If you’ve ever been to Melbourne, you’ve probably noticed the sheer amount of green space and public gardens that exist in the city. Beautiful yet functional, it’s no wonder Melbourne ranks well in livability indexes.

So where are these enchanting Melbourne gardens? You’re in luck because we’ve rounded up a list of our favourites – along with some practical tips on how to achieve your own inspiring garden at home.

Queen Victoria Gardens

Queen Victoria Gardens is a must-see when in Melbourne. The biggest drawcard is the enormous floral clock containing 7,000 flowers that undergoes a redesign annually. Popular with both visitors and Melbournites, the floral displays offer a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the CBD. It’s also considered to be one of the best parks in Melbourne, so it ticks many boxes in our books.

Bring this garden home: Create a floral display in your garden by focusing on patterns and impact. Plant striking rows of the same coloured flowers or plants, then follow with another row in a complementary colour.

You could also try a mass-planting method, which focuses on grouping together one or more kinds of plants in a single area. Popular varieties for these methods include lavender, geraniums, petunias, pansies, marigolds, and begonias. If you need a hand, speak to your local gardening service.

Blue Lotus Water Garden

If you’re a fan of Monet, but can’t make your way to Giverny in France, don’t fret – there’s something closer to home. The Blue Lotus Water Garden in Yarra Junction offers a gorgeous display of water lilies and lotus flowers strewn across dozens of ponds and two larger lakes. There are also four greenhouses that are home to a variety of rare plants.

Bring this garden home: Install a water feature or pond and plant a variety of lotuses, lilies and water-loving plants. For large-scale jobs, you might need the help of a pond installer. For smaller projects, you can head to your local garden supply centre where you’ll find everything you need for an epic DIY job.

Related: No more boring backyards: Reinvent your garden with our wacky and wonderful inspirations

Carlton Gardens

The Carlton Gardens are a gorgeous World Heritage Site just outside of the CBD. The site is 24 hectares and a top-notch example of Victorian landscape design. So, if you’re after beautiful green lawns as far as the eye can see, autumn colours, and grand tree-lined avenues, then this Melbourne garden is for you.

Bring this garden home: Believe it or not, you can incorporate Victorian design into your garden, even on a small scale. Plant deciduous trees to draw the eye, use shrubs to line paths or hide unsightly fence, and lastly, invest in an ornamental urn or water fountain.

Royal Botanical Gardens

While Melbourne is home to two Royal Botanical Gardens, we’re focusing on the Cranbourne site, which is dedicated to showcasing and protecting Australian plants. Filled with expansive wetlands and woodlands, the gardens also provide an interesting insight into the kinds of plants that flourish in different Australian climates.

Bring this garden home: First things first, to recreate this garden you’ll want go for Australian natives. Some of our favourite Australian plants include spotted emu bush, waratah, grevillea, Christmas bush, daviesia, banksia, and bird of paradise.

But, just like with any plant, different natives are suited to different Australian climates, so you’ll want to do your research to find out which plants are best for say a coastal Australian garden vs. a tropical garden.

If you want more expert advice on what to plant or need supplies to make your garden a success, then speak to your local gardening supplier.