Designing with Passion, Plants and Purpose with La Muxlow | The Front Garden EP144
In this episode…
Our host, Adam Hompas, chats with La Muxlow from La Muxlow Garden Design about the realities, rewards, and relentless preparation involved in creating a garden for the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show.
Fresh from her 2026 MIFGS balcony garden, La reflects on the emotional high of exhibiting, the pressure of delivering a garden in a tight timeframe, and the value of using MIFGS gardens to sharpen your voice as a designer.
La shares how feedback from the public and industry helped her better understand the kind of spaces she wants to create—warm, welcoming, highly functional outdoor rooms layered with plants, softness and beauty.
The conversation also explores La’s journey from graphic design and corporate project management into garden design, and how those earlier skills now support her as a business owner. From managing client expectations to coordinating contractors, collaborators and budgets, La explains why being a strong designer is only one part of running a successful practice.
Adam and La also discuss the importance of clear communication between designers, landscapers and clients, particularly during construction when site realities can shift the original design intent. La talks about the value of awkward conversations early, documenting expectations clearly, and protecting relationships with kindness and honesty.
The episode wraps with a practical look at design tools, including Vectorworks, SketchUp, and AI, and at how La is experimenting with technology while still keeping plants, site conditions, and wildlife at the heart of her design process.
Key takeaways
- Show gardens take serious commitment
- MIFGS can help clarify your design identity
- Functional gardens still need soul
- Business skills matter as much as design skills
- Good collaborations start with honest conversations
- Designers have an important role during construction
- AI is useful, but not perfect for landscape design yet
- Planting starts with what the site can sustain
- Client education is part of the job
- The best gardens invite people in
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👁️🗨️ About La Muxlow
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Designing with Passion, Plants and Purpose with La Muxlow | The Front Garden EP144
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