Gardening Australia magazine subscription

HOPE BLOOMS ETERNAL Walk through a garden of richly textured layers and mellow autumn tones when Garden of Hope (pictured) at Templestowe, in outer Melbourne, opens its gates for Open Gardens Victoria on Sunday, April 19. Created by garden designer and former medical oncologist Dr Jacquie Chirgwin, the garden features colour and movement, with salvias, penstemons, agastaches and ornamental grasses swaying under majestic eucalypts. For more, visit opengardensvictoria.org.au ART REFLECTING LIFE Works by some of Australia’s best botanical artists will be on display at the ‘Artanica’ exhibition at the Mount Macedon Horticultural Society Hall, Victoria, from March 21–April 6. Captured in intricate detail and in a range of media, a rich diversity of plants will be represented, including Magnolia x soulangeana (above, left) by Amanda Ahmed and Acacia melanoxylon by Craig…

Here’s a lovely addition to a sunny spot. Salvia ‘Glimmer’ produces masses of pink-tinged milky-white flowers on deep-purple stems that really ‘pop’ against the vibrant green leaves. This Australian-bred salvia from the ‘Heatwave’ series grows to 70cm high, with a spread of about 1m, and its dense, compact habit means it looks just as good in a pot as it does in a wildflower or cottage garden. Once established, it needs little attention other than an occasional prune to encourage repeat flowering. Best of all, it’s a total pollinator magnet. pga.com.au Recently named as Shrub of the Year for 2026 by Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria, Magical Lemon Lime nandina (N. domestica ‘LemLim’) will add zesty brilliance to the garden all year round. This compact plant (90cm x 90cm) handles…

FLOWER POWER: DESIGNING GARDENS FOR YEAR-ROUND WONDER Jac Semmler, Thames & Hudson Australia In her two previous books, Jac Semmler celebrated the wonder of flowering plants. In this book, she takes the next step, explaining how to use those plants to create a plant-led garden rich in texture, pattern and colour. This includes the basics of garden design, plant and soil types, and ways to care and curate your patch. While the amount of information may feel overwhelming, Semmler invites readers to dip in and out according to their interests, ambition or level of ability. Ultimately, she wants readers to ‘own’ their design, growing a garden that reflects their personality. “My dream is that together we can create a great diversity of gardens,” she says. There are also tips on…

INNS FOR INSECTS As days shorten and temperatures cool, many insects search for sheltered places to overwinter. Providing habitat is simple but so effective: cluster small piles of pruned branches, rocks, mulch or broken ceramic pots beneath shrubs in quiet corners of the garden. You can even get creative and build something more elaborate, such as the structure on the right. Whether modest or decorative, these refuges offer protection from cold and predators, supporting beneficial insects that return in spring to pollinate, recycle nutrients and keep ecosystems functioning. FLY-BY-NIGHTERS Every autumn, bogong moths (below) travel up to 1000km from the Australian Alps to breeding grounds in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. This endangered species is a vital food source for the threatened mountain pygmy-possum, as well as birds,…

Tall, twisted gum trees and a native verge set the tone at this Fairfield home on Wurundjeri Country in inner Melbourne. Here, Eloise Pirie and Nick Carter have created a grasslands-inspired garden that feels both intentional and gently wild – a place where their family of five can reconnect, linger and relax. The couple, who live here with their children Sunday, Abby and Louis, bought the 490m² property 23 years ago and renovated the timber home, which runs lengthways along the east-west-oriented rectangular block. “There wasn’t much garden – it was pretty barren,” Nick says. Nick, an engineer, immediately began planting native species in the front yard, including snow gums (Eucalyptus pauciflora), which have matured into characterful trees that provide shade and a lovely entranceway into the home. There was…

Emmaline reimagines the Australian garden Q How would you define the contemporary Australian garden? A contemporary Australian garden often takes on a ‘loose’ feel – wild and full of movement. There’s a departure from boxy, uniform planting towards something more expressive and alive. Colour and diversity are key: a modern design may include 40 or more species, creating richness and resilience. Q Do you believe that Australian garden design is changing? There’s definitely a shift towards more environmentally focused gardens and a greater use of Australian plants – with people feeling increasingly confident about using them. Q What are the key elements of this aesthetic? Materials play an important role. Stone – particularly basalt – is a favourite for its usability, timelessness and habitat value. Its thermal qualities benefit nearby…

It would be hard to find a better spot to revel in the vibrant colours of autumn, or to breathe in the rich scents of the season, than at Nooroo, a large garden at Mount Wilson in the rugged New South Wales Blue Mountains, on the traditional lands of the Dharug and Gundungurra peoples. During the blue-sky days that often feature in autumn at Mount Wilson, garden owners Tony and Lorraine Barrett find themselves constantly raking leaves from mossy stone paths and admiring the fiery tones of the deciduous trees that are at their peak in late April. While the vivid leaves are beautiful, they are also an important part of the gardening year, as they provide mulch to nourish the garden, says Lorraine, a practical and knowledgeable gardener. Many…

The illyarrie (Eucalyptus erythrocorys) is a Western Australian native tree with a spectacular floral display. This adaptable small to medium tree is drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, and provides valuable habitat, bringing both wildlife and movement into the garden. The standout feature is the contrast between the textured scarlet caps of the flower buds and the fluffy, golden-yellow blooms that appear from under them. The flowers are followed by large, angular fruit, with branches drooping gracefully under the weight of the nuts to create an open canopy and a weeping habit. Smooth, creamy bark provides a soft counterpoint to the mid-green, sickle-shaped leaves. Native to areas north of Perth, illyarrie thrives in alkaline, limestone-based sandy soils. Tubestock (seedling) plants from native nurseries establish quickly and are best planted in autumn to take…

Many gardeners will be familiar with the fairy fan-flower (Scaevola aemula), with its gorgeous fan-shaped flowers, spilling happily from baskets, garden edges and containers. But this native is just one member of a large and versatile genus (Scaevola spp.) that’s worth getting to know. Fan-flowers are perennial, prostrate herbs and small shrubs that add vibrant colour wherever they grow – from pots and hanging baskets to retaining walls and garden beds. There are more than 100 species growing naturally in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions across the world – although the vast majority are in Australia. Countless cultivars are also available. Most feature bright green foliage and long-lasting blooms that provide nectar for bees and other insects, and birds. Hardy is a word that fits scaevola well. These plants tolerate…