You could be forgiven for feeling confused about the weather events over summer. While we were expecting a dry hot summer due to an El Nino event, Australia was dealing with Cyclone Jasper in far north Queensland and a battering of storms and floods throughout the east coast.… Continue reading
Read MoreIt is that time of the year when daily life becomes a tad hectic. Retailers have to draw on energy reserves to cope with the pre-Christmas sales. Landscape contractors work around the clock to meet customer expectations of having their new garden ready for Christmas gatherings.… Continue reading
Read MoreNow is probably a good time to review your business performance and assess whether adding an apprentice or trainee could benefit next year’s bottom line.
Motivated school leavers are looking at their career options now, and not just ‘schoolies week’, so finding the right employee is best done sooner rather than later.… Continue reading
Read MoreCollecting stories this month exposed the very technical area of landscaping and rehabilitating degraded and contaminated industrial sites. The range of problems is immense when you consider that industrial sites may vary from a paved warehouse, disused power station or an oil terminal to a huge mine site covering thousands of hectares.… Continue reading
Read MoreA 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
Read MoreThe warnings are starting to roll in with predictions for the upcoming summer likely to be the hottest on record. How can we, as an industry, be prepared? Summer will be here before you know it.
Our industry has been hit hard in the past with a decade of drought and water restrictions, so I think we know which direction we need to be heading to manage it.… Continue reading
Read MoreBattery powered tools have been used on building sites for a number of years and the range of options increases continually. Several manufacturers have embraced this market with a range that suits the home handyperson and professional alike. Increasingly, a range of maintenance tools for professional landscapers are finding their way to the market.… Continue reading
Read MoreIf 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
Read MoreFor the first time in fifteen years I missed the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS), except for lockdowns and cancellations due to COVID19. Unfortunately, I had to suffer ten days of near perfect diving conditions on the coral reefs between Lizard Island and Cairns, including the Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea.… Continue reading
Read MoreThe 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
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