Flowers in Focus

Australia’s First Camellia?

Her journey and namesake, has criss-crossed the oceans and lands from Australia, China, England and Europe for four centuries creating one of gardening’s most intriguing stories. But is she Australia's first camellia? Graham Ross finds out.

How to prune roses

Jaws were on the floor at one of our rose pruning demonstrations last year, when

members watched Finbar O’Leary from Swanes Nursery pruning a rose the right way!

How to: Grow hoya

This shining beauty is undemanding and rewards even the most off-hand gardener with gorgeous globes of scented flowers that last and last.

Know your Daisies

Choose wisely and sunny daisies can be cheering up your garden all year. There are
daisies for garden beds and for containers in warm colours and cool. Here are a
handful of favourites.

Meet: Marjan Medhat, NSW Government House florist

When Marjan Medhat needs something interesting for a flower arrangement she takes her secateurs into Sydney’s Botanic Gardens. We spoke to her about the challenges of creating flower arrangements for Government House.

Meet: Saskia Havekes, florist

Saskia Havekes is the owner of Grandiflora. Her recent book, Grandiflora Celebrations is a behind-the-scenes look at 60 themed events, from weddings to fashion shows.

Queen of the Night, a very special kind of Orchid Cactus

If you are an early riser and usually early to bed - this plant is not for you! The queen of the night cactus flowers between dusk and dawn - for us she is the highlight of the party season.

Star of the season Dwarf Banksia

Dwarf Banksias prove that no space doesn’t mean no impact. These low-growing banksias have full-sized flowers that are shining beacons all through winter, drawing nectar-loving big birds as well as tiny little insect-eaters.

Woolmers Estate, Tasmania

Woolmers Estate, in northern Tasmania was home to six generations of the Archer family. For the past decade it has housed the National Rose Garden. Libby Cameron renewed her love of the rose on a recent visit.