Words and images supplied By John Fitzsimmons
Botanic gardens are museums of living plants where botanists and horticulturists work together. Understandably, many of the world’s oldest and most respected botanic gardens began in association with places of learning – universities, churches, and under the patronage of wealthy benefactors.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Daniel Fuller
There’s an emerging frontier for Australian horticulturists, landscapers and people in related professions – the vertical plane.
With the recent attention on the vertical gardens in Singapore brought to us by the Australian Institute of Horticulture, green infrastructure careers should be on your radar.… Continue reading
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The trunks of the same forest have a diameter ranging from 200mm to 400mm depending on the species (Image: Patrick Regnault)
By Patrick Regnault
On social media, radio and television programs, the Miyawaki afforestation method is lauded as a solution to the environmental crisis and land degradation. Akira Miyawaki was a botanist and expert in plant ecology who developed a method of rapid reafforestation using native endemic species.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Clive Larkman
When it comes to food and drink, like many other items in daily life, we are dictated by fashion and trends. Currently, we are in the middle of a boom in gin distillation. This has replaced the mass development of boutique, artisan or small batch breweries.… Continue reading
Read MoreMost of us know what it feels like to have something stolen. It creates a sinking feeling that hits you in the gut. When it comes to plants, that takes it to another level! One day I came out into my front garden (which doesn’t have a fence) and found that a massive clump of bromeliads had simply been ripped out.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Chelsea Payne
Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB) has emerged as a significant tree pest in Perth, Western Australia, and presents a threat to Australia’s incredible native flora, and our thriving horticulture and agriculture industries.
Described as the ‘perfect invader,’ the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer beetle Euwallaceae fornicatus tunnels into living host trees and shrubs creating extensive galleries within structural stems.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Fitzsimmons
One of the most perennially popular garden plant genus worldwide has a name that is just as widely mis-pronounced, mostly by English speakers. However, that doesn’t seem to affect its widespread and continuing appeal.
Fuchsias are among the most universally popular and instantly recognised garden plants.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Patrick Regnault
Before compiling this article, I asked colleagues in different parts of Australia to provide me with three trees they find perform well; one for shade, one for ornamental purposes and one fruiting, and to give me the reasons for their choices.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Clive Larkman
As a plant for ornamental and medicinal use, lavender has a history as long as European settlement. Even with this history, there has been very little research and understanding of how to farm this tough little plant. There are numerous thoughts that the plant needs neither food nor water making it an interesting plant for the lazy farmer or those in poor countries with little rainfall.… Continue reading
Read MoreGreenlife Australia has issued a Biosecurity Alert for the bacterial disease pest Xylella spp. following the release by The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of a draft pest risk analysis report for pathogens in the genus. Xylella fastidiosa is the highest ranked pest threat to Australian horticultural and plant-based industries, and the environment.… Continue reading
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