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Have you ever judged a restaurant by the quality of the hand soap in the bathroom? No? Just me? I love a well thought out hospitality experience, and having my own Aesop products at home – be they the wash or a balm, delivers an elevated botanical experience at my fingertips. Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Balm (100ml), $53. If you like your perfume a little sweeter and more delicate, this softly fragranced combination of jasmine, tuberose and incense is understated and yet still warm and rich. BDK Tubéreuse Impériale (100ml), from Libertine Parfumerie, $369. If you love a lavender fragrance but want something more edgy, modern and bright, this new scent from Matiere Premiere is the perfect thing. Its almost sharp metallic edge will snap you out of your day…

Editor Megan Osborne Managing editor Sophie Al-Bassam Creative director Scott Cassidy Chief sub-editor Jo McKinnon Digital editor Tahni Mesann Design director Monique Larracy Senior designer Carol Tang Garden editor Jenny Dillon Senior food editor Sarah Murphy Stylist Nonci Nyoni Creative projects editor Geneva Vanderzeil Senior content producers Jade Coull, Rachel Iorfino, Livia Gamble Content producer Jada Susas Enquiries (02) 9282 8000 REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS In your garden Tony Fawcett Moon guide Milton Black Better pets Caroline Zambrano Better finance Andrea Black Better books & experiences Rachel Iorfino ADVERTISING Advertising enquiries (02) 9282 8000, advertising@aremedia.com.au TELEVISION Host Johanna Griggs Presenters: Pets Dr Harry Cooper Gardening Graham Ross, Melissa King DIY Adam Dovile Food Colin Fassnidge, Clarissa Feildel Landscaping Charlie Albone Decorating Juliet Love Executive producer Russell Palmer Series producer Rani Eaton Production…

For the bookworms Living in Tasmania, I love nothing more than curling up with a hot drink, my dog beside me, and a good book. One of the first sections I turn to when my copy of Better Homes and Gardens arrives is the book recommendations. This month I was delighted to discover I had already read three. It felt like receiving recommendations from a friend who knows my taste well. Your book page has become a trusted guide for finding my next read, too. – Anna Calm in the kitchen On weekends, cooking and baking has become my favourite way to switch off from a busy work week. Recently, I have enjoyed making several of Sarah Murphy’s recipes, including her Aussie cheese and bacon rolls and sausage rolls (May…

LUCIE FRANC DE FERRIERE Baker Lucie Franc de Ferriere is the founder and head baker of From Lucie, the cult New York City bakery known for its flower-adorned cakes (fans include Lorde and Harry Styles). You can try those A-list creations yourself with recipes from her cookbook on page 64. MELANIE CECILIA STAPLETON Florist and author Melanie Cecilia Stapleton is one of the globe’s most influential floral designers, crafting dreamscapes of nature with her botanical arrangements. Now based in Auckland, she and her fellow “flower folk” are forging new approaches to floristry. Read more on page 116. JANELLE BLOOM Food creator With a last name of Bloom, Janelle just had to be part of our BHG “flower issue”! This celebrated recipe queen put her petals to the metal, conjuring a…

PUFF PASTRY ROSES TWO WAYS Preparation time 40 mins Cooking time 30 mins Makes 12 1 quantity rough puff pastry (see recipe on page 16) Plain flour, for dusting APPLE AND RASPBERRY 1 Royal Gala apple Juice of 1/2 lemon 25g unsalted butter, melted 1 1/2 tablespoons raspberry jam Icing sugar, to dust ZUCCHINI AND BACON 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 large zucchini, halved lengthways, cut into 2mm slices 75g shortcut bacon (2 pieces), diced 1/3 cup grated mozzarella STEP 1 Make rough puff pastry. STEP 2 Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan-forced. Grease a 12-hole (1/3-cup capacity) muffin pan. STEP 3 Line two trays with baking paper. On a lightly floured bench, roll pastry out to a 25cm x 72cm rectangle about 3mm thick. Cut into 12 strips…

A simple scone mix is one of baking’s most useful building blocks, coming together quickly with just a few pantry staples. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can transform this clever dough into many different treats, from fruit-filled scrolls to cheesy savoury scones. Just remember, they’re always best eaten the day you’ve baked them! CLASSIC SCONES Preparation time 10 mins Cooking time 12 mins Makes 12 3 cups self-raising flour, plus extra to dust 100g unsalted butter, chilled, grated 1–1 1/4 cups milk, plus extra to brush Rose petal strawberry jam (see recipe on page 100) or store-bought jam Whipped cream, to serve STEP 1 Preheat oven to 220°C/200°C fan-forced. Dust a baking tray with extra flour. Sift flour into a large mixing bowl. Add butter. Use your fingertips to…

Broccoli is a staple in the winter vegie patch – one we’ve come to rely on for satisfying soups, stir-fries and casseroles in the cooler months. I’ve always had a soft spot for broccoli. When I was young, my mum called broccoli “little trees”, which captured my imagination and made it more appealing to eat. I still think of broccoli as a miniature forest on my plate. Growing broccoli is a lesson in patience because the plants can take 10–13 weeks to mature from seedlings. In the end, you may only harvest a single head, so if you’re eager to see results, look for early maturing types or sprouting varieties that can be harvested over weeks or even months. Three months is a long time for one vegetable to take…

W hether it’s edible blooms adding colour and flavour to a plate, or fresh seasonal produce taking centre stage, Matt Moran believes great cooking starts by celebrating what’s growing right now. Here, Matt shares his thoughts on cooking with flowers, making the most of what’s in season, and creating beautiful dishes at home. He also has two vibrant recipes for you to try, helped along with his My Perfect Stock range. Read on for his beetroot, lentil and goat’s cheese salad, and quinoa falafel with green hummus. BHG: You’ve grown produce at your own farm for years. Do flowers play any role in that garden, whether for the table or the kitchen? MM: Absolutely. Flowers are an important part of the garden. They attract bees and other pollinators, which help…

QI love florals, but how do I use them without making my home look old-fashioned? Florals are having a moment, but if you’ve tried introducing them into your home, you’ll realise it’s not as easy as Instagram makes it look. Part of the reason is practicality. If you’ve tried shopping for a floral sofa, bedhead or armchair, you’ll know there aren’t many options. Most of the truly beautiful floral furniture pieces are vintage finds or custom upholstered, meaning they’re often hard to source and pricey to create. The good news is you don’t need to commit to a floral sofa to make florals work in your home. The biggest mistake people make is thinking they need to go all in. A floral sofa, floral curtains, floral cushions and floral art…