mighty Helpful Mitre 10 in 2010 and will be held at the heritagelistedRoyal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens from 24th-28th March.

WHAT: The largest horticultural event in the Southern Hemisphere showcasingstunning floral displays and inspirational ideas for around the garden.

WHEN: Wednesday 24th March - Sunday 28th March 2010.

OPENING TIMES: Wed, Thurs and Sun - 9am-5pm.
Fri and Sat - 9am-6pm.

WHERE: Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, Carlton.

TICKETS: Buy at the gate or book through racv.com.au/travel or call RACVHolidayLine on 13 13 29.

Adult: $20
Concession: $17#
Family: $45
Child (6 to 16 years): $8
Child (5 years & under): Free
Group: $17*
# Tertiary Student Card, Pensioner Concession Card & Senior Card holders.
* Groups of 10 or more people, per person price.

WEB: www.melbflowershow.com.au