Editors editorial

Spring has arrived at last and one can only hope that the weather is milder and calmer without floods, fires and natural disasters. While the pandemic put the brakes on most of us in various ways, as restrictions ease and an element of ‘business as usual’ is occurring, it can feel as though we are playing a bit of catch-up and on a bit of a roller coaster rolling into spring. … Continue reading

The State of the Environment report (SOE) released in July 2022 certainly reminded us of the challenges we face overcoming a stressed environment. Impacts on biodiversity caused by habitat loss, degradation and introduced invasive species continue to contribute to extinctions and deteriorating ecosystems.… Continue reading

You may have noticed that over the past year we have included articles that cover environmental issues and sustainability from plastic recycling to landfills. If you haven’t read any of Bruce Thompson’s articles this year on recycling waste, I suggest you do.… Continue reading

Well, it really was a delight to go to a conference after a couple of years of not going anywhere. The International Plant Propagators Society celebrated its 50^th anniversary at their conference held at the Fairmont Resort in Leura, which was where their first conference was held.… Continue reading

The summer in NSW and Queensland has been a very wet event this year following a trend of recent wet seasons and I feel so sorry for people affected by floods and torrential downpours. The extended wet periods and extreme humidity have increased the number of unwanted indoor plants in the form of moulds.… Continue reading

By Karen Smith

If you haven’t had a chance to look at our website lately, we have made a few changes. The opportunity to receive a digital version of Hort Journal is available. Interestingly, we have a steady stream of new subscribers each week and yet 82% still prefer the printed copy.… Continue reading

The new year of 2022 has brought many changes with it, the least of which is a change of leadership at Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA). Hort Journal would like to welcome GIA’s new Chief Executive Officer Joanna Cave. Joanna comes to the role with a wealth of experience as a CEO of a variety of peak bodies, membership organisations and not-for-profit associations, both in the United Kingdom and in Australia.… Continue reading

Bring on 2022 and a return to business as we knew it, or perhaps new learned better business strategies and practices. Let’s face it, we are all experts in using Zoom and Google Meets and various chat sites but there is nothing quite like having a conversation face to face and for some, it gets them out of their pyjamas!… Continue reading

December is a time for celebrations in many ways. Some of us will be looking forward to a well-earned break, while others will be hoping for increased activity boosting sales in the lead-up to Christmas. We are all hoping for a near-normal summer season as COVID
restrictions wind back.… Continue reading

Occasionally you may read a story where the author really captures your imagination allowing you to create a vision in your mind of a beautiful landscape or what something looks like, but how many businesses have such a person who can write content so well?… Continue reading

We are approaching two years since the pandemic turned our lives a bit topsy turvy. During that time many people have not had a great experience but if there is anything positive to come out of the situation, I would think it would have to be technology.… Continue reading

Well, spring is here and its lovely to experience lovely sunny days without it being too hot… well, where I live anyhow. I guess it is different for everyone. No doubt spring can be a challenge for many in our industry, as you are often run off your feet.… Continue reading

The effect of COVID-19 has been a dampener on public gatherings but to the credit of the Australian Institute of Horticulture (AIH), where there’s a will there’s a way. The usual awards for 2020 were broken into manageable chunks and conducted when and where possible.… Continue reading

Hort Journal would like to wish Heather Henderson from Greenlife Industry Australia a happy retirement after giving twenty years of her best to the nursery and garden industry. We wish her well and hope Heather enjoys every minute of her well-earned retirement and exciting times ahead.… Continue reading