The Garden Clinic

How to: grow chocolate

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

Wherever we take travellers in the tropics, from Mexico to Singapore, the Daintree to Cuba, there is one tree that grabs their attention - cacao, the source of our lingering love, chocolate.

The key difference between an ikebana approach to flower arranging and a Western style is that in ikebana the focus is on line and space rather than mass. Instead of adding more flowers to make it look better, ikebana is about what can be taken away. The space between the elements is as important as the elements themselves.

Ideas from Marlborough

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

Marlborough's hills, valleys and coastlines have seen much change over the past two hundred years. Maori hunted flightless birds; squatters grew flax and farmed sheep for wool; a tinned rabbit industry briefly bloomed to deal with the rabbits introduced for ‘sport’ - until a shipload of tinned rabbit exploded in the Thames on its way to the London docks and now it’s wine that makes the region’s fortunes as the world continues to fall in love with the flavours of Marlborough savvy.

Ideas from Singapore

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

We grabbed some tropical inspiration in Singapore a few months ago when we took two groups of Ross Garden Tours travelers to the biennial Singapore Garden Festival.

Iguazu Falls

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

Iguazu is more than just a waterfall, says an exhilarated Robin Powell

In our garden: Wildwood

18 March, 2021 | Sue Tapping and Robin Powel

A cool-climate garden of five acres gives Sue and Wayne Tapping room to grow the beauties they love. Here they share what’s keeping them busy this spring

In the Garden: Broughton Hall

18 March, 2021 | David Musker

Find out what David Musker is up to at Broughton Hall in Victoria

In the Garden: Cruden Farm

18 March, 2021 | Mitch Burns

Dame Elisabeth Murdoch’s much-loved garden is on the brink of its big show as spring begins.Head gardener Mitch Burns takes us behind the scenes.

In the garden: Highfields

18 March, 2021 | David Kennedy and Robin Powell

As spring melts into the first days of summer Highfields is filled with the fragrance of roses, masses of floral colour and the murmur of the waterfall tumbling into the ponds.

In the garden: Red Cow Farm

18 March, 2021 | Ali Mentesh and Robin Powell

In 1990, Ali Mentesh stood in the bald paddocks of Red Cow Farm and dreamed of a canopy of trees, a woodland-edged lake, and garden rooms fragrant with roses. In making the dream reality Ali turned himself into a garden designer sought-after for his imagination, and his hands-on experience of plants and how best to grow them.

In the garden: Retford Park

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell and Rick Shepherd

Rick Shepherd, head gardener at Bowral’s grand Retford Park, dishes the dirt on what goes on in the garden in spring.

Into Africa

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

Robin Powell thrills to the sights of the Masai Mara

Is Villa Gamberaia the most romantic garden in Italy?

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

We join a long line of world-weary travellers who have fallen for the charms of Villa Gamberaia hook, line and sinker.

Italian Lakes

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

Glamour and romance are the twin themes of a stay in Stressa. Robin Powell took a room with a view and was enchanted.

Jaipur - The Pink City

18 March, 2021 | Peter Whitehead

Bustle, colour, beauty and great stories: Peter Whitehead reveals some of the allure of Jaipur, and tells why he can’t wait to take Ross Garden tours first trip to India.

Japan in Autumn

18 March, 2021 | Graham Ross

Cherry blossom season might make all the headlines but Graham says that in autumn Japan glows with a gentle beauty.

Japanese Garden Design Ideas

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

Japanese garden design offers some great ideas to gardeners. With a bit of imagination we can incorporate aspects and approaches that enhance our gardens without turning them Japanese

Japanese Gardens

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

We love Japanese gardens so much we visit twice a year: in spring to catch the fleeting magic of the cherry blossom season; and again in autumn when the maples and chrysanthemums are at their best.

La Vie En Rose

18 March, 2021 | Marian Somes

The charms of French country living inspired Marian Somes to create her own version at her beautiful garden Picardy in the Gippsland hills.

Longwood

18 March, 2021 | Michael McCoy

Money isn't an essential ingredient of a great garden, but my, can’t it help! Michael McCoy reports on how the dollars show at the lavishly loved Longwood Gardens.

Macquarie Island

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

Hobart’s Botanic Gardens is home to an unusual glasshouse with a collection of plants from Australia’s sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. Robin Powell wrapped up warm to collect stories from one of the wildest places on earth.

Mágico Mexico

18 March, 2021 |

Three of Mexico’s native plants are behind three of Linda’s favourite things - chocolate, vanilla and tequila - so she was always going to love the place, but how much surprised even her.

Marqueyssac

18 March, 2021 | Sandra Ross

When it comes to box, this iconic French garden thinks outside the square! No flowers, few trees, few paths, but amazing views – and more than 150,000 sculpted box.

Matsue

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

Flying into Matsue, on the shores of Lake Shinjii, the ground glows green with rice and buckwheat. The area is famous for its soba noodles, ancient samurai houses, moated castle - and a succession of cherry blossom, peonies, azaleas and wisteria through spring.

Mauritius

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

Robin Powell indulges in tropical glamour on the island paradise of Mauritius and develops a bad case of garden envy.

Meet Anna van der Gardner

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

Meet Anna van der Gardner

Resident (and gardener), Bronte House

The gardens at Bronte House have been an inspiration to Sydney gardners for decades.

Meet Dave Gray: Head gardener, Everglades

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

For 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.

Meet Tom Coward: Head gardener at Gravetye Manor

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

Gravetye 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.

Meet: Sally Newman

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

Meet Sally Newman, Owner, Yandina Station

Meet: Tamara Cannon, charity worker

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

Greenhouses are producing life-saving vegetables in the high-altitude desert villages of Ladakh, thanks to the Australian charity Lille Fro. Robin Powell spoke to its founder Tamara Cannon.

Monet’s Masterpiece, Giverny

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

Claude Monet always said his garden was his greatest work. Giverny is both garden and art.

Nest of the Feather Serpent

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross Linda finds a garden in Mexico that sparkles with surprise and joy. Read More

Oakwood

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

Wonderfully eccentric, personal, witty and beautiful. The garden of sculptors, Fulko Cooper and Maureen Craig is both drawing board and artwork; a house, garden, studio and gallery space that inspires. Welcome to Oakwood.

Old Wesleydale

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

Deb and Scott Wilson make garden magic in Tasmania's stunning Meander Valley.

Outback Bloom

18 March, 2021 | Angus Stewart

The Australian outback is experiencing a one-in-a-lifetime explosion of exuberant growth and flowering. Birds are flocking to the newly drenched watercourses and brimming lakes, and so are plant lovers. Angus Stewart shares the thrill.

Paris

18 March, 2021 | Sandra Ross Read More

Perch Hill Farm

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

Linda is passionate about growing all her own vegetables at home. So she sought inspiration from England’s great gardener, writer, teacher, and vegetable grower, Sarah Raven.

Postcard from the garden world

18 March, 2021 | Ross Tours

See what's happening in the world of Ross Garden Tours this spring

Postcards from recent Ross Tours

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell, Michael McCoy, Sandra Ross

For the garden traveller 2016 was a huge year. New destinations and lots of old favourites. Here are some of the highlights.

Postcards from the 2017 Tour season

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross, Michael McCoy, Sandra Ross & Robin Powell

Views, reports and travel tips from the world of Ross Tours. What a great year we had in 2017, traveling the gardens of the world. Here are some of our most memorable tours.

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