Meet
Blooms and Brushstrokes
26 August 2019 | Penelope CurtinIn their floral history of Australian art, mother and daughter team Peneloep and Tansy Curtin uncover the stories behind some of our favourite floral artworks.
Read More
Delicious: Lentil’s summer breakfast bowl
13 December 2018 | Lentil PurbrickBreakfast eggs get a super-fresh makeover in this dish from ‘The Village’ by Matt and Lentil from Grown and Gathered.
Read More
George Forrest: the plant world's Indiana Jones
22 May 2015 | Graham RossWhen we pick up a few plants at the local garden centre, we rarely give a thought to the brave adventurers who risked their lives to collect the plants from the wild hundreds of years ago.
Read More
In my garden: Hillandale
27 March 2018 | Sarah RyanSarah Ryan’s garden reaches a peak in autumn when the perennial border is at luscious full volume and the mature trees that nestle up to the old farmhouse throw fiery reflections into the lake. Here she tells us what she’s up to in this busy season.
Read More
In my kitchen garden: Camden, NSW
28 February 2019 | Mickey RobertsonMickey Robertson’s kitchen garden at Glenmore House is as beautiful as it is productive, experimental and instructive.
Read More
La Vie En Rose
28 February 2019 | Marian SomesThe charms of French country living inspired Marian Somes to create her own version at her beautiful garden Picardy in the Gippsland hills.
Read More
Meet Chris Cuddy
03 November 2015 | Robin PowellPerenialle Plants is a mail-order nursery for tough plants, but you can also drop in. Don’t miss the chance if you are in the Canowindra area. As well as the plants, there’s an inspiring garden and lovely little shop full of artisan-made house and garden desirables.
Read More
Meet Claire Bickle
01 September 2016 | Robin PowellMeet Claire Bickle, Garden Clinic's newest expert. Claire Bickle writes, talks and lives horticulture and sustainability. An expert on subtropical gardening, she’s also a self-confessed ‘poultry tragic’ and the Garden Clinic go-to for advice on backyard birds. Claire will be running a Jump Into Spring Class at this years Brisbane International Garden Show. Book now and come join in the fun.
Read More
Meet Daryl Jones, Bird feeder
01 June 2018 | Robin PowellMillions of people around the world feed birds in their garden, which is not necessarily a good thing, as Professor Daryl Jones explains in his new book The Birds at My Table.
Read More
Meet Dave Gray: Head gardener, Everglades
29 August 2019 | Robin PowellFor the last two years Dave Gray has been head gardener at Everglades, a National Trust property in Leura, designed and built through the 1930s by Paul Sorensen.
Read More
Meet David Mabberley, Botanist and Author
14 February 2018 | Robin PowellSydney Parkinson made hundreds of sketches and watercolours for Joseph Banks on board the Endeavour on Captain Cook’s first journey. More than 200 years later they have finally been printed in colour as Joseph Banks’ Florilegium. Professor David Mabberley chose the prints and wrote the text.
Read More
Meet Dr Kate Neale, garden-health researcher
01 June 2018 | Robin PowellWhat are the therapeutic benefits of gardening in social housing, preschools, schools, health services and aged care? Dr Kate Neale from Southern Cross University is keen to find out, starting with KindyGarden, a program aimed at getting 3-5 year olds growing food.
Read More
Meet Elaine Tocker
28 February 2019 | Robin PowellMeet Elaine Tocker: Head gardener, Huka Lodge Huka Lodge, near Lake Taupo in New Zealand, is renowned for its fine food, generous hospitality, incredible location- and beautiful gardens!
Read More
Meet Elizabeth Back, Flower grower
06 September 2018 | Robin PowellElizabeth Back runs Wild Aesthetic Flowers. Robin Powell interviews Elizabeth here and gets to know what's growing in her garden
Read More
Meet Florist, Nga Bui
23 January 2018 | Robin PowellLike a loose, just-picked look for the flowers in your house? So does Nga Bui. Here Robin Powell interviews one of Sydney's favourite florists
Read More
Meet Georgina Reid, storyteller and gardener
22 December 2018 | Robin PowellGeorgina Reid is a landscape designer, gardener and writer who four years ago launched the online magazine The Planthunter to explore the connections between people and plants. Her new book, ‘The Planthunter’, continues the conversation.
Read More
Meet Glennis Clark, Heritage Rose grower and Rookwood volunteer
21 May 2019 | Robin PowellAmong the hidden treasures at Rookwood Necropolis are beautiful old roses, cared for by volunteers.
Meet Justine Smith, Rhipsalis grower
11 October 2016 | Robin PowellJustine Smith’s beautifully grown rhipsalis flew off the tables at Collectors’ Plant Fair this year. Don’t worry if you missed out - she’s now supplying Flower Power with these hairy hanging delights under the Jungle Cactus label.
Read More
Meet Kath Gadd
28 February 2019 | Robin PowellKath Gadd’s company is Mallee Design, a garden design business that uses only Australian plants, and does a neat sideline in beautiful, spun copper birdbaths.
Read More
Meet Keith and Maureene Smith
26 August 2019 | Robin PowellCancer fundraisers and plant propagators
Read More
Meet Kevin Collins, banksia collector
24 May 2016 | Robin Powell
Kevin Collins and his wife Kathy grow the world’s only complete collection of banksias in their garden at Mount Barker, Western Australia.
Read More
Meet Libby Litchfield, Owner of Hazeldean
21 May 2019 | Robin PowellHidden in the cold, dry treeless plains of the Monaro, south of Cooma, are some garden treasures like Hazeldean, an historic angus and merino stud that is also the home and garden of Jim and Libby Litchfield.
Read More
Meet Mark Jury, magnolia breeder
21 May 2019 | Robin PowellIf there’s a stunning deciduous magnolia in your garden with enormous cup-shaped blooms and rich colour, chances are it was bred by New Zealand plantsman,
Mark Jury.
Read More
Meet Pat and Bill Rhodin Tulip Tops gardeners
13 June 2017 | Robin PowellMeet Pat and Bill Rhodin, Tulip Tops gardeners. They work hard all year to make this garden's spring display something memorable
Read More
Meet Peter Hey, clivia breeder and grower of rare plants
28 February 2019 | Linda RossMeet Peter Hey, clivia breeder and grower of rare plants
Read More
Meet Robert Price
02 June 2016 | Linda Ross
Meet: Bob Price, founder and curator, Mexico’s Vallarta Botanical Gardens. Bob Price plan was to conserve Mexico’s unique flora and birdlife and the Vallarta Botanical Gardens he founded to help achieve that were recently included on the list of Top Ten Public Gardens in America you should visit.
Read More
Meet Ros Loftus
26 August 2019 | Robin PowellRiversdale is a National Trust property in Goulburn where volunteers have battled drought, rabbits and running bamboo to recreate a beautiful, much-loved garden.
Read More
Meet Scott Pollock
16 May 2018 | Robin PowellMeet Scott Pollock - Manager, Retford Park. James Fairfax believed that his beautiful Southern Highlands property, Retford Park, should be preserved for the enjoyment of the community. So he gave it to the National Trust, who took over the reins in August 2017.
Read More
Meet Simon Griffiths
28 February 2019 | Robin PowellMeet Simon Griffiths, Garden photographerSimon Griffiths is one of Australia’s best-known garden photographers. He’s also a gardener, and his new book ‘Garden Love’ features his own garden in Kyneton, Victoria, as well as favourites from around the country.
Read More
Meet Tahnee Carroll, Stylist and plant-lover
06 September 2018 | Lauren Camilleri and Sophia KaplanTahnee Carroll has never seen a room that can’t be made more appealing with a plant or two, as she explains in this extract from a new book on indoor plants, ‘Leaf Supply’.
Read More
Meet the Lindesay gardeners
23 January 2017 | Robin PowellEvery Thursday morning a group of garden lovers gathers in the beautiful grounds of Lindesay in Darling Point and gets to work. Here Robin Powell talks to the group about their passionate connection to this historic house and garden
Read More
Meet Tom Coward: Head gardener at Gravetye Manor
14 February 2018 | Robin PowellGravetye Manor is the garden of the influential English gardener, William Robinson. Robin Powell spoke to its current head gardener Tom Coward about its historical accuracy and modern excitement.
Read More
Meet: Richard Anderson, horticulturist and plant collector
18 March 2015 | Robin PowellRobin talks to Richard about discovering new plants and propagating them to bring them market.
Read More
Meet: Alex Elliott-Howery
17 December 2015 | Robin PowellMeet Alex Elliott-Howery, pickler and community builder.To say that Alex Elliott-Howery and her husband James Grant have a café doesn’t begin to tell the
story. Cornersmith is not just a café, but a pickling and preserving business and school, and a trading hub for the produce gardeners of Marrickville.
Read More
Meet: Angus Stewart
09 September 2017 | Robin PowellMeet Angus Stewart. Plant breeder, gardener and new resident of the Apple Isle. He is also our favourite native wildflower enthusiast.
Read More
Meet: Anita Rayner
30 November 2015 | Robin PowellMeet Anita Rayner, Head gardener, Sydney Living Museums. The gardens at Vaucluse House are one of Sydney’s historic horticultural treasures. Anita Rayner fell in love with them at first sight; now she runs them.
Read More
Meet: Anne Ruston, rose garden owner
13 February 2015 | Robin PowellAnne Ruston is a South Australian senator, but for rose lovers the really important job she holds is as owner of Ruston Roses, a horticultural icon in South Australia, established by her uncle David. We take a wander though the garden with her.
Read More
Meet: Annie Hughes, botanical artist
06 March 2015 | Libby CameronFascinated by the colours and textures of seeds and fruits, Annie Hughes talks about her paintings.
Read More
Meet: Bethany Linz
07 March 2016 | Robin Powell
Meet Bethany Linz. Wallpaper and textile designer. Bringing the garden inside develops a whole new meaning with Bethany Linz’ botanically inspired wallpapers.
Read More
Meet: Beverly Allen, botanical artist
07 May 2015 | Libby CameronBeverly's background is in graphic design and illustration, however her discovery of Shirley Sherwood’s beautiful book ‘Contemporary Botanical Artists’ turned her to plants!
Read More
Meet: Bob Cherry, our favourite modern-day-plant-hunter
03 March 2015 | Graham RossAfter 40 years developing plants and showing them off in the beautiful gardens at Paradise Plants at Gosford on the Central Coast of NSW, plant hunter and developer Bob Cherry is selling up and moving on. Graham Ross spoke with him about his work.
Read More
Meet: Brendan Moar, show garden creator
11 February 2015 | Linda RossYou really can't help but be a big fan of the work of landscape architect and television presenter Brendan Moar - he's adorable. Seeing one of his gardens come to life on his Lifestyle channel shows is a treat; seeing one live at the Singapore Garden Festival is even better.
Read More
Meet: Caitlin Sawyer
16 September 2015 | Robin PowellMeet Caitlin Sawyer, Young Horticulturist of the Year in 2015, and winner of the BBM Sir John Pagan Horticulture Travel Scholarship for 2014/15.
Read More
Meet: Charlotte Thodey, painter
06 March 2015 | Robin PowellWe talk to Charlotte about her work and her exhibition at Chateau de Villandry.
Read More
Meet: Clarence Slockee, Aboriginal Education Officer at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
07 May 2015 | Libby CameronClarence came to Sydney to study music and dance; his interest in the bush and the relationships between animals, plants and people led him to the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Read MoreMeet: Criss Canning, still life painter
20 May 2015 | Sandra RossCriss Canning is one of Australia’s foremost painters of still life. Her meticulous and harmonious compositions impart a sense of serenity, while the colour palate is rich and sensuous. Most of her paintings feature plants from the garden at Burnside and Sandra asked her about the link between the garden and her art.
Read More
Meet: Dale Dixon, tropical plant enthusiast, curator of Latitude 23
19 July 2016 | Robin PowellMeet Dr Dale Dixon, tropical plant enthusiast and curator of 'Latitude 23' at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney.
Read More
Meet: David Jones, plantsman, researcher and writer
20 March 2015 | Libby CameronLibby Cameron talks to David Jones about his love of orchids and his book, 'Starting Out with Orchids'.
Read More
Meet: David Kennedy
07 March 2016 | Robin Powell
David Kennedy’s Katoomba garden Clover Hill is a showcase of rare cool climate gems. With no room left, the avid plant collector and nurseryman has started a new garden over the mountains.
Read More
Meet: David Lawry, director, Avenues of Honour
18 February 2015 | Robin PowellDavid Lawry has a simple, grand idea – that the life of every Australian killed in combat is commemorated in a living tree. We spoke with him about bringing the vision to life.
Read More
