Created for the Launch Party of Design Victoria, Surrender invited guests to immerse themselves in a sensory experience of light, shadows, color, and texture. In collaboration with Jamie Montgomery-Kerr of Cedar and Soil, this garden design encouraged visitors to slow down and connect with nature, offering a peaceful escape from the noise of modern life. The garden was designed to help attendees surrender to the calming beauty of plants, take a breath, and unwind.

Local carpenter Josh Montgomery built custom modular boxes using salvaged fir and cedar with traditional joinery, creating a movable, sustainable garden. This project demonstrated that good design is accessible to everyone, regardless of homeownership. Plants featured in the garden included Japanese Snowbell, New Zealand Hair Sedge ‘Cappuccino’, Globeflower ‘Cheddar’, Salvia ‘Blue By You’, Yarrow, and Iris—all carefully selected for their beauty and sensory qualities.

For more information about the four day design festival visit: Design Victoria