As we embark upon a new year, it is an opportunity like no other for all of us to reflect on where we are going after the profoundly momentous year that 2020 turned out to be. The pandemic has highlighted a whole lot of things to the world about the place of humanity and how…

I spent my childhood  on the NSW Central Coast, and always celebrated the end of the year with big bunches of NSW Christmas bush, Ceratopetalum gummiferum, with its delicate burst of red bracts to brighten the occasion. Since moving to Tasmania I have been keenly exploring the plants of my adopted state and so it…

Tasmanian Bush Foods project Australian bush foods have captured the imagination of lots of Australian gardeners, and for good reason, as there are so many interesting species to explore, many of which are also very ornamental plants that fit beautifully into a garden setting. Since moving to Tasmania I have been exploring the many bush…

The poem ‘My Country’ by Dorothea McKellar and its lines about “A land of sweeping plains, Of rugged mountain ranges, Of drought and flooding rains” springs  to mind (pardon the Dad joke) as I reflect on my last newsletter.  I talked about how to use water efficiently, with a nod to our all too often…

Spring has sprung and the weather is getting warmer. With this in mind, I thought it would be good to share some of my water efficient garden ideas to help keep plants happy, healthy and productive. With water resources under ever increasing pressure, using water well and wisely should be on everyone’s to do list!…

With all the challenges of 2020, it will be nice to see spring with all that it will bring for gardeners. Warming but mild weather brings fresh new growth to our plants and sees all the spring flowers popping. My favourite kangaroo paws start budding up and blooming, as this is their peak flowering season.…

The last few Australian summers have seen temperatures soar with devastating bush fires affecting so many parts of our continent. Sadly, it seems that extreme weather conditions are set to become more regular and last longer, so property and livelihoods will continue to be affected. I have understandably been asked regularly about whether or not…

Planning your garden to include winter flowering Australian native plants is a wonderful thing, as they perform two important functions. The first is to feed your local bird and insect population when they need it most, and the second is to brighten your garden surroundings and also your house if you have chosen plants that…

The current Coronavirus crisis has suddenly brought home the place that science has played in controlling the threat of disease-causing microbes.  Before science could explain that invisible microbes create pandemics, the human race was at the mercy of all sorts of deadly bacteria and viruses. Where would we be without vaccines, antibiotics and other medicines?…

Us humans are a species full of contradictions. We can be fixed in our ways and unwanting to entertain change, and yet we can also be very adaptable and resourceful when the times call for it. We can be insular and fearful, but we can also pull together and achieve amazing things. It has been…