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LOVE EVERLASTING The delightful swamp everlasting (Xerochrysum palustre) is holding its golden head high after being chosen as Melbourne’s floral emblem. Voters selected it from a shortlist of nine native plants, with the two runners-up – the chocolate lily (Arthropodium strictum) and common billy buttons (Craspedia variabilis) – also drawing strong support. More than 8500 Melburnians cast nearly 25,000 votes in the poll (each person had up to three votes). The creation of a floral emblem was intended to prompt reflection on the native plants that have grown here for millennia – a gentle reminder to care for Country and perhaps make space for a native species at home. Found in wetland areas across parts of Victoria, Tasmania and south-east NSW, the swamp everlasting is listed as critically endangered in Victoria…

Ideal for borders, hedges or container planting, ‘Fur Elise’ is a modern Floribunda rose that looks delightfully classic. It bears masses of cupped, deep magenta blooms and thrives even in tropical gardens. Bred by Germany’s Kordes Roses, ‘Fur Elise’ (‘For Elise’) was named after the famous Beethoven work. It grows to about 1m. treloarroses.com.au Looking to create some shade, privacy, or topiary magic? Growing to 6m high and 3m wide, Laurus nobilis ‘Miles Choice’ (above) has denser, tidier growth than the common bay tree. Its aromatic leaves are a vital ingredient in winter soups and stews, and its spring flowers are a bonus. For lovers of Australian native plants, Acmena smithii ‘Warners Emerald’ (inset) is a medium- to fast-growing psyllid-resistant lilly pilly that can reach 5m by 3m. It bears…

THE GARDEN ROOM: OUTDOOR SPACES REIMAGINED FOR CREATIVE LIVING Hannah Puechmarin, Thames & Hudson Australia Here’s a book to inspire dreams – and perhaps a backyard sanctuary or creative space of your own. Even the chapter headings are the stuff of dreams: The Ocean Studio, The Perfumer’s Refuge, The Banquet Hall… The ‘rooms’ range from purpose-built structures to a 1950s worker’s cottage converted into an art studio, a chicken coop reimagined as guest accommodation, and a dairy transformed into a glasshouse. While many of the buildings are workspaces, others are pure retreat, like the Escape Cabin of two busy Tasmanian restaurateurs, where mobile phones are banned. Hannah is a professional photographer and the images are superb. GREEN CITIES: HOW GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE HELPS HEAL THE PLANET Written by Sheila Boudreau, illustrated…

Nestled in the rolling hills of the New South Wales Southern Highlands, at Sutton Forest, is the wonderfully romantic garden at Red Cow Farm. Created by Ali Mentesh and Wayne Morrissey, the site overflows with fragrant roses, exquisite clematis and other horticultural treasures in every direction. When Ali and Wayne bought the property – which sits on the traditional lands of the Gundungurra and Dharawal peoples – in 1990, it was little more than a run-down cottage in an empty paddock. But the couple saw potential and, with 2.5ha of land, the site was large enough to entice them to leave Sydney and begin their dream of creating a cool-climate garden. While the cottage, built around 1820, needed plenty of work, their minds were firmly on planning a garden. Neither…

It was a wet spring in 2013 when we arrived at The Stones – a solid, 1850s farmhouse and outbuildings on 6.5ha of Dja Dja Wurrung country, just north of Daylesford, in central Victoria. We were looking to balance our hectic city lives running a small chain of vintage stores in Melbourne with some clean air and a ‘hands in the dirt’ approach to a quieter, simpler life. Grant and I spent an entire year househunting, but to no avail. Then we ended up buying the place we had desperately coveted at the start of our search. When we first spied the house from the road, it wasn’t for sale. I remember saying to Grant, “If only we could find something like that.” It was the perfect time-lost haven, sitting…

There are numerous rose breeders around the world that specialise in creating new roses for home gardeners. Year in, year out, they cross-pollinate roses and nurture thousands of seedlings to see if something special appears. The seedlings that show promise are then grown for several years to see how they perform longer-term. Only a tiny percentage make it through – but those that do are truly magnificent. It’s impossible to review them all (I wish I could!), but here are my standouts for 2026. THE LARK ASCENDING This graceful rose from Britain’s David Austin Roses bears clusters of delightful, soft apricot blooms. Each is semi-double, with an open-cup shape, loosely filled with petals, and exposed golden stamens that pollinators enjoy. Each flower releases a light tea/myrrh fragrance. The plant was…

Trees bring shade, beauty and life to a garden, and there are superb options suited to even the smallest spaces. You don’t need towering canopies – small trees can deliver structure, habitat and seasonal interest without overwhelming their surroundings. The spread of the tree should be the first consideration. A tall, slender tree can sit comfortably in a tight space, while a shorter but broad, spreading variety may quickly outgrow its welcome, slapping you in the face every time you pass by. As a tree’s potential size increases, so too does the risk of long-term regret – which is why small trees are such valuable additions. They offer the benefits of regular-sized trees while remaining manageable, adaptable and far easier to live with over time. Careful selection is still essential.…

Actor and filmmaker Rachel Ward didn’t set out to become a regenerative farmer. In 1983 she moved to Australia and married fellow actor Bryan Brown, and three years later the couple bought a cattle farm with sweeping views and a charming weatherboard house, surrounded by rolling hills and eucalyptus forests on the NSW Mid-North Coast, on Gumbaynggirr Country. Over time, Rachel turned the surrounds into a loose, abundant garden with a relaxed feel. A park-like lawn stretches out beneath shady trees and palms: geese graze on the grass while the rambling garden overflows with hydrangeas and bougainvillea. She loves the visual contrast between the tropical-style plants and the surrounding bush. The house overlooks a dam alive with waterbirds while, beyond it, cattle move slowly across the paddocks. Grazing nearby are…

Every Saturday, locals flock to the bustling farmers’ market in Bilpin, NSW, to stock up on goodies. In among the stalls of fresh produce, jams and preserves, and hand-knitted beanies, James Hood sells bromeliads, succulents, dahlias, chrysanthemums, silky oaks and more – all grown, propagated and potted at his family farm. The most impressive part? James is just 13 years old. “It’s such a blessing to see James getting so much joy out of what he loves,” says his proud mum, Ferne. “The market locals have really taken him under their wing; he seems to know everyone!” It’s safe to say that gardening is in James’ blood. His dad, Iain, is a horticulturist and grandparents Wendy and Michael, Iain's parents, are both passionate growers. Ferne, originally from Ireland, comes from…