Welcome to spring,
The last few months has seen an explosion in garden centres of truly wonderful new roses, stone fruit trees, magnolias, bulbs, iris and bedding annuals, to name a few. We’re so lucky in Australia to have people breeding and importing the latest and greatest in ornamental and fruiting plants. Our strict plant importation regulations has slowed the introduction of new varieties but it has also encouraged a new generation of local plant breeders, long may they prosper.
Garden travel is such a popular pastime for gardeners, who love to travel both within Australia and overseas. In this issue we have both armchair travel and travel tips for you. Take a look at Scotland’s wonderful Jupiter Artland, or plan to visit some of the best wisteria gardens in the world.
And have you seen Cruden Farm, the lifelong creation of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch? I was very fortunate to have interviewed her twice in her latter years - what a dynamo! It was important to her that the garden should continue to be open to visitors - such a gift. Find out how new head gardener Mitch Burns and his team readies the garden for its spectacular spring show on page 49.
Sandra has had a long love affair with peonies and she writes about how to grow them in this issue, though I think she will still have to travel to really enjoy them! If you’d like to travel with us book a place at the morning tea launch of our Ross Garden Tours 2020 program at lovely Lion Gate Lodge in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens. I look forward to seeing you there.