Monday, July 7, 2025

Author: Gabrielle Stannus

Fruit TreesPlants

Good looking gardens to tickle your tastebuds

By Gabrielle Stannus

Imagine a future in which resources are shared from building to building, and food is grown without a dependency on fossil fuel-based transportation. The International Living Future Institute asked governments, designers and planners to do just that through its Living Communities Challenge, whilst requiring them to incorporate beauty as a very important element in their response.Continue reading

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EnvironmentEnvironment & Sustainability

Urban and Bushfire Protection

The role green roofs, walls, and facades play in fire-resilient cities

By Michael Casey

As climate change intensifies, bushfires are becoming more frequent and severe, posing significant threats to homes, communities, and ecosystems in fire-prone areas worldwide. The recent fires throughout Los Angeles are an example of how ferocious these fires can be both in a built-up urban area, and in the buildings and houses located in the more naturalised areas surrounded by trees and plant life.Continue reading

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Business ProfileEditorial

Hang it all

Save space. Cut labour. More profit.

By John Fitzsimmons

With the growth of apartment living, with more balconies and courtyards, and more awareness of the possibilities for 3-dimensional greenscapes indoors and out, it should come as no surprise that hanging baskets are a growing category.Continue reading

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Fruit TreesPlants

Hydroponic fruit tree production

Growing potential?

By John Fitzsimmons

Awareness of growing plants hydroponically is nowadays very high. A good understanding of this approach is, perhaps, not so high. ‘Hydro’ is commonly associated with food crops such as tomatoes, capsicum, lettuce and herbs (culinary, medicinal and ‘recreational’) and with some ornamentals and in floriculture (e.g.Continue reading

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Botanic GardensPlants

Alice Springs is banking on a bright future

By Holly Wyatt

The gritty, arid environment of Central Australia is home to a diverse and awe-inspiring range of plant species. This provides nourishment, from bush foods and medicine, to wildflower colour palettes to inspire artists, sacred trees, connection to country for aboriginal peoples, and shelters some of Australia’s rarest animals.Continue reading

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EditorialGreener Spaces Better Places Update

What’s Growing on?

AUSTRALIA’S TOWNS AND CITIES REALLY ARE SOME OF THE GREENEST IN THE WORLD!!

Australia’s towns and cities are being celebrated as some of the greenest globally, with major wins at the AIPH World Green City Awards!

Driven by our mission to make Australia’s urban areas the greenest in the world, Greener Spaces Better Places played a key role in promoting these awards,
encouraging Australian projects to showcase their innovative, sustainable designs on the world stage.… Continue reading

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LandscapeLandscape using Fruit Trees

Fruit trees and shrubs for limited spaces

By Patrick Regnault

Small backyards, balconies, limited outdoor spaces, and short or unsecured rent leases are not as conducive to long-term tree planting. For those who can afford to buy and settle, they may have a shrunken backyard or a courtyard; for others, it will need to be pots.Continue reading

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LandscapeLandscape Design

Modernist marvel

By Lynne Testoni

This Palm Springs-inspired design includes plenty of space for children to play and adults to relax.

The design of this beautiful backyard on Sydney’s northern beaches combines beauty and practicality. Inspired by mid-century modern architecture and the iconic homes of Palm Springs, the house is a contemporary version of these early homes with a minimalist façade.… Continue reading

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EditorialNewsbuds

Botanist names carnivorous plant after threatened orangutan

Supplied by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Dr Alastair Robinson, Manager of Biodiversity Services at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, together with a team of Malaysian botanists, has documented a critically endangered carnivorous plant in Malaysia, Nepenthes pongoides, which they named after the orangutan to raise awareness of the major threats to its survival.Continue reading

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