Karen Smith, Author at Hort Journal Australia

Lots of interaction with exhibitors

Inaugural expo in Sydney a great success

12/10/2023 Karen Smith 550 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Karen Smith

The Landscape Association recently hosted its inaugural TLA Landscape Expo in Ryde in New South Wales and was held at TAFE NSW, Ryde Campus. Attendance exceeded expectations with over 800 people enjoying the large, trade-focused event.

Landscape professionals across the full spectrum of the industry – maintenance, construction, and design, enjoyed the 50 trade exhibits, product demonstrations and speaker program, as well as the buzz of catching up with industry colleagues and friends.… Continue reading

Editors editorial

For the love of trees

22/09/2023 Karen Smith 567 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

A recent news item showed a picture of part of a giant Eucalyptus regnans lying on the back of a semi-trailer being carted to a timber mill in Tasmania. This tree was likely to end up as pulp or wood chips.… Continue reading

Something to suit everyone

Retail

Like a good wine, Altra Nursery gets better with age

22/09/2023 Karen Smith 646 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Karen Smith

This immaculate boutique nursery in Sydney’s South has managed to stay afloat when other nursery businesses in the area have disappeared through the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), the rising number of big box stores, the last El Nino, and the COVID19 Pandemic.… Continue reading

Brice Higgs presenting the Rod Tallis Award to Elliot Akintola, pictured with his wife Joana

International Plant Propagation Society

Propagation – essential to life

09/07/2023 Karen Smith 659 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Karen Smith

The 51^st conference of the International Plant Propagators Society (IPPS) held recently at the Novotel, Geelong in Victoria was awash with the enthusiasm of up-and-coming horticulturists ready to take advantage of the seek and share attitude that is the society’s main purpose.… Continue reading

Editorial Editors editorial

Fauna, Flora and…Fungi

05/06/2023 Karen Smith 665 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

If organisms in the soil biome became extinct, would anyone notice? Land and sea animals, such as Tasmania’s unique Maugean Skate (Zearaja maugeana) listed as endangered, receive some publicity but some organisms could go the way of the Tasmanian Tiger without anyone noticing until it is too late.… Continue reading

Editors editorial

What is new in horticulture?

11/04/2023 Karen Smith 754 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

The discovery of a new species of orchid in Japan underscores the necessity of persistent exploration and conservation efforts for undisturbed native ecosystems.

The orchid, named Spiranthes hachijoensis, was discovered in Tokyo. This discovery will undoubtedly spark interest in the flower which was originally thought to be S.… Continue reading

Hort Journal March 2023

Editors editorial

A heartbreaking occurrence

06/03/2023 Karen Smith 820 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, Landscape contractors, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

Most of us know what it feels like to have something stolen. It creates a sinking feeling that hits you in the gut. When it comes to plants, that takes it to another level! One day I came out into my front garden (which doesn’t have a fence) and found that a massive clump of bromeliads had simply been ripped out.… Continue reading

Editors editorial

Looking after yourself is crucial to a ‘happy new year’

09/02/2023 Karen Smith 701 Views 0 Comments

I find the early weeks of December so hectic that I feel my feet don’t hit the ground. After the visit from the red-suited gentleman and his reindeers, I usually have time to reflect on the year just passed. That’s when I realise that events that seemed so stressful at the time, were just another little bump in the road.… Continue reading

Green Space Urban Award - Melbourne Sky Farm Project (Image: Melbourne Sky Farm)

Industry Event

A conference with a difference

21/12/2022 Karen Smith 823 Views 0 Comments

By Karen Smith

Melbourne’s Rose Street Artists Market in Fitzroy was a fitting place to host The Australian Institute of Horticulture’s National Day Conference 2022 and Awards night. The hipster venue provided a cosy marquee for the conference with delicious food and a rooftop bar to network in before the awards ceremony proceeded.… Continue reading

Editors editorial

Sunshine, stock and staff

08/11/2022 Karen Smith 799 Views 0 Comments

It’s that old chestnut, ‘I can’t believe it is November already’. Are you ready for the Christmas period? Sunshine, stock and staff could determine how merry the trading period will be.

Many sectors have had a difficult post COVID period due to supply-side bottlenecks and staff shortages.… Continue reading