Whilst at Macquarie University, two scientists, Fernando Soley and Marie Herberstein, investigated the hunting methods of Australian assassin bugs in the Gorareduvius genus. These insects kill prey by using their long beak-like mouth parts to inject digestive enzymes into the body of their prey, and then sucking up the liquified innards.… Continue reading
Read MoreAnother report focused on insects and, in particular, why they are attracted to light – something that would concern night-time tennis players, no doubt. Researchers at the Imperial College London have determined that insects are more likely trapped by the light rather than attracted.… Continue reading
Read MoreAn extraordinary amount of effort goes into research. Research projects, targeting myrtle rust for example, are of critical importance to Horticultural industries. Dr Ashley Jones, recipient of the Forest and Wood Products Australia Award will explore the plant RNA responses to a fungal attack in an attempt to understand how myrtle rust is getting through the plant’s immune system.… Continue reading
Read MoreHorticulture courses previously offered by Swinburne TAFE at no cost to students under Victoria’s priority TAFE courses program, will be shut down. Existing students will be either transferred to other providers or may be able to carry on until the course is complete.… Continue reading
Read More
For 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 More
By John Fitzsimmons
As it exited pandemic times the biennial Australian Landscape Conference 2023 attracted impressive audience numbers and was another signature offering of diverse and accomplished presenters. While the 2023 theme was nominally ‘Beyond the Boundaries’ it could be argued this conference revealed just how much awareness, skill, and creativity is needed and how challenging it can be to identify ‘boundaries’ much less define them.… Continue reading
Read More
By James A. R. Clugston and Scott Yates
Cycads are a charismatic group of plants with a lineage that dates back more than 250 million years. With around 370 currently recognised species in 10 genera split between two families (Cycadaceae and Zamiaceae), they are diverse and have a strong pantropical distribution.… Continue reading
Read More
Syzygium ‘Up and Away’ is the dream plant you have been searching for. With an unrivalled neat, columnar habit, and stunning foliage colour year-round, what more is there to be desired? White flowers are borne throughout the warmer months. Flowers are pollinator-friendly, attracting some of our beautiful native birds.… Continue reading
Read More
Sure to turn heads with its striking foliage and eye-catching narrow growth habit, Ginkgo ‘Lemonlime Spire’ is the perfect addition to any garden or landscape design.
Famous for its foliage colour throughout the year, ‘Lemonlime Spire’ won’t disappoint. Its light-green spring foliage deepens to darker shades of green as the season progresses.… Continue reading
Read More
By Gabrielle Stannus
A small footprint does not necessarily make for a boring garden, judging by the balconies I saw at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show recently. Given the growing number of multi-level apartment buildings that have been, and are continuing to be constructed in our urban environments, the demand for balcony gardens will not be going away anytime soon.… Continue reading
Read More
By Michael Casey
Global cities continue to develop at a rapid rate, and with an increase in size comes more people, more built structures, and in a lot of cases fewer green spaces for biodiversity to thrive. To counter the reduction of biodiversity, city planning needs to incorporate larger dedicated green areas rather than commonly creating small green spaces.… Continue reading
Read More
By Karen Lau and Steve Warner
It has long been said that gardens can heal the soul and replenish depleted spirits. For years, we have been coming together in one form or another to cultivate soil, produce food and experience a social connection.… Continue reading
Read More
As the southern hemisphere’s largest garden and flower festival, and the fifth largest on a global scale, the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) had a jam-packed program offering something for green thumbs of all ages and experience levels, with fifty garden displays including the Welcome Garden with daily Tai Chi and meditation sessions, fantastical floral fashions, engaging hands-on workshops, inspiring educational talks from celebrity gurus, and endless family fun.… Continue reading
Read More
By Denis Crawford
Insects that have life cycles of complete metamorphosis have larvae that come in a variety of forms.
A life cycle of complete metamorphosis (holometabolous) means hatching from an egg into a larval stage, then pupating, and later emerging as an adult.… Continue reading
Read More
By Dan Austin
It is an uncertain time for the future of many industries, horticulture included. As the greats of old, age and retire, quality training is needed like never before. So, in an industry that is increasingly moving online, it is fantastic when training providers invest in much-needed material assets.… Continue reading
Read More
Turf Australia appointed a new national CEO in early January, with Matthew Lunn joining from the Nursery & Garden Industry Western Australia.
Turf Australia has had a notable role in the horticultural industry for a number of years, particularly by supporting turf farmers across Australia with their extensive levy programs in collaboration with Hort Innovation.… Continue reading
Read MoreVibrant, green schoolyards not only address climate change issues, but they can also prepare children for a nature-filled future.
Organised by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) in collaboration with the Worshipful Company of Gardeners (WCoG) and sponsor Expo 2023 Doha Qatar, the AIPH Green City Briefings 2022-23 are a series of one-hour webinars focussing on cities around the world that can demonstrate significant progress in including plants and nature in their city’s form and function.… Continue reading
Read MoreLandscape architect and University of Melbourne (Burnley) horticulture student Emma
Sheppard-Simms is the successful recipient of the inaugural Open Gardens Victoria (OGV) Student Garden Design Competition.
The grant provided $10,000 to design and install a vibrant garden at the OGV stand at the recent Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) 2023.… Continue reading
Read MoreA plan to save the world’s ancient and endangered forests has been given a major capacity boost with US$60 million in funding designed to transform the paper, packaging, and fashion viscose supply chains.
Canopy (www.canopyplanet.org), a solutions-driven non-profit organisation, will receive the funding from The Audacious Project (audaciousproject.org),… Continue reading
Read MoreA levy-funded project led by Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) has succeeded in having Polyphagus shot-hole borer re-classified as a Category 1 pest, netting Australia’s nursery industry a saving of more than $20 million.
Among the key project outcomes to date, the project team successfully developed a pest categorisation information package for the Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB)/Fusarium sp.… Continue reading
Read More