Groundswell – MIFGS 2024

CONTENTS

6 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

7 DISCOVER SIZE, SCOPE AND SCALE OF VICTORIA’S HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY

8 VSGP: GROW TOGETHER GARDEN

13 THE WOLLEMI PINE: 30 YEARS SINCE THE DISCOVERY OF A LIVING FOSSIL

16 SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS: THE SUCCESS OF SOUTHERN PLANTS

20 PP5 RECYCLING PROGRAM

21 INTRODUCING LAVENDER LA DIVA OUT OF THE BLUE

23 NGIV ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL PLANT OF THE YEAR AWARD

24 CHALLENGER ACHIEVABLE GARDENS: STUDENT GARDEN DESIGN COMPETITION

37 ONE TREE PER CHILD AND GARDEN CENTRES AUSTRALIA

39 A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR GROWING MEDIA – GROWFIBRE

40 FEED OUR FUTURE – URBAN FARMING

42 VISIT YOUR LOCAL NURSERY

Our front cover: Southern Plants: creating a legacy for a greener future. www.southernplants.com.au

Volume 35 Number 2 MIFGS 2024 EDITION

PUBLISHER NURSERY & GARDEN INDUSTRY VICTORIA

PRESIDENT Carl Soderlund

CEO Craig Taberner

CONTRIBUTORS Carl Soderlund, Leigh Siebler, James Nicklen

ADVERTISING NGIV T: (03) 9576 0599

ADDRESS Unit 3, 307 Wattletree Road, Malvern East VIC 3145.

MAILING ADDRESS

P.O. Box 2280, Wattletree Road LPO, Malvern East VIC 3145.

TELEPHONE (03) 9576 0599 | FAX (03) 9576 0431

EMAIL ngiv@ngiv.com.au | www.ngiv.com.au

FINISHED ART Vale Graphics

PRINTING Norwood Industries

6 Wedgewood Road, Hallam VIC 3803.

whiteCav iar™

Magnolia White Caviar is a great performer in the sun or in part shade. Covered in spring and summer with stunning perfumed creamy white flowers with a flash of pink in the centre. Can be pruned into a 3m tall hedge, ideal for container gardening or simply as an eye-catching feature plant in the garden.

As proud owners of the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS), Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria (NGIV) is excited to welcome you once again to the Southern Hemisphere’s largest horticultural event, now back and better than ever for 2024.

Established in 1903, NGIV serves as the peak industry body for the state’s horticultural sector. Victoria’s horticulture industry, comprised of growers, allied businesses, and retailers, is thriving and dynamic, encompassing individuals from diverse backgrounds who provide Victorians with the finest green life and the latest, most advanced and innovative products.

NGIV plays a pivotal role in orchestrating MIFGS each year, a remarkable event that unites plant enthusiasts from all over the globe. Our growers and allied businesses generously contribute plants and gardening materials to bring young designers’ visions to life or to create breathtaking show gardens. Meanwhile, our retailers captivate attendees with the latest offerings of plants and products for their gardens. We collaborate with a range of enthusiastic and dedicated stakeholders to present a show that rivals the best in the world.

This year, from March 20 to 24, we invite you to explore all that this world-class show has to offer at Carlton Gardens and the Royal Exhibition Building. Join us as we celebrate the beauty of green life and the myriad benefits of gardening. There’s something for everyone at the 2024 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

Brought to you by NGIV and our partners, here are just a few of the incredible activities, exhibits, and demonstrations you’ll find at this year’s show:

The Challenger Achievable Gardens Design Competition: Celebrating its 17th year, the Achievable Gardens Design Competition returns to MIFGS, with students and educational institutions showcasing their design skills and horticultural knowledge while promoting the use of diverse, high-quality plants in landscape design. Brought to you by Challenger, an investment management firm focused on providing members with financial security for a better retirement, the Achievable Gardens are sure to dazzle.

The Green Room: An exclusive space at MIFGS where those in the industry are invited to network, exchange ideas, and glean wisdom from horticultural experts.

The Victorian Schools Garden Program (VSGP) Grow Together Garden: Presented by VSGP, Foodcube, and The Sustainable Landscape Company, the Grow Together Garden features beautiful edible garden displays, hands-on educational activities, and multicultural kitchen gardens.

On behalf of NGIV, I hope you thoroughly enjoy all that the 2024 Show has to offer. As always, it promises to be an extraordinary and inspiring event with something for every gardener. We hope you leave the show feeling inspired, fulfilled, and eager to dive into your own gardening endeavours.

Carl Soderlund President, NGIV

MAJOR CORPORATE

SILVER GOLD PLATINUM

BRONZE

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

Carl Soderlund President, NGIV

Discover the size, scope and scale of Victoria’s horticulture industry

Horticulture in Australia is booming. Gardening, sustainability, wellbeing, and food production have all captured the public imagination, leading to unparalleled growth of our industry.

In 2024, the Victorian horticulture industry:

Produces over 35% of all the plants in Australia

Victoria stands as the horticultural powerhouse of Australia, boasting a remarkable capacity that yields over 35% of the nation’s green life. With a rich tradition deeply rooted in horticulture, Victoria has cultivated a reputation for excellence in green life production. Its growers, allied businesses, and retailers form a dynamic ecosystem dedicated to supplying not only the local market but also catering to national and international demands. From traditional nurseries to cutting-edge hydroponic farms, Victoria’s horticultural sector embodies a blend of heritage and innovation, constantly evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of consumers and industry trends.

Is worth over $2.5 billion and employs over 24,100 people

Victoria’s horticultural industry serves as a vital economic engine, generating employment opportunities and driving regional development. The sector's resilience and adaptability have enabled it to weather challenges while continuing to thrive and expand. Whether it’s supplying fresh produce to local markets, breeding plants with new and exciting genetics, or fostering sustainable practices for future generations, Victoria’s horticultural prowess shines brightly on both national and international stages.

Is a leader in domestic export and critical to food production

As a leading Australian hub for domestic export, Victoria plays a pivotal role in not only meeting the nation’s food production needs but also in contributing significantly to global markets. With its fertile land, diverse climate zones, and innovative horticultural practices, Victoria stands as a cornerstone of the country's horticulture industry, supplying a vast array of high-quality produce to both local and international consumers.

Supports community, environmental and economic health in Victoria

Victoria’s horticulture sector plays a crucial role in supporting the environmental and economic health of the state. Through job creation, investment opportunities, and valueadded processing activities, the industry serves as an engine of economic growth. The industry also delivers invaluable community health outcomes through the promotion of green life and the cultivation of natural environments. Studies have shown that exposure to green spaces, such as parks, gardens, and urban forests, has a myriad of positive effects on human health and wellbeing.

The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show celebrates the beauty and diversity of horticulture and is made possible with efforts of all in Victoria’s thriving and dynamic industry.

The Victorian Schools Garden Program presents the

Step into the vibrant world of the Victorian Schools Garden Program’s Grow Together Garden – an immersive journey where exploration, learning, and growth intertwine amid engaging displays and educational activities.

Presented by the Victorian Schools Garden Program in collaboration with Foodcube and the Sustainable Landscape Company, with support from the Cambodian Association of Victoria and the Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria, the Grow Together Garden is a celebration of our city's rich diversity.

Wander through this space adorned with beautiful edible garden displays, each reflecting the cultural tapestry of our community. Young gardeners can engage in garden-based educational activities sprinkled throughout the garden. From potting activities to interactive demonstrations, and the whimsical Sustainable Scarecrows display, there's something to captivate minds of all ages.

Joining us in this space are esteemed partners, Wheen Bee and the Urban Plant Health Network. Together, the Grow Together Garden offers an array of child-friendly activities designed to inspire curiosity, foster learning, and cultivate a passion for gardening, nature, and the wonders of the plant world.

In the Grow Together Garden, every corner is an invitation to explore, every activity a chance to learn, and every moment an opportunity to nurture a lifelong love for the beauty and bounty of our natural world.

About VSGP and the importance of school gardens

The Victorian Schools Garden Program (VSGP) recognises the importance of outdoor spaces in modern progressive learning and fosters student learning, health and wellbeing. It encourages schools to utilise their outdoor spaces and promote a lifelong connection with the natural environment.

As a pioneer in environmental education, the VSGP was established by Paul Crowe OAM and the late Kevin Heinze in 1977.

School gardens offer abundant opportunities for children to learn about productive cultivation, biodiversity, and sustainable practices. They provide the ideal environment for students, teachers, and parents to share a practical and hands-on experience.

By developing green spaces within schools, teachers have the opportunity to take learning beyond the classroom and enable students to explore the numerous benefits of gardening. Expanding school green spaces not only contributes to stimulating learning environments but also enhances student health and wellbeing.

The Victorian Schools Garden Program offers grants to support schools in starting or repairing gardens, provides professional development workshops for teachers and volunteers, and offers hands-on learning experiences for primary students, while recognising student and school achievement through a longrunning awards program. These programs are available to all Victorian State Government, Catholic, and Independent Schools.

To learn more or to find out how your VSGP can help support your school’s garden program, visit www.vsgp.org.au or email vsgp@ngiv.com.au.

About the Cambodian Association of Victoria

Established in 1985, the Cambodian Association of Victoria is very proud of be the sole surviving Cambodian organisation to provide services to Cambodian Community today. Over a period of more than thirty years, the Cambodian Association has provided professional development training to young Cambodian people to gain their skill and experience to further their career into the Australia workforce or running their own businesses.

About the Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria (FIAV)

FIAV was formed in 1989 by a group of resident Indian migrants of long-standing high repute that was keen to bring all the various regional, cultural and lingual Indian groups together under the one umbrella organisation.

The FIAV’s goal was to serve as an umbrella organisation for all the Indian community organisations in Victoria bringing together all the individual organisations as a unified body to strengthen the community and provide improved services to the Indian origin population in Victoria.

You’ll find many culinary delights in the Indian garden, including:

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

Description: Also known as gumbo or ladies’ fingers, Okra is a warm-season, nutritionally rich vegetable cherished for its edible pods.

Flavour Profile: mild, slightly grassy flavor with a hint of sweetness. The texture of cooked okra is unique, with a soft interior encased in a slightly firm exterior.

Growing Tips: Okra thrives in warm climates and requires full sun and well-drained soil. Space the seeds or seedlings about 12-18 inches apart, as okra plants can grow quite tall. Harvest okra pods when they are young and tender, typically 3–4 inches long, to ensure the best flavour and texture.

Image: Akhara Y, Pixabay

Okra

NGIV:

SHAPESCAPER

modular steel garden edging & planter systems

• Suitable for Most Applications

• Quick & Easy to Install

• Pre-Drilled Edging all Lengths

• Pre-Drilled Connectors & Stakes

• Precision Engineered

• Commercial Quality

• All Fittings Supplied

• Widely Available

• Maintenance Free

• DIY Friendly

• Extensive Product Range

• x 8 Edging Profiles @ 2.4M

• x 32 Ring Sizes

• x 4 Tiered Triple Rings

• Modular Planter System

• x 24 Planter Shapes and Sizes

• Extender Panels & Corners

• All Planters are Pre-Drilled

• Easy to Transport & Install

• 10 Year Warranty

www.shapescaper.com.au

Holy BasilLuffa

Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum/Ocimum gratissimum)

Description: Also known as Tulsi, Holy Basil is a revered herb in Southeast Asia, particularly in India, where it holds significant cultural and religious importance and is widely used for its healing properties. A member of the mint family, there are two main varieties: Ocimum gratissimum and Ocimum tenuiflorum

Flavour Profile: hints of peppery spice, clove-like undertones, and a subtle sweetness. It imparts a fresh, aromatic quality to dishes and herbal infusions.

Growing Tips: Holy Basil thrives in warm, tropical climates and prefers well-drained soil and full sun. Pinch off the flowers as they appear to encourage bushier growth and prolong the harvest. Holy Basil can be harvested by pinching off individual leaves or cutting entire stems as needed.

In the Cambodian garden, you’ll see:

Rice Paddy Herb (Limnophila aromatica)

Description: A tropical herb prized for its distinctive flavour reminiscent of cumin. It is often used in Vietnamese cuisine, particularly in salads and soups.

Flavour Profile: earthy, citrusy notes reminiscent of cumin, complemented by hints of freshness and brightness.

Growing Tips: Rice Paddy Herb thrives in tropical conditions and requires plenty of moisture. It can be grown in pots placed in containers of water, ensuring regular topping up to maintain adequate moisture levels. Provide shelter to protect the plant

from excessive sun or wind exposure. Harvest the leaves and stems as needed for fresh culinary use, allowing the plant to continue growing for a continuous harvest.

Luffa (Luffa aegyptiaca)

Description: A versatile and edible gourd plant that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. While commonly recognised for its use as a natural sponge when mature, young luffa fruits are edible and used in various cuisines around the world. Don’t get confused: luffa is the name of the plant that produces the sponge, while loofah is the common name for the sponge itself.

Flavour Profile: mild, slightly sweet flavour reminiscent of zucchini or cucumber, with a tender and crisp texture. They absorb flavours well when cooked and are commonly used in stir-fries, soups, and curries.

Growing Tips: Luffa thrives in warm climates with plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil. Provide support for the vines to climb, such as trellises or fences, as luffa plants are vigorous climbers and can sprawl if left untrained. Harvest young luffa fruits when they are about 6–8 inches long for the best flavour and texture. If growing for use as a sponge, allow the fruits to mature on the vine until they turn yellow and begin to dry out. Harvest the mature fruits, remove the outer skin, and extract the fibrous interior to use as a natural sponge or scrubber.

The Grow Together Garden is brought to you by the Victorian Schools Garden Program and is proudly supported by NGIV, Cambodian Association of Victoria, Federation of Indian Associations, Bio Gro, Foodcube, The Sustainable Landscape Company, Lighting Options, Oasis Horticulture and Quality Plants and Seedlings.

To find out more about the Victorian Schools Garden Program, visit www.vsgp.org.au or www.ngiv.com.au.

Image: Sutej Arts, Pixabay

Image: Alpha, Flickr

Image: bichvn, Pixabay

Rice Paddy Herb

The Wollemi Pine: 30 years since the discovery of a living fossil

By James Nicklen

This year marks 30 years since one of the most significant botanical discoveries of modern times – the discovery of the ancient and presumed extinct Wollemi Pine in a remote gorge in the Blue Mountains (‘Wollemi’ is an Aboriginal word meaning “look around you, keep your eyes open and watch out”). While the tree remains critically endangered, with fewer than 100 of them existing in the wild, its long-term survival is now safeguarded thanks to conservation and propagation efforts.

Fossil evidence indicates that ancestors of the Wollemi Pine existed up to 200 million years ago during the Jurassic period, with tree itself dating back to the mid-Cretaceous, and possibly even the early Cretaceous period, some 110 million years ago. This fact, coupled with the rarity of the discovery being likened to finding a living dinosaur, has earned it the nickname, the “dinosaur tree”. Now considered a “living fossil”, experts had concluded from fossil evidence that the Wollemi Pine had become extinct approximately 2 million years ago. That was, until its sensational rediscovery.

The chance encounter occurred on 10 September 1994 when New South Wales National Parks Ranger David Noble was

exploring the 500,000-hectare Wollemi National Park in the Blue Mountains, 200km northwest of Sydney. While abseiling down a remote rainforest gorge, he noticed an unusual looking tree and collected a branch, which he later passed onto the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney for identification. Botanists were stunned to find the sample represented a genus of tree that was part of the 200-million-year-old Araucariaceae family which includes Norfolk Island, Bunya, Hoop, and Kauri pines. Further exploration found that there were up to 100 Wollemi Pine trees living in the National Park. While most of the trees found were mature trees that could be over 1000 years old, some were younger regrowth sprouting from the base of

u

Wollemi Pine male cone.

The Wollemi Pine was discovered in a NSW National Park.

older trunks. This ability to spontaneously sprout, or ‘coppice’, multiple trunks from its base has been instrumental to the species’ survival and helping it to withstand damage from fire and other natural disasters.

The Wollemi Pine has a striking prehistoric appearance. Juvenile leaves are green fronds that turn bluish as the tree matures. Older Wollemi Pines develop brown bubbly bark and adult leaves arranged in two rows along branches, reminiscent of a Stegosaurus’ spiked tail. The Wollemi Pine grows to a height of 40 metres in its natural habitat with a trunk diameter of over one metre. However, in cultivation they can reach a maximum height of 20 metres. The pines have grown in temperatures from -5 to 45°C and trials in the USA and Japan

have indicated that it will survive temperatures as cold as -12°C. They are fast growing, respond well to light and favour acidic soils. In winter, Wollemi Pines form “polar caps” of white waxy coatings on their growing tips for protection from the cold. Other unusual adaptations include dropping whole branches rather than just leaves and having chocolate-like bubbly bark.

Genetic analysis found Wollemi Pines have extremely low natural genetic diversity. Nevertheless, the species has clearly demonstrated its resilience against major disturbances and upheaval over millions of years of history. Safeguarding the future of this “dinosaur tree” quickly became a priority for conservationists who realised the Wollemi Pine remained critically endangered in the wild due to its small, isolated population. The exact location of the trees in the Wollemi National Park remains a closely guarded secret. Access is highly restricted with only a select few scientists permitted to visit on rare occasions to monitor the health of the pines and their habitat. Fires, climate change, introduced pathogens and human interference continue to pose risks. Onsite conservation efforts focus on managing these threats.

The second prong of the conservation effort has focused on establishing Wollemi Pine populations outside its native habitat through commercial propagation. With wild collection of seeds and specimens deemed too risky, an ambitious propagation program was launched using plants raised from original wild

The Wollemi Pine'’s survival is safeguarded through conservation and propagation efforts.

seeds and cuttings. The goal has been large-scale cultivation to get Wollemi Pines established in gardens, parks and collections globally. This reduces reliance on the wild stands and acts as an insurance population.

And to launch this conservation effort, in 2005, just over a decade after its initial discovery, the Wollemi Pine was officially introduced to the world by the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, with an international Sotheby’s auction of the ‘Collector’s Edition’ trees the following year. Several preview events showcasing the Wollemi Pine took place in London, Frankfurt and Tokyo in the lead up to the Sydney auction. Each Collector’s Edition tree could be traced back to its parent tree in the wild, with fewer than 300 trees available as part of 148 lots for auction, ranging from single trees to an avenue of 20 trees from the same parent. Six groves of trees were each dedicated to conservation organisations in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Germany and Japan.

The Van Berkel family were originally tasked with shipping the Wollemi Pine to enthusiasts across Australia, and Van Berkel Distributors have been intricately involved with the Wollemi Pine since its -public release in 2006. “We got involved a few years after ’94 when they had found the trees and they were into the propagating and working out how to release it,” says David van Berkel. “And the theory was that if we can repopulate it and get it into home gardens, that's probably the best way for the tree to survive.”

The family now proudly hold the rights to both the tree’s propagation and the trademark ‘The Wollemi Pine’ globally. Distribution is currently limited to Australia, though the family aspire to once again share this botanical marvel with enthusiasts worldwide.

As royalties from Wollemi Pine sales will fund ongoing conservation research, buying a pine will not only help to protect the species but will also safeguard its continued survival.

The Wollemi Pine remains critically endangered, but its long-term survival is now more secure thanks to propagation efforts. Countless specimens now grace backyards, parks and botanic gardens across the world. The Wollemi Pine is a true “living fossil” that provides a direct connection to the distant age of dinosaurs, millions of years in the making.

This article has been reproduced, originally appearing in Groundswell (February 2024).

The Wollemi Pine’s distinctive female cone.

Wollemi Pine growing in small pot.

Sustainable Solutions: The Success of Southern Plants

By James Nicklen

Located in picturesque Dromana, Victoria, Southern Plants has blossomed over the decades into a thriving world-class horticultural enterprise with a rich history, an innovative present and a promising future. Offering an extensive range of product lines tailored to suit home gardeners and landscapers, Southern Plants pride themselves on providing “functional solutions” for gardening needs.

Owned and managed today by Mark Jackson and his wife, Pilar, the family nursery’s legacy began in the 1940s when Ralph Jackson (Mark’s Grandfather) and his wife, Lorna, leased a nursery site in Springvale after Ralph returned from World War II. Over the years, the business evolved, shifting locations and expanding offerings.

“The business evolved from growing seedlings in-ground and lifting them to be sold wrapped in newspaper, then in wooden trays. Later, it was growing plants in jam tins before eventually growing in plastic pots,” recalls Mark, reminiscing about the early transformative stages the nursery underwent. It was during this period that the Jacksons laid the foundation for a culture of excellence and quality, focusing on providing the best plants for customers.

From its humble beginnings, the nursery moved locations from Springvale to Dingley in 1960, and as the years passed, Ralph’s son, Bryan Jackson, took the reins and embraced the challenge of building upon his father’s legacy. The business moved to Springvale Road in 1978 and changed its name to Gardenworld, becoming a fully-fledged garden centre with complementary tenant businesses. Soon after, Southern Advanced Plants was established, a standalone wholesale nursery to supply not only Gardenworld but the broader industry. It quickly outgrew the Springvale site, leading to the purchase of property in Dromana, strategically selected for its geographic benefits: its Mediterranean-like micro-climate close to Port Philip Bay, access to Class A recycled water, and proximity to freeways for efficient logistics.

Mark grew up on-site at Gardenworld and regularly visited Southern Advanced Plants. He worked there while in high school and throughout university, where he completed

Above: Bryan Jackson moving an advanced plant at Keysborough site (1982).

Top: Mark Jackson at Southern Plants’ Dromana site.

degrees in business. After finishing his studies, he travelled to the US to work at Ball Horticulture’s head office and met his soon-to-be wife, Pilar, also working in the US horticulture industry. Pilar, having grown up at her Spanish family’s nursery and with her later experience working for a US plant label company, was a perfect partner to help develop Southern Plants into what it is today.

While Mark was overseas in 2007, he and Bryan made the decision to sell Gardenworld. Mark says, “That allowed us to completely focus on Southern Advanced Plants and putting all of our effort into it going forward.”

As Southern Advanced Plants flourished, Mark, Pilar, and Bryan continued to travel, collecting knowledge of the world’s best practices and products from the most successful horticultural enterprises worldwide.

Recognising trends globally, Mark saw the need to adapt and evolve with changing times, and Southern Advanced Plants embraced the principles of lean manufacturing, streamlining processes, and reducing waste, while continuing to always maximise customer value. They continued with the incorporation of technology, such as all-terrain forklifts and conveyors, which helped to virtually eliminate lifting and moving plants by hand. u

This marked a shift towards efficiency while maintaining the highest quality and improved the OH&S standards of the team.

“We never reduce quality,” Mark says. “We’re always focused on quality and adding value for the consumer.”

The original Southern Advanced Plants site in Keysborough, next to Gardenworld (1991).

Today the business is known as Southern Plants, with the name change in 2021 reflecting the wider product mix they now grow and helping to unify their established consumer-branded ranges.

A Diverse Selection

Southern Plants’ foresight and commitment to innovation have paved the way for a diverse and innovative product range. With their branded ranges, Southern Plants goes beyond just delivering plants to instead provide holistic solutions tailored to gardeners’ specific needs and interests. “At any one point throughout the entire year, we’ve got over 120 different products available on our list,” says Mark Jackson. Their innovative offerings showcase their horticultural expertise and passion for empowering and inspiring gardeners. The Southern Plants brands include:

“Mighty Tuff” – Easy Care, Dry Tolerant and Hardy

The “Mighty Tuff” range comprises hardy plants requiring minimal care and water once established. This selection is perfect for time-poor gardeners or drought-prone areas. Tough, resilient varieties thrive in full sun and arid conditions, retaining their good looks with only occasional watering. The “Mighty Tuff” plants add beauty without demanding constant attention.

“Nature’s Nectar” – Flowering Australian Native Shrubs

The “Nature’s Nectar” range focuses on Australian native shrubs prized for their vivid flowers and capacity to attract pollinators. These hardy natives provide a feast for the senses with their diversity of colourful blooms. The range also delivers environmental benefits by supporting local biodiversity.

“Small Spaces” – Colourful Plants for Confined Areas

For restricted residential gardens, balconies, or courtyards, the “Small Spaces” range provides graceful, colourful plants that flourish in tight quarters. This range makes the most of valuable real estate by selecting compact varieties that still provide ample visual impact. These plants offer charm and beauty without overwhelming or encroaching.

“Bloc It” – Hedging and Privacy Solutions

The “Bloc It” range focuses on fast-growing, hardy plants perfect for hedging and privacy screens. This range provides quick and effective solutions for defining spaces, adding seclusion, and delineating garden beds. The plants in this range are selected for their vigorous, dense growth habits and ability to quickly form a natural barrier.

“Home Harvest” – Edible Gardening Range

For gardeners interested in edible plants, the “Home Harvest” range spotlights edibles suitable for small spaces. This range makes it easy for home gardeners to grow herbs, vegetables, and fruits, even with limited room. The plants are productive, compact, and ideal for containers or small garden beds. Each variety undergoes rigorous testing and evaluation to ensure it meets Southern Plants’ stringent quality standards. By prioritising hardiness, low maintenance qualities and aesthetic appeal, Southern Plants ensure that their plants thrive in Australia’s climate and look spectacular in the garden. Southern Plants is unique for a very large wholesale nursery, choosing not to propagate any of their starter plants. Instead, they partner with only the best propagation specialist businesses, to ensure they have the highest quality starter plants, best new genetics and the ability to react quickly to consumer demands.

Throughout its evolution, Southern Plants has nurtured more than just plants. The company has fostered lasting relationships with its dedicated staff, supply partners and customers. Key members of the team have been with the company for decades, embodying the spirit of family and loyalty that defines Southern Plants. Referring to his team, Mark says, “We’re very proud of our exceptional team and culture.”

Innovation and sustainability

The emphasis on sustainability plays a crucial role in Southern Plants’ evolution, emerging as a cornerstone of the Southern Plants identity. To power their fleet of electric vehicles, the company recently invested in solar power, with the eventual

Aerial photo of Southern Plants site in Dromana (2019).

Three generations of Jacksons: Bryan and Fran Jackson, Mark and sister Alison, Lorna and Ralph (1998).

aim of becoming completely energy self-sufficient. Mark emphasises, “We see sustainability as paramount,” and it’s evident that every aspect of the business echoes this sentiment.

Plants at the Dromana site receive only natural sunlight and heat to ensure they are ‘hardened off’ and ready for retail. The property collects rain and irrigation water in dams and processes it to the highest standard in their recycled irrigation system. They use environmentally friendly specialist premium potting mixes of composted bark (no imported peatmoss) and slowrelease fertilisers.

Southern Plants prides itself on its environmental credentials. Their pots and labels are made from 100% recycled polypropylene (PP5). The pot and label can be recycled together through council-run curb side recycling and the closed-loop PP5 Collection Point recycling scheme at participating nurseries.

Looking ahead: Cultivating a green legacy

Looking ahead, Southern Plants will continue with a focus on expansion and innovation. Plans for increased water holding capacity, alongside a self-sufficient electricity supply through solar energy and batteries, emphasise the company’s commitment to sustainability.

Mark and Pilar envision Southern Plants as a legacy, both for their family and for the environment. “We believe we already have a legacy in our over 75 years of business,” Mark says. “And now, we’re planning for the next 75.”

This article has been reproduced in part, originally appearing in Groundswell (October 2023).

The next generation: Mark and Pilar with their children (2022).

Recycle your PP5 plastic plant pot and label waste

Largely, in Australia, plant pots and labels are made from PP5 plastic – a plastic that can be recycled over and over again. However, currently only 10 per cent of this plastic found in plant pots gets recycled. This is where we come in. We want to collect and recycle your PP5 plastic plant pots and labels and give them another plant pot life.

All we need from you, is to find your nearest PP5 collection point and bring us your plant pots and labels. PP5 collection points can be found at around 170 locations Australia wide at participating suppliers and retailers.

Once your PP5 plastic waste is collected and recycled, industry leaders Norwood printers and Garden City Plastics (GCP) create new products out of the recycled materials. And just like that, your old plant pot is a new plant pot.

Find out more at pp5.com.au

Dümmen Orange, Van Berkel Distributors and Garden Express Unite for mental health: Introducing Lavender La Diva

In a heartfelt collaboration aimed at supporting the mental health of Australians, Dümmen Orange, Van Berkel Distributors, and Garden Express have joined forces to introduce Lavender La Diva ‘Out of the Blue’. This initiative not only celebrates the beauty of lavender but is also contributing to an amazing cause, with $1 from every sale donated back to Beyond Blue.

In a heartfelt collaboration aimed at supporting the mental health of Australians, Dümmen Orange, Van Berkel Distributors, and Garden Express have joined forces to introduce Lavender La Diva ‘Out of the Blue’. This initiative not only celebrates the beauty of lavender but is also contributing to an amazing cause, with $1 from every sale donated back to Beyond Blue.

Lavender is revered for its ability to promote relaxation and alleviate stress, making it a natural choice for this endeavour. Recognising its therapeutic benefits, the collaborators have rebranded the Lavender La Diva ‘Romance’ to La Diva ‘Out of the Blue’, symbolising a commitment to mental wellbeing.

La Diva ‘Out of the Blue’ is the perfect plant to support mental health due to its calming properties, resilience and cheerful flowers set on stunning grey foliage. Its gentle fragrance and striking appearance serve as reminders of the importance of self-care and wellbeing, providing solace and comfort to individuals seeking relief from everyday stresses.

Through wholesale distribution via Van Berkel/Trenton Cottage and online sales via Garden Express, La Diva ‘Out of the Blue’ will reach households and businesses across Australia. With every purchase, customers not only enhance their surroundings with the soothing fragrance of lavender but also contribute to funding Beyond Blue’s vital 24/7 Support Service.

Beyond Blue’s Support Service offers individuals in Australia access to immediate counselling and referral by trained mental health professionals. Donations generated from the sale of La Diva ‘Out of the Blue’ will help Beyond Blue meet the increasing demand for their services, ensuring that every person in need receives the support they deserve.

In a world where awareness of mental health is paramount, Lavender La Diva ‘Out of the Blue’ provides the hope for driving positive change. Together, let us embrace the beauty of lavender and the importance of mental health and well-being, one lavender plant at a time.

NGIV Announces inaugural Plant of the Year Award

In a move to recognise excellence in the horticulture sector and celebrate plants in all their forms, Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria (NGIV) is proud to introduce the inaugural Plant of the Year Award, to be awarded for the first time in 2025. This prestigious award aims to acknowledge outstanding plant varieties, stimulate innovation and interest in the industry, and educate the public about the latest developments in the the world of horticulture.

The Plant of the Year Award hopes to set a new standard for excellence and innovation. With a panel of esteemed judges from the horticulture community deliberating to make the final decision, the award process ensures rigorous evaluation based on strict criteria.

To qualify for consideration, plants must meet a minimum standard and be placed on a shortlist of outstanding entries for the year. From this shortlist, leading plants in each category will be recognised as the leaders in their chosen category;

‘Tree of the Year’, ‘Shrub of the Year’, ‘Herbaceous Plant of the Year’ (divided into annual and perennial categories), and ‘Other/Specialist Plant of the Year’ (including climbers/vines, edibles, succulents, and indoor/house plants).

The criteria for evaluation encompass various aspects, from the aesthetic appeal of the plant to its growth and performance characteristics, as well as its innovative qualities and marketability potential.

This exciting initiative promises to showcase the best and brightest in the horticulture world, from traditional favourites to groundbreaking newcomers. Through the Plant of the Year Award, NGIV aims to inspire growers, gardeners, and plant enthusiasts alike, fostering a deeper appreciation for the diversity and beauty of our botanical world.

Stay tuned as NGIV unveils the winner of the inaugural Plant of the Year Award in 2025.

The 2025 Plant of the Year will join the ranks of these other award-winning plants:

2. Dianthus ‘Memories’ (Dianthus x alwoodii), the recipient of the prestigious Gold Medal at the HTA National Plant Show UK 2012 and ‘Best in Show’ at HTA’s New Plant Awards. Photo credit: Sarah Cuttle

1. The renowned Dreameria® ‘Dreamland’ (Armeria pseudarmeria hybrid) was the recipient of the esteemed Silver Medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower and Garden Show and acclaimed Plant of the Year 2022.

Photo credit: Julian Weigall

3. Salvia ‘Love and Wishes’ (Salvia buchananii hybrid) has garnered many accolades including third place in the UK Royal Horticultural Society’s Plant of the Year Awards 2015 and the prestigious Best in Show at the New Plant Awards during the UK Horticultural Trade Association National Plant Show 2015.

Photo credit: Sarah Cuttle

THE CHALLENGER ACHIEVABLE GARDENS

Now in its 17th year, the Achievable Gardens design competition provides students and educational institutions with a platform to showcase their design talents and horticultural expertise, while advocating for achievable gardening practices and the use of diverse, high-quality plants in the landscape.

This year, students once again compete for the prestigious ‘Excellence Award’, engaging in a valuable learning journey that spans from conceptualisation and project coordination to the realisation of a show garden. Each compact garden plot mirrors the dimensions of an average balcony or small courtyard (five meters in width by four meters in depth), challenging participants to create designs that are both aesthetically pleasing and replicable by home gardeners. With a virtual budget capped at $8,000, emphasis is placed on attainability, ensuring that at least 50% of the garden consists of soft landscaping (plants).

The competition equips students with invaluable hands-on experience, laying a solid foundation for their future careers in horticulture and design. Past submissions have captivated visitors with their innovative concepts, and this year’s entries are poised to deliver the same excitement. The Achievable Gardens remain a highlight for attendees, and we eagerly anticipate unveiling the outstanding student designs for this year’s showcase. This year’s Achievable Gardens are brought to you by Challenger. Challenger Limited (Challenger) is an investment management firm focused on providing members with financial security for a better retirement.

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

MIFGS visitors were asked to vote on which garden they liked the best.

The 2023 People’s Choice Award went to ‘The Circles of Life’ by Daniel Althaus from Melbourne Polytechnic.

MADDY HOLYMAN & ANDY SARGOOD LOOK WITHIN

LONDON COLLEGE OF GARDEN DESIGN

WHILE NATIVE GARDENS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE DREAM FOR MANY OF US, KNOWING WHICH SPECIES TO CHOSE AND WHERE TO PLANT THEM HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS.

With this design we are showcasing the vast variety of native and indigenous plants, their striking foliage forms and tones and how to create depth and layers in your garden.

The multiple water features represent void in the mass of planting. They give the eye a place to rest whilst promoting flora to establish itself in the warmth and sanctum of the surrounding rocks.

The meandering path with Castlemaine slate “scales” draws similarities to a snake winding its way through the vegetation, past water sources and onto the secluded safety of the seating area.

Castlemaine rocks ground the design and provides a sense of belonging consistent with the Mornington Peninsula plants. It also breaks up the densely planted areas.

The native species selected encourage people to identify plants they have seen in their local areas and homes, and to increase their own knowledge and passion for Australian flora.

SPONSORS Rock around the Block – Pond supplies • Scapescaper

Xa Xanthorrhoea australis Grass Tree

Lb Leucophyta brownii Cushion Bush

Af Agonis flexuosa ‘After Dark’ Jervis Bay Afterdark

Ca Correa alba White Correa

Ppa Pomaderris paniculosa Scurfy Pomaderris

As Austrostipa stipoides Spear Grass

Cc Cyathea cooperi Rough Stree Fern

Vp Veronica perfoliata alba White Digger’s Speedwell

Dr Dichondra repens Kidney Weed

Bg Blechnum gibbum ‘Silver Lady’ Silver Lady Fern

Cg Casuarina glauca Swamp Oak

Bb Banksia burdettii Burdett’s Banksia

Bm Bacopa monniera (aquatic) Water Hyssop

Jr Juncus rush (aquatic) Corkscrew Rush

Glenvue Nursery

Warners Nursery • Botanix Plant Supply • Din San Nursery • Margaret River Grass Trees • Lighting Options

PERMEABLE PARADISE

JAMES GREENTREE

MELBOURNE POLYTECHNIC

PERMEABLE PARADISE IS A GARDEN DESIGN BASED AROUND HARVESTING RAINWATER, ELIMINATING RUNOFF AND CREATING A LOOP HYDROPONIC SYSTEM THAT SERVICES AN ORNAMENTAL GARDEN.

In dense urban areas like Melbourne’s inner city suburbs, the total coverage of impervious surfaces is on average around 90%. Impervious surfaces reduce rainwater infiltration, increase pollution in stormwater runoff and exacerbate the urban heat island effect.

The garden consists of raised free-draining garden beds that are entirely permeable.

BOTANICAL NAMECOMMON NAME

Actinotus helianthi Flannel Flower

Aptenia cordifolia Sun Rose

Cotyledon orbiculata Round-Leafed Navel-Wort

Dianthus alpinus Alpine Pink

Elegia capensis Horsetail Regio

Enchylaena tomentosa Ruby Saltbush

Euphorbia tirucalii Firesticks

Ficinia nodosa Knobby Club Rush

Gunnera manicata Chilean Rhubarb

Iris hexagona Dixie Iris

Lomandra confertifolia Mat Rush

Mesembryanthemum cooperi Hardy Iceplant

Myriophyllum crispatum Milfoil

Olea europaea 'Signore' Olive Tree

Poa labillardieri Tussock Grass

Senecio serpens Blue Chalksticks

Xerochrysum bracteata Strawflower

This is linked through a drainage system to the pond where water is aerated using a water feature with aquatic plants filtering the excess nutrients so the water can be cycled back into the rock garden.

Every surface of the garden is designed to harvest rainwater, including the carefully designed walls which act as guttering funneling the water down to the ponds.

My intention with this design was to remove the impermeable surfaces in an urban backyard whilst harvesting rainwater, and utilising it in an upscaled and beautified hydroponics system.

SPONSORS OZ Watergardens • Garden Grown Trees • Humphris Nursery • Lighting Options • Rockcote Render • Repurpose-it

Free draining substrate

Concrete guttering

Cast concrete raised garden

Mesh steppers

Cast concrete raised garden

EVER-GROWING

GARDEN

LEIGH J HUDSON

MELBOURNE POLYTECHNIC

THE EVER-GROWING GARDEN QUESTIONS HOW WE CAN CREATE SPACES THAT EVOLVE TO SUPPORT BOTH HUMAN WELLBEING AND OUR BROADER ECOSYSTEMS. THIS CONCEPT IS EXPLORED THROUGH FORMAL DESIGN ELEMENTS BLENDED WITH NATIVE-STYLE PLANTING AND PRIORITISATION OF RECYCLABLE AND SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS.

A central winding path is intentionally shaped as a question mark. As you stand at the ‘point’ of the question mark behind the rustic gate, take a moment to consider how a journey through this garden can provide both a sanctuary for people, plants and wildlife.

Beyond the gate and up the first timber and corten steel step, a recycled wooden bench seat in front of a mirror invites you to sit and reflect. Another step-up leads into a secluded fireplace seating area with second-hand red brick paving, tucked away behind the

trees. This tranquil area is designed for relaxation and recuperation, a place to engage with the natural elements of water and fire.

Seeking a balance between built forms and nature, the EverGrowing Garden considers how we can create gardens that adapt, evolve and flourish over time to positively influence the relationship between human activities and our natural world.

SPONSOR Kuranga Native Nursery • Lighting Options • Melbourne Polytechnic • Advanced Trees Direct • Warners Nurseries • Yarra Edge Nursery • ProteaFlora

KEYBOTANICAL NAMECOMMON NAME

AM Acacia melanoxylon Australian Blackwood

AR Ajuga reptans Bugleweed

BS Banksia spinulosa Birthday Candles Banksia

CA Correa alba White Correa

CR Correa reflexa Common Correa

EK Erigeron karvinskianus Seaside Daisy

EJ Euonymous japonicus Japanese Spindle

GB Grevillea banksii x Grevillea Superb bipinnatifida

HV Hardenbergia violacea Purple Coral Pea

LC Leucospermum cordifolium Pincusion Protea

LM Liriope muscari Lilyturf, Border Grass

OD Hylotelephium spectabile Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’

PL Poa labillardierei Common Tussock-Grass

PP Poa poaformis Coast Tussock

SB Stachys byzantina Lamb’s Ear

TT Themeda triandra Kangaroo Grass

TL Ficus hillii ‘Flash’Ficus ‘Flash’

VP Veronica perfoliata Digger’s Speedwell

VH Viola hederacea Ivy-leaved Violet

URBAN HARVEST

JUSTIN RHODES

MELBOURNE POLYTECHNIC

NOW 3.5 BILLION PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN CITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE AND ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN 2022, 79.7% OF THE WORLD’S DEVELOPED POPULATION LIVE IN CITIES.1

Increasing urbanisation has dramatically reduced many households’ outdoor green spaces to small courtyards. However, a small courtyard doesn’t mean you can’t have a productive harvest garden. By maximising our small urban garden spaces, it is achievable to produce 20% of a small household’s fruit and vegetable, consumption.

This garden includes olive, apple, lemon and bay trees, tomatoes, eggplants, sweet potato, silver beet and nine varieties of herbs.

Colour is important too. Hues of purple and violet found in the sweet potato, purple basil, eggplants, and lavender are used to contrast against the green of the plants. The stems of the silver beet bring in the oranges and reds creating a ‘Bright Light’ of colour.

Additional benefits of a harvest garden go beyond the production of delicious food, and these include:

> Being able to relax and entertain in a green urban space.

> Rainwater collection mitigating stormwater runoff.

No matter how small your garden space is, a modest harvest garden is achievable, and the produce will taste better than food that has travelled 350kms.

1. https://hbs.unctad.org/total-and-urbanpopulation

SPONSORS Yarra Edge Nursery Melbourne Polytechnic • Lighting Options • Shapescaper

KEYBOTANICAL NAMECOMMON NAME

AF Allium fistulosum Spring Onion ‘Evergreen Trident’

BV Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla Silver Beet ‘Bright Lights’

CC Capsicum chinense Chillies - Habanero and Scotch Bonnet

CM Citrus meyeri Lemon Meyer

IB Ipomoea batatas Sweet Potato

LA Lavandula augustifolia English Lavender

LN Laurus nobilis Bay Tree

MD Malus domestica Apple Tree – Granny Smith

MO Melissa officinalis Lemon Balm

MS Mentha spicata Common Mint

OB Ocimum Basilicum Basil ‘Genevese’

OBP Ocimum Basilicum Basil ‘Purple Ruffles’ var. purpurascens

OE Olea europaea Olive Tree ‘Manzanillo

OV Origanum vulgare Oregano

PO Persicaria odorata Vietnamese Mint

SL Solanum lycopersicum Tomato ‘Tommy Toe’

SM Solanum melongena Egg Plant ‘Fairytale’

SR Salvia rosmarinus Rosemary

TC Thymus x citriodora Thyme ‘Lemon’

TM Tropaeolum majus Nasturtium ‘Empress of India’

A REPURPOSED REVOLUTION

SEBASTIAN BLACKET

HOLMESGLEN

A REPURPOSED REVOLUTION AIMS TO BREATHE FRESH AIR INTO DISCARDED OBJECTS. IT INSPIRES THEIR USE BY INTEGRATING THEM INTO THE GARDEN IN A WAY THAT IS FUNCTIONAL AND BEAUTIFUL.

This garden seamlessly incorporates the repurposed items into pieces that take you on a journey of their history and allows you to imagine a future in which we place value on the beauty of imperfection.

The meandering path seems to mark its own course, inviting the user to explore the natural flow into the different spaces including the seated area which invites you to pause and reflect, then to be drawn towards the recycled door which suggests that there is something beyond.

The plant selection celebrates the diversity and beauty of Australian natives. A variety of colours and textures in the foliage have been

chosen to create a layering effect and softens the use of the harder elements.

The veggie box and water feature highlight the ability to incorporate functional usage into small gardens. The bath creates a focal point, bringing a pleasing sound component, as well as contributing to a microclimate and providing water for birds.

KEYBOTANICAL NAMECOMMON NAME

Be Banksia ericifolia Heath-leaved Banksia

Abp Acacia baileyana purpurea Cootamundra Wattle (purple)

Ab Acacia baileyana Cootamundra Wattle

Ap Acacia podalyriifolia Queensland Silver Wattle

Ec Eucalptyus cosmophylla Cup Gum

Ma Melaleuca armillaris Bracelet Honey Myrtle

Bm Banksia marginata Silver Banksia

Tl Tasmannia lanceolata Tasmanian Pepperberry

Cq Calothamnus quadrifidus One-sided Bottlebrush

‘Grey Form’

Dc Darwinia citriodora prostrata Lemon-scented Darwinia

Lc Lomandra confertifolia Lomandra Frosty Tops rubiginosa

Gb Grevillea banksii bipinnatifida Grevillea Superb

Eg Eremophlia glabra ‘Silver Ball’Emu Bush

Mp Myoporum parvifolium Creeping Myoporum

Pt Pleiogynium timorense Burdekin plum

SPONSORS

Yarra View Bushland Nursery

• Top Ten Trees

• Lighting Options

ECLIPSE

ELLEN FREEMAN HOLMESGLEN

ECLIPSE IS DRIVEN BY AND ROOTED IN THE NATURAL WORLD BUT REPRESENTS IT IN AN UNEXPECTED WAY.

Often our gardens are inspired by other gardens we see or know. Our parents’, our neighbours’, the ones we see on the street and in magazines. For this design, I have tried to draw inspiration from elsewhere. It is based on the solar eclipse, and with the amazing diversity of nature I have tried to embody that concept with plants.

With this garden I would like to unshackle people from their ideas of what’s achievable in a garden and encourage them to seek inspiration from new sources.

The plant world offers a palette richer, more vibrant, and with more depth than anything that can be found on a painter’s easel.

The diversity of colour, texture, and form is only enhanced by the care and learning that goes into creating with living things.

There are so many opportunities in nature to find and express your own creative spirit. I hope this garden shows that whatever inspires us, whatever we dream up, the plants are there waiting for us.

Your garden, your creativity, and your achievement can be whatever you want it to be.

SPONSORS Bundameer Nursery • Warner’s Nursery • Speciality Trees

• Screening Solutions • Lighting Options

KEYBOTANICAL NAMECOMMON NAME

Aa-1 Agave americana Century Plant

Af-B-1 Agonis flexuosa ‘Burgundy’Willow Peppermint

Sc-AW-1 Senecio candidans Senecio ‘Angel’s Wings’ ‘Angel’s Wings’

Ce-BC-1 Colocasia esculenta Taro ‘Black Coral’ 'Black Coral'

Cc-RP-1 Cotinus coggygria Smoke Bush ‘Royal Purple’

Dr-SS-1 Dichondra repens ‘Silver Falls’ Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’

Ec-1 Eucalyptus cinerea Silver Dollar Tree

Ew-1 Euphorbia wulfenii Mediterranean Spurge

Fe-B-1 Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’Rubber Plant

Lo-SN-1 Leptospermum obovatum Tea Tree ‘Starry Night’

Lb-1 Leucophyta brownii Cushion Bush

Lc-1 Loropetalum chinense Chinese Fringe Flower

Op-B-1 Ophiopogon planiscapus Mondo Grass ‘Black’

Pt-BR-1 Phormium tenax ‘Black Rage’New Zealand Flax

Ep-BB-1 Eucalyptus pulverulenta Silver-leaved Mountain Gum ‘Baby Blue’

S-DB-1 Sedum ‘Desert Black’Stonecrop

Ec-SS-1Euphorbia characius Euphorbia ‘Silver swan’ ‘Silver Swan’

Wf-S-1 Westringia fruticosa ‘Smokey’ Coastal Rosemary

Tf-1 Teuchrium fruticons Shrubby Germander

IN CHALLENGING TIMES OF UPHEAVAL AND CHANGE, IT IS VITAL TO FIND THE QUIET AND PEACEFUL MOMENTS WITHIN NATURE.

A Melbourne coastal style garden, utilising mostly (Eastern) Port Philip bayside endemic and Victorian native species. It respectfully draws upon the tonal relationships, softness and atmospheric effects of nature that are the signature of Clarice Beckett’s* (1887 – 1935) paintings and aims to interpret them via plantings.

The plant palette has been deliberately restricted to soft muted colours. Combined with the aged timber and repurposed elements, it creates a ‘time worn’ and calming vignette. It has a soft, quiet confidence that doesn’t scream ‘look at me’! Rather, it invites the visitor to linger within the details and perhaps rest a while.

Several elements and ideas within the design are easily adaptable and achievable in your home garden:

> Creating an insect hotel with ‘found’ objects to increase habitat and biodiversity

> Repurpose and value items otherwise designed for landfill

> Be creative and individual – your garden should be an extension of you

> Encourage planting of species endemic to your local area

> Choosing plants that stimulate the senses – smell, touch and taste.

*Melbourne bayside based, Victorian artist and considered one of the most important female modernist painters of the 20’s and 30’s.

KEYBOTANICAL NAMECOMMON NAME

CRN Correa reflexa nummulariifolia Native Fuchsia

PA Pelargonium australe Austral Storks Bill

CR Carpobrotus rossii Karkalla

PP Pratia pedunculata White Star Creeper

FN Ficinia nodosa Knobby Club Rush

PL Poa labilliardieri Common Tussock Grass

TT Themeda triandra Kangaroo Grass

PS Poa seiberiana Blue Tussock Grass

CA Correa alba White Correa

LB Leucophyta brownii Cushion Bush

AC Atriplex cinerea Saltbush

LO Leptospermum obovatum Starry Night Tea Tree

LL Leptospermum laevigatum Coastal Tea Tree

JAPONICA-AUSTRALIS

MICHELANGELO CAMMAROTO

OPEN COLLEGES

GET THAT MUCH-NEEDED HOLIDAY BY ESCAPING TO JAPAN BUT DO IT BY WALKING INTO YOUR BACKYARD.

Take a stroll over the arched redgum bridge and take a seat on the Hinoki stools to immerse yourself into a Japanese-inspired Australian native garden. The endless depth of textures and colours will draw your eyes from plant to plant to give you a subtle point of view each time you enter. Not only will this haven take you away from the rat-race each day and bring you serenity, but the flora will also provide a perfect environment for fauna to thrive and survive in.

It’s not just Zen, it’s for our Australian friends.

KEYBOTANICAL NAMECOMMON NAME

AFRAnigozanthos rufus ‘Frosty Red’ Kangaroo Paw

CGW Casuarina glauca ‘Greenwave’ Swamp Sheoak

CA Correa alba White Correa

CDB Correa pulchella ‘Dusky Bells’ Correa

FN Ficinia nodosa Knobby Club Rush

HWO Hardenbergia violacea Native Wisteria ‘White Out’

LSN Leptospermum obovatum Tea Tree ‘Starry Night’

MCT Metrosiderosis collina ‘Tahiti’ NZ Christmas Bush

MPP Myoporum parvifolium purprurea Purple Boobialla

PA Phragmites australia Common Reed

PP Pratia pedunculata Matted Pratia

SAW Scaevola aemula White Fan Flower

SB Scleranthus biflorus Cushion Bush

WF Westringia fruticosa Coastal Rosemary

SPONSORS Diaco’s Garden Nursery • Diaco’s Garden Design Team –Keilor • Vagabond Creations • Lighting Options

AN AUSSIE ESCAPE

TAYLAH PRIESTLEY

ADVANCE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

AS OUR WORLD IS TAKEN OVER BY TECHNOLOGY, WE FORGET THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE. THIS SPACE INVITES YOU TO CREATE LIFELONG MEMORIES WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOVED ONES AS WELL AS ALLOWING YOU TO RECONNECT WITH THE BEAUTY OF NATIVE AUSTRALIAN PLANTS.

This landscape includes an enticing space to sit by a fire and escape from reality for a little bit whilst enjoying the company of others. A wide range of native plants creates a compelling environment with different textures, colours and shapes in every direction. These plants may change throughout the year generating interest in your garden all year round. The space leading to the fire pit is a turfed area featuring a deep green Buffalo variety of turf that was founded in Berry, NSW. The deep green colour of the turf compliments the vibrant flowers of surrounding native Aussie plants.

This landscape will allow you to bring country Australia right into your very own backyard. Featuring a beautiful Banskia and varieties of an Aussie favourite, the Eucalyptus.

Use all your senses to smell the flowers, feel the textures of the leaves and hear the sounds of trees swaying in the wind.

The design of curves and circles helps create a relaxing and calming environment. The design also creates a nice flow to the landscape as you walk through it. This design uses minimal hardscaping materials creating a very natural and sustainable space.

The last idea I want to convey through this landscape design is that your landscape doesn't have to be perfect and anyone can create a beautiful space to enjoy in their very own backyard no matter how small the space or how much experience you may have in plants or landscaping. Anyone can give it a go!

KEYBOTANICAL NAMECOMMON NAME

EO Eucalyptus octavia Swamp Gum

WV Westringia variegated Coastal Rosemary

AC Adenanthos cunninghammi Albany Woolybush

AS Adenanthos sericeus Woolybush

GS Grevillea ‘Sylvia’

GPS Grevillea ‘Pink Surprise’

ME Melaleuca ericafolia Swamp Paperbark

LS Leptospermum scoparium Dwarf Red Tea Tree

CS Chrysocephalum apiculatum Everlasting spp.

L Lomandra longifolia Spiny-headed Mat Rush

RETAIL STATE OF PLAY

For the Right Advice – Visit Your Local Garden Centre

Is your life ‘Plantiful’ and filled with plants? Well, maybe not entirely filled, but we all certainly need plants in our lives to support health and wellbeing. Research clearly shows that plants improve health. It doesn't matter whether you have a large garden, a small garden, an apartment, or just a window box. There are plants suitable for every space and occasion. Your Local Garden Centre will undoubtedly assist you in selecting the best plants for your needs.

Colour for Health

Colour has long been associated with influencing our health and wellbeing. We use colour to create and adjust our moods, influence those of others, and obtain different vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and tastes in our diets. We love colour in our gardens, homes, and lives. We even give colouring books and pencils to our youngest children, and now adults find stress relief in colouring too. Like fragrance and texture, colour is an element of sensory language, often catching our attention and immediately impacting us. What better place to immerse ourselves in colour than in our gardens?

SPONSORED BY:

Add colour and health with Phalaenopsis Orchids.

Give colour as gifts and ensure to add colour to your home this autumn.

Members of Garden Centres of Australia will be supporting the One Tree Per Child campaign initiated by Olivia Newton-John and Jon Dee. Please see the story on page 37 in this edition of Groundswell

Follow GCA on Facebook for updates www.facebook.com/gardenreleafaustralia

One Tree Per Child and Garden Centres Australia: Planting the seeds of change and fostering a love of nature

Garden Centres Australia (GCA) is rallying all green-thumbed grandparents and parents to visit their local Garden Centres. The mission? Purchase a plant – be it a tree, shrub, or even an indoor plant – and get planting with their grandchildren or children.

With the aim of encouraging every child to plant at least one tree before they leave school, the One Tree Per Child initiative was founded by Olivia Newton-John and Jon Dee in 2015. They were also the original founders of Australia’s highly successful ‘National Tree Day’. Olivia and Jon, along with a number of eminent ambassadors around the world, have worked tirelessly to promote solid community values and create a love of the environment in our children.

GCA is thrilled to announce its partnership with One Tree Per Child, which began as a grassroots tree-planting initiative in schools, councils, and communities. Now, through GCA, we are rolling out One Tree Per Child as an ongoing program to engage children and promote gardening as a wonderful activity for the whole family. It’s not just about the trees; it’s about sowing the seeds of environmental consciousness and stewardship.

Many of us can recall that our love for gardening came from our grandparents. GCA wants to promote this special relationship by providing a program to encourage an interest and connection to gardening from a young age.

The One Tree Per Child initiative in local Garden Centres takes the program to the next level. It provides an ongoing opportunity and legacy for children to be inspired by nature. This initiative provides a collaborative campaign to bring families into the local Garden Centre on a regular basis to help educate their customers. It provides guidance on watering, fertilising, and protecting trees and plants from pests.

It encourages children to observe and record changes in the plant or tree over time. We want to combat the ‘I’m bored there’s nothing to do’ mentality. Gardening is a wonderful activity. As gardeners, we all know there’s always something to do or to observe, and that gardens and plants are good for the soul!

Together, we can make a lasting impact on the environment and inspire children and families to embrace the joy of gardening and support local businesses.

One Tree Per Child Garden Centre Program will launch around Australia in June 2024.

Every tree or shrub purchased for One Tree Per Child will come with a commemorative certificate to be signed by the grandparent or custodian. It’s not just a plant; it’s a memory waiting to blossom. The Certificate will be part of a Presentation Pack containing a Planting Guide, Activity Ideas for the Young, an invitation to join a quarterly gardening Enews, and more.

More information on www.gardencentresaust.com.au or www.facebook.com/gardenreleafaustralia

Proudly supported by:

A sustainable future for growing media – GrowFibre

Australian Growing Solutions (AGS) introduced GrowFibre to the Australian nursery industry in 2020. Since then, over 100,000 m3 has been used within potting mixes for commercial production nurseries and retail potting mix blends. All of this has been sourced from within Victoria and processed at the AGS site in Tyabb on the Mornington Peninsula.

GrowFibre is best described as a lightweight, natural wood fibre substrate with an excellent balance of water holding and porosity. This makes it perfectly suited for use in potting media.

GrowFibre is made from Radiata Pine woodchips sourced from Victorian plantations. Among AGS’s customers are pine plantation nurseries. They are provided with potting mix which they use to grow seedlings that then go out into plantation forests. Once fully grown, the trees are felled and we receive the bark and woodchips to make more potting mix; and so the cycle continues. It’s a true example of “closing the loop”. Not only does this make it a renewable resource, it also drastically reduces the carbon miles involved in getting the product from its origin to its destination.

The production of GrowFibre consists of the thermal and mechanical defibration of pine chips, to create a sustainable wood fibre substrate. This process generates temperatures that can exceed 100°C, thereby making a sterilised and safe material. The physical and structural properties of GrowFibre can be adjusted very precisely within the process, which results in a consistent high-quality substrate.

GrowFibre will maintain its lighter wood colour when blended within a compost or potting mix. While this isn’t the dark and rich look you might be used to from a premium potting mix, you are making a more sustainable choice by incorporating it.

Key benefits of GrowFibre:

> Increased air capacity and drainage

> Improvement of the rewetting capability of the growing media

> Supports healthy and fast root development

> Reduction in weight of growing media

> Sustainably and ethically sourced

> Readily available and secure Victorian supply

> Australian-first production facility.

AGS have also developed GrowFibre to reduce the use of crop protection products and fertilisers. The objective of one such project, was to reduce the amount of the weed Liverwort. This would reduce the usage of herbicides such as glyphosate and residual herbicides like oxyfluorfen. A simple change in production media utilising 15% GrowFibre instead of Coconut Coir proved to deliver the outcome, whilst having no negative impacts on production.

If you are interested in contributing to a sustainable future for your potting mix, contact AGS to find out how you can take advantage of these benefits and have Growfibre incorporated into your growing media today.

GrowFibre Wood Fibre Substrate, pictured above being produced at AGS in Tyabb, is a sustainable solution to overcome supply challenges.

Above left: Mix with 15% Coir. Right: Mix with 15% GrowFibre

Feed our future – Urban farming as a solution to green our cities and improve mental wellbeing

By The Sustainable Landscape Company x Foodcube

Concrete city spaces can be reimagined to provide thriving green spaces and ecosystem services for people, plants and planet. Imagine rooftops, carparks, balconies, courtyards, and concrete wastelands transformed into urban farms and social spaces with water-efficient and rapidly assembled food growing farms. Let’s redefine urban living, and transform grey to green, using clever design, scalable Australian designed and manufactured technologies with Foodcubes.

Benefits of urban farming

Discover the rewards of urban farming in our cities:

Reduced cost of living: Enjoy cost savings and better nutrition with fresh produce at your fingertips.

Improved quality of city living: Stay active while tending to your own urban oasis. Foster community bonds and friendships through shared farming experiences and shared food.

Reduced food miles: Minimise your environmental footprint with locally produced food.

Nutrient cycling: Use abundant organic resources – food and green waste – to feed power urban farms and sustainable gardening.

Urban cooling: Excess Urban Heat makes our cities unliveable. Evapotranspiration done naturally by plants is one solution to beat the heat.

Key features

Rapid retrofit: Our platform allows seamless retrofitting of existing rooftops without costly waterproof membranes, making urban farming accessible across the city.

Local circular economy: Designed and made in Australia from 80% recycled and UV-stabilised plastic for the Australian sun. Foodcubes showcase circular economy principles, utilising city resources for sustainable food production.

Modular Farms: Easily scalable solutions, allowing rooftops, carparks, balconies, and city spaces to be rapidly transformed into urban farms.

Water efficiency and rainwater harvesting: Wicking bed farms hold large reservoirs of water – over 100 litres of water per square meter can be harvested from rainwater (or town mains). They’re waterproofed, water efficient and evapotranspire in hot periods, creating a cooling effect.

Grow anything: Foodcubes have a deep soil profile allowing us to build large farms that can grow everything from root vegetables, leafy greens and fruit trees. They are advanced wicking beds made from 80% food grade recycled plastic and are UV-stabilised for long life.

People are already using Foodcubes of our social and environmental systems

Retrofit Green space: Although not yet open to the public, Melbourne Skyfarm exemplifies sustainable urban farming techniques including worm farming, composting, and Bardee superfly processed insect frasse, to fight food security and food waste, and promote access nutrition for vulnerable Melburnians. All produce harvested is donated to Ozharvest via a partnership with the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Discover exotic flavours and cultivate diversity

Imagine a garden where you can harvest fresh ingredients for classic curries or street food favorites, elevating your cooking with authentic flavors. Visit the Grow Together Garden at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, running from Wednesday 20 March through to Sunday 24 March 2024, and celebrate the traditional crops like okra and eggplant, promoting cultural diversity and inclusion in your garden.

Nourish Your Soul and tend to your Foodcube garden, connecting with the land and sharing homegrown treasures with loved ones. Experience vibrant Indian and Cambodian aromas with our Foodcube cultural farm by The Sustainable Landscape Company.

Savor authentic spices: Growing coriander, mint, and curry leaves for Indian dishes, and lemongrass, kaffir lime, and Thai basil for Cambodian delights, all thriving in the beautiful low maintenance Foodcube farm.

Get started today

Could your workplace or organisation benefit from a farm on a previously under-utilised courtyard, balcony or carpark?

Visit www.foodcube.com.au to bring Foodcubes to your space. For expert guidance on designing and constructing your urban farm, contact The Sustainable Landscape Company at www.theslc.com.au. We can also supply a skilled urban farmer who can help you understand all the tricks of composting and urban farming.

Join us in cultivating green cities, fostering community, and combating food waste. Foodcubes – where sustainability meets innovation!