Thursday, August 14, 2025

Ornamental trees

Plant PalettePlants

Aniseed – a flavour or a plant?

By Clive Larkman

When we consider herbs and their flavour profile, the range of flavours is amazingly large and varied. We can have a group of plants that is very different botanically but have basically the same flavour. Classics are lemons and the lemon flavour, and coriander and its distinctive flavour.… Continue reading

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Garden DesignLandscape

Backyard renovation with a difference

By Lynne Testoni

This rear garden was completely updated to create a generous open space and new pool for a busy family.

A renovation is the perfect time to refresh the existing areas of a home, including the backyard. The owners of this suburban family home, in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, engaged Corey Fox Landscaping to oversee a complete renovation of their rear garden with the ‘Kirrawee Coastal Project’.… Continue reading

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EditorialEditors editorial

Landscaping the future

Speaking with designers and installers at the recent Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) made me think about some of the challenges and issues they need to address when designing landscapes. The landscape philosophy is constantly evolving.

From climate change and urbanisation to social equity and technological innovation, landscape architects and designers are now focusing on creating spaces that not only look aesthetically pleasing but also regenerate ecosystems, promote well-being, and promote environmental resilience.… Continue reading

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LandscapeLandscape event

Exploring excellence: Visiting gardens of the Macedon region

By Patrick Regnault

Before the Australian Landscape Conference 2025 was held in Melbourne recently, Outlandish Ventures organised a tour of various gardens in the Mount Macedon region and the surrounding district. We visited five very different gardens, and each garden provided food for thought.Continue reading

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LandscapePlant of the Year 2025

2025 Plant of the Year winners 

By Gabrielle Stannus

Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria (NGIV) launched its inaugural Plant of the Year awards late last year, with the winners announced during the annual Australian Horticultural Trials Week in December. I spoke with the breeders and growers behind these plants at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, where their award-winning cultivars were receiving much attention from those in attendance, to find out their landscape uses.Continue reading

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LandscapeLandscape Design

Early planning planted the seeds of ǝ’skāp’s MIFGS win, part one

By Gabrielle Stannus

Designed by Rob Cooper from Distinctive Gardens in Adelaide and constructed by Yergan Landscape and Desert Flower Landscaping, show garden ‘ǝ’skāp’ took out the City of Melbourne Award of Excellence for Best in Show, as well as a Gold medal, at the recent Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS).Continue reading

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Plant PalettePlants

Hackable groundcovers – the ultimate rejuvenators

By Daniel Fuller

At Ozbreed, we believe we’re only just now starting to bring out the best traits of our native Australian plants. Recently, we’ve had a renewed focus on providing the industry with plants that can be hacked back reliably for ease of maintenance.Continue reading

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EditorialIndustry Event

Design, Inspiration and Colour

Melbourne celebrates horticultural ingenuity

By Karen Smith

What draws over 115,000 visitors to Melbourne’s Carlton Gardens each year for the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show? The reasons are many and varied – from stunning floral displays to world-class Show Gardens.Continue reading

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Business FileEditorial

Cost-Plus quoting and how it works

By John Corban

How a Cost-Plus Estimate works, whether it can work for you, and how to effectively sell it.

Over the past few years, I have been increasingly asked about Cost-Plus estimating, how it works and whether the enquiring contractors should utilise it.… Continue reading

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ConservationEnvironment & Sustainability

The high preservation value of conservation horticulture

By Dr. Megan Hirst and Holden Sayers

Conservation Horticulture is an important discipline driven by botanic gardens working towards global strategies to address plant conservation, with an emphasis on ex-situ living plant collections of high preservation value. The role brings together the ecology of a species with horticultural techniques to successfully propagate and provide plant material for ex-situ living collections, reintroduction, or more broadly, cultivation.Continue reading

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