Test Garden Open Day - February

Russell Larke

Russell Larke (BSc First Class Hons, Dip Hort, Dip Cons & Land Man) is the inaugural Head Gardener at the Melbourne Arts Precinct, caring for both Fed Square and the new 18,000 square metre urban garden, Laak Boorndap. A passionate advocate for native flora and conservation, he previously served as Senior Curator at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (Cranbourne), where he managed the living collections and established multiple plant conservation initiatives. Russell is committed to advancing horticultural innovation and connection to nature throughout the Melbourne Arts Precinct.

Natalie Simmons

Natalie Simmons is a horticulturist for the Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation, which includes responsibility for the Test Garden at Fed Square as well as the planned 18,000 square metre urban garden, Laak Boorndap. With a love of naturalistic planting design, Nat is all about helping to create and nurture beautiful public gardens that are inspired by nature. She has extensive experience travelling to international gardens and working in public landscapes, including the Heide Museum of Modern Art, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (Melbourne), Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, and most recently as the Head Horticulturist at Melbourne Grammar School.

The Beautiful Bunch is a Melbourne-based, not-for-profit social enterprise florist and registered charity creating meaningful employment opportunities for young women from refugee backgrounds who are experiencing barriers to work.

Being young, female, and from a refugee background means this group faces some of the most significant challenges to entering the workforce. The work we do is crucial.

We operate as a same-day floral delivery service across Melbourne, create flowers for events and weddings, offer corporate flower subscriptions, and provide indoor and outdoor plant hire and ongoing plant maintenance for homes, workplaces and public spaces.

Every part of our business exists to support our social mission. Through our paid training and employment program, we provide a safe, welcoming, supportive and gender-informed work environment where young women from refugee backgrounds can build practical skills, confidence, financial independence and pathways into long-term employment.

Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We source local and seasonal flowers wherever possible, prioritise mindful production practices, and use 100% biodegradable packaging, caring for both people and the planet.

At the core of The Beautiful Bunch is a belief in the basic human need for natural beauty, and in the emotional connection, dignity and joy that thoughtfully made flowers – and meaningful work – can bring.