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
Read MoreBy 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
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Aerial view of the Dry River Bed taken in 2022 showing significant dieback due to Armillaria (Image: Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria)
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
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Creating more greenspaces in schools allows students to participate in the installation and upkeep along with having greenspaces to enjoy (Image: Evergreen Infrastructure)
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
Read MoreBy 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
Read MoreBy 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
Read MoreBy 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
Read MoreBy 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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The Bruce building in Kensington, Melbourne offers a blend of interior and exterior plant life, providing multiple environmental benefits for people working there (Image: Evergreen Infrastructure)
By Michael Casey
Green infrastructure is reshaping schools in Australia and around the world. But its impact need not stop at the school gate. Could similar approaches improve our workplaces, making them healthier, more inviting spaces?… Continue reading
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The endangered Euphrasia lasianthera found growing in an open grassland in the Victorian Alps (Image: Alex McLachlan)
Alex McLachlan
Many Australian Euphrasia species face declining populations due to significant changes in climate, with rising temperatures in Australia’s alpine regions putting Euphrasia populations at high risk. Botanic gardens are actively working to conserve some of the rarest species, however much work remains before euphrasia can be considered truly safe from extinction.… Continue reading
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