By John Fitzsimmons
After pandemic interruptions since 2020, Garden Inspirations Group’s GIG 2023 returned to its obviously popular face-to-face format recently with a big attendance of independent garden centre people and some newly recognised retail ‘champions’.
As it turned out, there were more than 165 acceptances for attendance at GIG 2023 – a record!… Continue reading
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The system allows ingress of irrigation water to growing media and includes a clip system to prevent wind dislodgement and loss (Image: DeeWeed)
By John Fitzsimmons
Advances in tools and processes don’t always have to be as radical as reinventing the wheel. Sometimes just building a better mousetrap serves us well. In our production nurseries the plastic pot is ubiquitous, but some simple smart thinking, especially in the detail, is also delivering benefits.… Continue reading
Read MoreWords and images supplied By John Fitzsimmons
Botanic gardens are museums of living plants where botanists and horticulturists work together. Understandably, many of the world’s oldest and most respected botanic gardens began in association with places of learning – universities, churches, and under the patronage of wealthy benefactors.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Fitzsimmons
One of the most perennially popular garden plant genus worldwide has a name that is just as widely mis-pronounced, mostly by English speakers. However, that doesn’t seem to affect its widespread and continuing appeal.
Fuchsias are among the most universally popular and instantly recognised garden plants.… Continue reading
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Espalier can screen out less desirable backgrounds, create new vistas and ‘rooms’ in the landscape (Image: Merrywood Plants)
By John Fitzsimmons
Fruit trees are a perennially popular category and now is the time to finalise orders for mid-year deliveries.
“Edibles” has been a highly active and growing category over recent years and shows little sign of slowing down. While the focus has been heavily on annuals, within that group is a sub-category that is perennially popular – fruit trees.… Continue reading
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Imagine concurrent light transmission and power generation for the greenhouse. It could be possible with new nano coating technology (Image: John Fitzsimmons)
By John Fitzsimmons
Depending on location, energy usage can be the second largest operational expense in commercial greenhouse crop cultivation, and despite greenhouses providing the controlled environments needed for innovative research, they can be energy intensive and expensive to light, heat and cool.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Fitzsimmons
A recent visit to the greenlife centre of a German ‘big box’ retail chain yielded some innovative ideas and longstanding classics for Aussie greenlife retailers to consider.
A simple clip-on handle made fruit trees in pots so easy and inviting to simply ‘pick up and take away’ without manually wrangling heavy pots onto trolleys.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Fitzsimmons
Melbourne’s Caulfield Racecourse recently hosted the 5th Landscape Show, a unique trade-focussed event in Australia that has certainly hit a sweet spot with landscape suppliers, designers and tradies.
Despite the high demand calling people to work sites, and a challenging Melbourne winter, the landscape sector, exhibitors and visitors, really seem to have embraced this event and the Caulfield indoor-outdoor site works well.… Continue reading
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Good automation is a progression and as an enterprise grows, new elements should integrate well with earlier modules
By John Fitzsimmons
Recent times have brought the future forward, sharpened our focus and made knowing where to look, a lot more obvious.
Recent episodes of economic upheaval mostly associated with a pandemic and international conflict, plus extreme weather events evidencing the trends in climate change, have increased the urgency and relevance of many personal and business decisions.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Fitzsimmons
As someone originally trained as a ‘generalist’ it is easy to find the specificity of today’s training landscape somewhat challenging to navigate. I certainly don’t envy young people now trying to start their journey and find their way in the working world.… Continue reading
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