Environment & Sustainability Archives - Hort Journal Australia

Jac Semmler, founder of horticultural and planting design studio Super Bloom (Image: Sarah Pannell)

Environment & Sustainability Green Space

Jac Semmler: Leading a ‘Flower Power’ revolution

16/03/2026 Gabrielle Stannus 41 Views 0 Comments

By Gabrielle Stannus

Female-owned and operated practices are shaping some of the most thoughtful and plant-driven work emerging in Australia today. One such practice is Super Bloom, a horticultural and planting design studio founded by Jac Semmler. Through large-scale public projects, demonstration gardens and now a new book, Jac is challenging long-held assumptions about what ornamental planting can deliver, aesthetically, ecologically and socially.… Continue reading

Natalie Vallance, owner-operator of Muchea Tree Farm (Image: Supplied by Natalie Vallance[G)

Conserving Nature Environment & Sustainability

Conserving nature through floriculture

16/03/2026 Gabrielle Stannus 39 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Gabrielle Stannus

A town planner by trade, Natalie Vallance has grown into the role of a grower with the support of her late husband and horticulturist, Steve. Together the pair transformed an essentially vacant block of land 50 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia, into the Muchea Tree Farm, a thriving production nursery specialising in Australian natives and Proteaceae.… Continue reading

The common drone fly Eristalis tenax (Image: Denis Crawford)

Environment & Sustainability Pest and Diseases

The pests that got away: Part 2

06/11/2025 Denis Crawford 324 Views 1 Comment #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

Varroa mite

By Denis Crawford

Varroa mite has spread significantly since it was detected in sentinel hives at the Port of Newcastle in June 2022. Varroa mite is likely to have a significant impact on the hives of commercial and recreational beekeepers, as well as decimate feral honey bee colonies.… Continue reading

Geoffrey Weir at the base of a Eucalyptus regnans in Tasmania (Image: Supplied by the author)

Conservation Environment & Sustainability

In the presence of giants

06/11/2025 admin 333 Views 0 Comments

Reflections from the Tasmanian wilderness

By Geoffrey Weir

There were no words … It was breathtaking, overwhelming, it left me feeling insignificant. It was everything I just described and more. Long have I toiled with describing the emotions that were felt that day.… Continue reading

Aerial view of the Dry River Bed taken in 2022 showing significant dieback due to Armillaria (Image: Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria)

Environment & Sustainability fungal pathogen

A plant-based solution to a wicked problem

06/11/2025 Tex Moon 371 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Tex Moon

Within the Australian Garden at Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, the Dry River Bed precinct has undergone a remarkable transformation that redefines both the aesthetics and ecological function of native plant landscapes. Once dominated by dense woody shrubs, this 3,300m² curved and sunken space served as a structural and visual link between the Red Sand Garden and the Eucalypt Walk.… Continue reading

Creating more greenspaces in schools allows students to participate in the installation and upkeep along with having greenspaces to enjoy (Image: Evergreen Infrastructure)

Environment & Sustainability Urban Nature

Why Australia must invest in urban nature

09/10/2025 Michael Casey 407 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Michael Casey

Greener cities mean healthier lives for their inhabitants. If we are to prevent disease, improve mental health, and create resilient, liveable communities in Australia, we must invest in urban nature.

Australia faces a growing public health challenge: the rising burden of preventable chronic disease.… Continue reading

Environment & Sustainability Pest and Diseases

The pests that got away: Part 1

15/09/2025 Denis Crawford 578 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

Red imported fire ant

By Denis Crawford

In the Pest Files of May 2024, I detailed several invasive pests which have established in parts of Australia. My thesis was that those invasive pests have something in common, the ability to travel long distances in horticultural material.… Continue reading

Façade planting in South Yarra, Victoria (Image: Evergreen Infrastructure)

Environment Environment & Sustainability

Can Practice Note 15 finally place a value on green?

15/09/2025 Michael Casey 550 Views 0 Comments

By Michael Casey

As cities face rising environmental pressures, the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA)’s draft Practice Note 15 offers a timely framework to formally recognise green infrastructure as a core asset class, integrating nature into the heart of urban planning, financial strategy, and infrastructure resilience.… Continue reading

One of the Future Village test sites located in Parramatta Square (Image: Future Village)

Environment Environment & Sustainability

Go green, stay cool

15/09/2025 By Zoe Cwojdzinski 502 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Zoe Cwojdzinski

Plants have proven countless benefits over centuries for human health and wellbeing, but a University of Technology Sydney collaboration highlights their impact as urban temperatures continue to climb.

Our cities are getting hotter. More than half the world’s population now lives in urban areas, a number expected to climb to 70 per cent by 2050¹ [GS1] .… Continue reading

Solenopsis invicta (Image: April Nobile, CASENT0005804 from www.antweb.org)

Environment & Sustainability Pest Management

Preparing for climate-driven pests and diseases

11/08/2025 Patrick Regnault 579 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Patrick Regnault

Horticultural pests and diseases are constantly evolving, and increasingly so in the face of anthropogenic climate change. This global phenomenon is also changing the natural range of pests and diseases. What might this mean for Australia, and what can we do about it as an industry?… Continue reading

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