Editors editorial

Speaking with designers and installers at the recent Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) made me think about some of the challenges and issues they need to address when designing landscapes. The landscape philosophy is constantly evolving.

From climate change and urbanisation to social equity and technological innovation, landscape architects and designers are now focusing on creating spaces that not only look aesthetically pleasing but also regenerate ecosystems, promote well-being, and promote environmental resilience.… Continue reading

Karen Smith

In this issue, Clive Larkman explores weeds, an area we haven’t covered in some time. Coincidentally, while driving home this morning, I was pleasantly surprised to hear an ABC radio segment discussing an environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional Western-style casket for funerals.… Continue reading

In this issue, we cover bedding plants, colour in design, and much more. I have also written about the marketing behind the recent flowering of Amorphophallus titanum in botanic gardens across Australia. This got me thinking about two interconnected subjects – colour and marketing!… Continue reading

Welcome to the first issue of Hort Journal 2025. I hope you all managed some downtime, although this is not always a reality for business owners, as plants don’t take a day off.

Once again, bushfires dominate the news in Australia and the USA.… Continue reading

And just like that, it is December, often referred to as the silly season as so many try to squeeze a myriad of things in before Christmas Day. Landscapers are stressed as every client wants their projects completed for the big day, retail garden centres are run off their feet with last-minute shoppers, and we usually have many events to attend for those end-of-year celebrations.… Continue reading

I am constantly in awe of trees, especially big, sprawling trees. I love being around them, how they smell and look, and mostly what they provide us with. I love comparing the different types of bark, especially our beautiful Australian native trees; when I read an article recently about how trees give much more than we realise, I had to read on.… Continue reading

While writing this editorial, I am listening to radio interviews about National Australian Science Week which aims to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education nationwide. One young seven-year-old told me that his school calls it STEEM, and the extra E is for the environment, a most important topic.… Continue reading

Instead of reaching for the insecticide or insect repellent, a group, consisting of seven- to eleven-year-olds, were exposed to an insect revolution at ARC Ento Tech Ltd at Somersby, NSW. The event was organised by the Horticultural Media Association of Australia.… Continue reading

There is often a lot of talk about the ageing workforce in horticulture, so it was heartwarming to see many young people in attendance at a conference I attended recently for the International Plant Propagators Society (IPPS). They were a breath of fresh air and contributed enormously to the event.… Continue reading