The Dopamine Garden
aN Ode to joy, colours & plants
The Dopamine Garden was a temporary Silver Award–winning show garden created for the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2026.
Designed as a joyful act of rebellion against the increasing greyification of our built environments, the garden explored how colour, texture and sensory planting can shape the way we feel. Rather than treating colour as decoration, the design used it as a tool to create delight, curiosity and emotional connection.
Visitors strongly resonated with the vibrant planting and bold patterns throughout the space. A reminder that perhaps we are all craving a little more colour, softness and playfulness in our everyday landscapes.
Size: 20 m²
Location: imagined for inner north Melbourne suburb
Brief in a nutshell:Maximalist garden with colours, patterns and lush plantscape!
Garden type: sensory, native and flower focused, colour-focused
Design breakdown
mini meadow
A concentrated flowering zone was created in front of the pond as a visual counterpoint to the foliage-rich perimeter planting.
While the garden edges focused on creating an immersive green embrace around the seating area, the meadow offered moments of colour, detail and visual pause, giving the eye a place to rest and encouraging visitors to slow down and enjoy the space.
tiled pond with fountain
The tiled pond and fountain became one of the most loved elements of the garden. Water introduces sensory richness through both sound and movement, creating moments of calm while bringing energy into the space.
Reflections and ripples also help animate surrounding planting and make compact gardens feel more dynamic.
movement through Weeping plants
Weeping plants and fine-textured foliage create movement from even the gentlest breeze. In enclosed courtyards where wind movement can feel limited, introducing these forms helps bring the landscape to life.
This subtle movement creates a more dynamic atmosphere and echoes the softness and unpredictability found in natural environments.
sensory planting
Sensory plants are amazing, but strategic placement is key for plants to create actual human interaction.
So soft tactile species such as Stachys byzantina and fluffy Acacia cognata were positioned within easy hand reach to invite touch, while fragrant species including Pelargonium citronella and Prostanthera rotundifolia were concentrated around the seating area to create a more immersive sensory experience.
Playful fun patterns & curves
In a world increasingly shaped by cost-efficient mainstreamed straight lines, intricate forms and patterns mimics something closer to what soothing nature offers us.
In this garden, decorative scalloping and wavy detailing were introduced into the built elements to soften the space and reinforce the joyful character of the garden.
vertical Green tapestry
In small gardens, vertical space is often the greatest opportunity. Layering planting upward helps soften boundaries and reduce the feeling of enclosure.
Taller planting and darker foliage toward the back create visual depth, encouraging the eye to travel further and making the garden feel larger and more immersive.
Garden featured in:
“I simply loved Pia Lefevre’s Dopamine Garden”
You couldn’t walk past Pia Lefevre’s garden and not feel cheered by the riot of colour.”
Steve Falcioni, The Organic Gardener Magazine, Issue 165
“The design borrowed from so-called ‘dopamine dressing’, a movement which uses bold colours, vibrant patterns and joyful, nostaligic items to boost happiness.”
Claire Bickle, Gardening Australia Magazine, June 2026 Issue
Garden sponsors
This garden was made possible thanks to the generous support of the following sponsors. I reached out to these particular companies because I genuinely admire the quality of what they do, and it’s been a pleasure working with them on this project.
