{the hort couture gardener}

{I've fallen in love again!}

2012-01-20T13:12:00.000+11:00

How could I ever think I didn't want to do this (floristry)? 4:30am wake up call and all - these beautiful babies are more than worth it!

Being the anal perfectionist (& stress head) that I am I wanted to do a trial run of a wedding I've been asked to do. This is what I'm thinking - Flushed pink and antique pink roses, David Austen roses (aptly named 'Honeymoon'!), Bouvardia and Pieris. Simple, feminine, pretty, austere and gracious. Their fragrance is so divine the bride won't need to wear perfume!

Have I mentioned 'I LOVE FLOWERS!!'? Yay!

{sending a message with flowers}

2012-01-19T13:27:00.002+11:00


Duchess of Cambridge's (Kate Middleton) wedding boquet conveyed special meaning (c) Guardian.com.uk

Too ashamed to say the words, "I'm sorry", too shy and bashful to utter those three little words, "I love you" or just let a friend know how dear and special their friendship is to you. When words aren't enough or your lips simply can't speak the words flowers can convey the special message for you.

A close friend recently lent me a book she had finished reading, telling me that all the time thinking of me whilst reading it. This I had to question as the lead character was a bit of a nut case and I feared there was something she was trying to subtly tell me... as it turns out I had nothing to fear, it was simply the case that the character was a florist and was visiting the flower markets at the wee hours of the morning... The book was titled, 'The language of flowers', by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (more here) and whilst it wasn't one of those amazing reads that you simply cannot put down for love nor money or turn the light off to sleep, it did come into my life at a very poignant moment and left me with a clear message. It's funny how things find you when you need them, just as Sarah Wilson puts it in her post today, "what's for you won't pass you by".

With a few changes happening around here of late I was assessing my desire and ability to re-enrol for my second semester of my floristry course. Already feeling fatigued with morning sickness and all that comes with being pregnant, the idea of having to get up again at with the sparrows to get to the flower markets was not appealing to me. Also, to be completely honest I didn't 100% love my first semester of class - this is just me being me and wanting to run before I walk, or even crawl! I found a lot of the theory information to be common sense, yet we had mountains of homework and assisgnments to complete, and the arrangements we covered in our practical classes were just simply not 'me'! When I've mentioned to family and friends my hesitation in going back they're very to the point! "NO - you're going back, you just have to get over the boring bits and the good stuff will come", or something to that effect most of the time... They're right too, I need to buck up and get over myself.
So this is where reading 'The language of flowers' comes in. Amidst the storyline the lead character arranges flowers not according to how they go together harmoniously colourwise or how the client stipulates, she creates arrangements of flowers according to the very old Victorian language of flowers which was used mianly to convey romantic expressions, for example honeysuckle means devotion; aster implies patience and the most famous of all red roses for love - of course! Through these special flower arrangements messages can be conveyed in a way which words could not.

It was as if an arrow was shot through my heart when I realised this is what flowers mean to me. I've always said my plants and flowers 'speak to me' - people just think I'm crazy (and maybe there is a bit of truth in that too) but I feel they have a greater purpose and power than just their beauty alone. I've written an earlier post on a sweet little book I found on a second-hand book table that a dear husband had written for his wife many many moons ago.

So as I take on another six months of class, endeavouring to get my skills up to the mark where my aspriations lie I bring with me a new found sense of meaning to my arrangements.

PS. The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding bouquet was a selection of flowers chosen for their special meanings:
Lily of the Valley -- Return of happiness
White Hyacinth -- Constancy of love
Ivy -- Fidelity, marriage, wedded love, affection
Myrtle -- Emblem of marriage, fidelity and everlasting love
Sweet William -- gallantry

{a little project of my own...}

2011-12-08T09:37:00.001+11:00

I feel very guilty for abandoning my blog and not keeping up with my 'Alphabet of favourite flowers' but I have a good excuse - promise! (or at least I think it is...)

I wish I could say I've been super busy outdoors creating and tending to beautiful gardens, sadly though this couldn't be further from the truth... I've been making very good acquaintance with the couch, cooking DVDs, re-reading old magazines from front to back and back to front again and speed reading books like never before.

I have been busy working on another project though, a little something called a baby!... All very exciting apart from the morning sickness which kicked in much much much too early for my liking. So whilst this little garden guru to be has been busy growing away I've been doing very little in the way of tending to my garden over summer - something I'm a little ashamed of as the front garden is quite on show. When I first started working on it, especially when the vegie patches went in, we would get a number of passers-by stopping to chat and comment on how it was coming along - and it was looking really good... Sadly, even the thought of getting outside and working in it made me feel ill. As the weeks progress though I'm able to do a little more, instead of it being all-day sickness it is now confining itself to the afternoons so I can do a little in the morning before turning in for the afternoon nanna nap I've become so accustomed to.

So a new era in the {hort couture} story is about to begin. What exactly it will entail is still a little uncertain at this stage, whatever it is though there will still be gardens and definitely flowers!

{'D' is for...}

2011-12-06T08:45:00.001+11:00

D is for the deliciously fragrant Daphne odora.

This darling does tend to break my heart though. One minute she is looking gorgeous the next she has dropped dead for reasons otherwise unknown.Her heavenly fragrance more than makes up for what can be a short-lived love affair though.

Again my fascination with Daphne probably has much to do with the fact my Mother had it as her wedding bouquet. A sweetly simple posy of the softly pink and white flower heads. With these as your wedding flowers there is no need to wear perfume.

You can enjoy these beautiful flowers from mid-winter to late spring.

One of the biggest issues which may lead to problems is over-watering. Daphne plants detest wet feet and will turn their noses up toot-sweet to let you know - their leaves will droop, appear limp, and feel dry and leathery. It is best to water then allow to dry out - the ol' finger test is perfect: stick your finger in the soil if it comes out dirty = don't water, if it comes out clean = give a little water! Ensure the planting position is well drained, build the site up if necessary and add plenty of organic matter to clay soils to help break up the clods of soil which can lead to water-logging. They like an easterly position where they will receive morning sun but are protected from the hot afternoon sun. Apply mulch to keep the roots cool.

Water stress can also lead to pest infestation such as scale. These little critters seem to have a radar that senses whenever a plant is under stress. Squash them with your fingers or suffocate with an environmentally friendly white/pest oil solution such as Eco Oil.

A very exciting newish release on the market is the Daphne Eternal Fragrance. This variety is said to be bred to be a much more hardy plant which is frost and heat tolerant. It will grow in full-sun to semi-shade and will become drought tolerant once established. It blooms from spring to autumn, spot flowering throughout the year. I'm definitely going to give this a shot in my garden as a low-growing hedge in place of buxus. Hopefully it won't go breaking my heart!

The Daphne genus is said to be named after a nymph in Greek mythology. The story goes that Daphne was very beautiful and was often pursued by many suitors who would fall in love with her because of her beauty. However, Daphne was uninterested in love and would choose instead to hunt in the woods. One such suitor was Apollo, the sun god. Upon being chased she prayed to her father - Peneus, a river God, to save her. Apparently his tactic was to change her into a Bay Tree! - Daphne being Greek for Laurel.

{'C' is for...}

2011-12-06T08:03:00.001+11:00

C is for the charming ‘Cécile Brünner’ Rose. From its most perfect form as a shell-pink tight bud, through to its full frilly-fancy party dress form I absolutely adore this rose. I think a lot has to do with childhood memories for me as my Mum had the most amazing plant that flowered prolifically despite drought and being pruned extensively by cows hanging their heads over the back fence!

The fragrance from this tiny little bud is exquisite - soft, dainty and delicate, it is by far my most treasured of roses in the garden.

Unfortunately it does tend to suffer from aphids when its soft new young growth flushes in the spring, and black spot can be a problem - despite this it is still a strong and vigorous rose. It can either be grown as a bush or a climbing rose. The climbing variety is a perfect choice over an arbour, along a fence or around cottage windows. It is a perfect picking rose making sweet posies.

Its namesake is a lady called Cécile who first introduced the rose in France in 1881.

This is certainly a must have in any garden, especially English inspired or cottage gardens. I have a spot earmarked for one (or two) in my garden!

{'B' is for...}

2011-11-29T09:33:00.000+11:00

B is for brilliantly blue Bluebell.

Hyacinthoides non-scripta, otherwise known by its common name of English Bluebell, and Hyacinthoides hispanica - Spanish Bluebell, are spring flowering perennial bulbs. To gain the full beauty of these plants they are best planted en mass where their bell shaped flowers carpet the ground in shades of jacaranda-lavender blue.

They are both hardy, can tolerate root competition (perfect under trees!) and cope with summer dryness when they are dormant. The Spanish Bluebell is somewhat more hardy with more robust flowers but lack fragrance.

Plant bulbs 6cm deep, 5-10cm apart, in Autumn in shady to semi-shaded areas. They grow perfectly under deciduous/semi-deciduous trees where they can brighten up the darker areas of the garden. Start watering when growth appears and keep soil slightly moist until foliage dies off after flowering. It is ideal to keep bulbs relatively dry whilst dormant.

In Europe, fields of bluebells can be admired amongst woodland settings. I loved watching the movie "Bright Star" (said to be about the love story between the romantic poet Keats and Fanny Brawne) just for the seen where Fanny (played by Australian actress, Abbie Cornish) sits surrounded by bluebells.

According to the language of flowers, the meaning of Bluebell is 'Constancy'. I guess when everything else in your garden is changing you can always rely on the Bluebells to show their pretty faces each spring without fail. Bless!

{'A' is for...}

2011-11-24T14:25:00.001+11:00

A is for the very adorable Anemone - in any shape and form they come in! Delicate and elegant, serene and oh so pretty!

Anemones are members of the buttercup family. In spring the cute as a button Poppy Anemone (A. coronaria) bloom their pretty little faces off and make the sweetest cut flower used in pretty posy arrangements. While the autumn garden can be brought to life with massed plantings of Anemone x hybrida (Japanese Windflower).

The name ‘Anemone’ comes from the Greek word for wind. It is said that the goddess Flora was jealous of her husband's attentions towards the nymph Anemone and so transformed her into the wind flower and left her at the mercy of the North Wind. Kind of a sad story for such a pretty flower...

{the alphabet in flowers}

2011-11-24T14:14:00.000+11:00

I often get asked what my favourite flowers or plants are. For me this is like asking a Mother if she has a favourite child! I don't do favourites as such, I love all plants and flowers (with or without their roots!), and believe even the 'ugly' ones are 'interesting' and just misunderstood.

But the question has got me thinking if I had to offer a name for each letter of the alphabet what would I choose? I came up with the following list:

A = Anemone
B = Bluebells
C = Cecile Brunner Rose
D = Daphne
E = Early Cheers
F = Forget-me-nots
G = Gardenia
H = Hellebores
I = Iris
J = Jonquils
K = Kangaroo Paw
L = Lavender
M = Magnolia
N = Nepeta (Catnip/Catmint)
O = Orchids
P = Peony Roses
Q = Queen Anne's Lace
R = Ranunculus
S = Snowdrops or Sweet Peas - can't decide ???
T = Tulips
U = Ulmus parvifolia (Chinese Elm)
V = Violets
W = Wisteria
X = Xanthorrhoea (Grass Tree)
Y = Yellow - anything yellow!!
Z = Zephranthes candida (Storm Crocus)

So, over the next few posts (yes I will commit to this) I will share tid-bits about each and why I love them so!

{vertical flowers}

2011-10-31T15:31:00.000+11:00

What better way to spend a Saturday than to play with flowers (free flowers at that!)? It was the annual Flower Grower's Ball on the weekend and as such the Sydney Town Hall was decked out from top to toe in flowers, of course!

We were fortunate enough to be working under the guidance of the very talented Head Florist for the Merivale Group, Genevieve. She creates amazing displays for the Merivale group of establishments including the likes of Hemmesphere, Ivy and The Beresford. I've admired her from afar as she collects all her goodies at the markets, and was thrilled to see her in action putting it all together.

The 'Before' shot

Jen being cheeky! The 'In progress' shot

Each individual flower stem was wired, tied to a 3m length of fishing line and then attached the netting, with the end effect of them to hang from the ceiling in a very 'wonderland' kind of way.

All strewn out: a carpet of flowers!

Up she goes!

Sadly I couldn't stay right to the end to see it all come together, but we (I went with a good friend from College) were determined to see the netting display be lifted up in all its glory!With dramatic lighting it would have looked amazing and of course with a better photographer the photos may just do it justice!

So then it was onto the table decorations, which were to be "punchy" as Genevieve described them! Apparently colour blocking is in this season - even with flowers!!

I loved watching Genevieve in motion, especially when she put these amazing table centerpieces together using only the flower stems themselves as support structure - no oasis! Which I love as this stuff is completely toxic and I swear against it (but it does make a florists job much easier...). She kept telling us the importance of "building trust with your flowers", I love this!

It was a long day, tiring but hey there were flowers galore to play with so it was a bit of a dream playground for me! I hope everyone at the ball had as much fun admiring them as we did putting them together!

Photos: {hort couture}

{the 'Sow's ear to silk purse' garage project}

2011-10-28T12:17:00.002+11:00

I spent a whole day during the week cleaning and organising my shed/garage into a more usable and workable space. Years of collected dust and spiderwebs made it a less than appealing space to want to work in let alone feel creative in. I have high hopes though for my little fibro shed after evicting the spiders that had taken to squatting in it and filling the dustbin with enough dust to make the Sahara jealous.

I have great intentions of turning my 'Ugly Duckling Shed' into something a little more pretty and inviting, but have you ever heard the saying, "You can't make a silk purse out of a Sow's ear"? Something makes me think I might be over estimating my abilities with this little project. I'll be doing well if I can just keep it tidy for more than a day, especially after coming home from a job with another boot full of plastic pots I refuse to throw away to landfill...

I'm a little bit too embarrassed to show the 'Before' images just yet so will just share what I would like it to look like 'After'!

Organised and lovely potting area

via: Simply Fabulous Garage

Loving the red floor and timber work bench!

Via: California Closets

Love the stable door! One of these has been on my wish list for ages. And always a fan of the Butler's sink!

Image: Dana Gallagher for Country Living

Loving the organisation, the tools and those YeLLoW!! gumboots!!

Image: Dana Gallagher for Country Living

Perhaps a little more within my budget and capabilities

Image: Andrew McCaul for Good Housekeeping

Swoon worthy florist area!

Via: Sweetpea's, Toronto

With an exterior like this who wouldn't want to go inside?

via: Tiny House Design

So that's my little wish/dream list, I'll keep you posted on my progress!

{out in my garden}

2011-10-24T13:12:00.001+11:00

When my spirits get a little low I resort to my garden and find solace in the little universe that exists within it. I love that I'm finally beginning to make it mine after two years. Unlike designing a client's garden with very clear and defined objectives set out in a plan I'm taking a more organic approach. I know how I want it to look and feel but I'm allowing the process to occur freely and without restriction.

What I started with...

Vegie patches in - pardon the sugar cane straw everywhere
my little four legged assistant loves it!

Our front yard has gone from a patch of lawn to the beginning of what will be a mixture of productive and ornamental gardens filled with an assortment of edible plants and flowers, as well as those which attract the birds and bees, and ones whose flowers I can pick for the house.

A small patch of lawn will remain with an arc of lawn surrounding it. There will be little delineation between what is ornamental and what is productive. I've just placed an order for a Punica granatum 'Wonderful' (Pomegranate) and my Malus ioensis Bechtel Crabapple is about to come into bud - will be definitely taking photos when that happens! Pebble paths will soon be constructed between the beds with creeping herbs to spill over the paths. I'm also on a mad search for a bird bath like these, but a little more in my price range perhaps!

My inspiration comes from this garden. I have long admired this beautiful garden designed by Hendrik Van Leeuwen (it's actually his own personal garden). Early days yet for me, but stay tuned!

Neighbour's bamboo encroaching on our
garden is put to good use as stakes!

A fresh crop of swiss chard

We've been harvesting bag fulls of lettuce and baby spinach for weeks and passing it on to anyone who steps foot in the gate. And the Bok Choy went a bit ballistic but I adored the yellow flowers so much, as did the hover-flies and bees!

My busy little hover-flies and bees hard at work!

The peas have been super sweet and crunchy, I love just walking past and snapping off a few for a quick snack whilst working out in the yard.

The broccoli has been delicious, tender and tasty. We're hoping we'll get further crops, small little shoots are appearing beneath the harvest point, fingers crossed!

I'm a big fan of beneficial insects in my garden - they are welcome anytime! I was delighted to see the little ladybird in the below photo taking good care of my Pansies! And if you look closely enough to you can see all the pollen collected by the busy bee amongst the lavender!

Today is our first really hot Spring day - 32 degrees as I type this... I hope it can all hang on over the hot summer months to come. I'm not a fan of summer with its scorching hot days and dry westerly winds. I've primed myself however with new hoses and a mountain of mulch - wish me luck!

Photos: {hort couture}

{hort couture v. haute couture: floriography}

2011-10-19T16:20:00.000+11:00

"Like no other deparment store..."

I can't believe I've been sitting on this post all this time and haven't posted it. It is much to special not to share!

The first week of spring brings with it the most gorgeous event to hit shop windows in Sydney (well apart from the adorable Christmas decorations - that probably aren't too far away). For two weeks in September David Jones brings their ground floor Ladies department store and windows to life with the most amazing floral displays - very hort couture!!

This year's theme was: Floriography ~ the language of flowers. Which reminds me of this earlier post. I love that flowers have meaning beyond their visual appeal, that you can express feelings and words through something so beautifully tangible.

For anyone visiting the city during this time they must think we have the most glamorous place to shop!

Yellow you are the loveliest!

Perfection!

This year's display was particularly special I thought as it was a riot of yellow and golden hues. I simply couldn't resist being snap happy - so be warned there are more than a few photos!

Window 1: YeLLoW!! Simple & stunning: singapore orchids (my favourite window - who would've guessed?!)

Window 2: A little less yellow, but still beautiful! roses and baby's tears in glass cloches

Window 3: Soft & pretty: orchids, baby's tears, carnations, arum lilies (& my gorgeous friend in silouhette!)

Window 4: Spring!! A rainbow of colour: roses, stock, tulips, daffodils, ranunculus, anemones carnations and singapore orchids

Window 5: A little bit dark, a little bit moody and spooky: everlasting daisy, burnt banksia seed pods and white cymbidium orchids.

Window 6: On the dry and prickly: banksia, orchids, agaves, cacti, succulents (assorted) and aeonium

I highly recommend you put it in your calendar to see it for yourself next year (if you didn't get to see it this year)!

Photos: {hort couture}

{Styling it up for Sumo Salad - Part II}

2011-10-14T09:28:00.000+11:00

So after potting up more than just a few Sumo Salad pails with assorted lettuce and swiss chard, {hort couture} was engaged to style a sit-down lunch for Sumo Salad's summer menu media launch!

The event was held in the Rose Garden Pavilion set within the grounds of Sydney's beautiful Botanic Gardens. Really this location could have had nothing done to it and it would still have been stunning. The roses are just coming into bloom and the spring flower bed displays were a riot of colour and activity with bees and butterflies buzzing around just as busily as I was!

Being the 'Healthiest Fast Food Franchise' the brief from the client was to keep within the theme of fresh and healthy. So of course this called for the use of beautiful fresh produce such as the gorgeous ruby red stems of rhubarb, scarlet skinned pomegranates with their luscious juicy-pop seeds, fire-engine red truss tomatoes, and the architectural form of artichokes.

The setting was to be clean and crisp with a touch of picnic. I was also very keen to incorporate the branding colours of Sumo Salad - green and orange - so I used a vast array of striking green foliage, bright green Granny Smith apples and limes, along with adorable Dutch Carrots and mini pumpkins.

This was such fun day and the food was amazing (yes, even the hired help got to taste test the new menu! Yum!). Although a little stressed about the inclement weather leading up to, and in the morning, we were blessed by the Weather Gods with the sun shining down on us providing us with the most amazing afternoon.

.. The End

Photos: {hort couture} & Belinda Roland Photography

{Styling it up for Sumo Salad - Part I}

2011-10-12T15:46:00.000+11:00

Super excited to be working with Sumo Salad on their Summer Menu Media Campaign!

Potted up Sumo Salad pails - you couldn't get a more fresh salad!

The campaign started out with invitations attached to salad pails planted out with an assortment of lettuce and swiss chard.

'The Healthiest Fast Food Franchise' goes green!

Loving the form, texture and colours

Never was planting lettuce seedlings so difficult as in these little salad pails - no dirty finger prints!! and of course there were definitely test runs completed to ensure no leakage occurred. I had nightmares the night before delivery of waking to find a pile of cardboard slush and mud. But of course my little Garden Guardian Angel was looking after me and they all looked perfect!

Lots of lettuce!!

Then the tricky bit of transporting this precious cargo - I'm definitely investing in a 'Baby on Board' car sticker and replacing 'Baby' with 'PLANTS'. Cornering was definitely taken very slowly as were speed humps - apologies if you were travelling behind me!

With stage one of the campaign completed the next exciting phase began - styling the luncheon for the invited guests! ... to be continued!

Photos: {hort couture}

{can a business have multiple personality disorder? I think mine does...}

2011-10-10T18:17:00.000+11:00

Me when I'm at my happiest - surrounded by plants
(this just happens to be heaven - Royal Botanic Gardens Hobart

I have been a bit absent of late - apologies for that. Work has had me crazy busy over the last few weeks (insert Facebook 'Like' button here!) However, it has kept me from updating my blog about the exciting projectS I've been working on. When I say projectS I emphasise the S on the end as I've been busy in the kitchen baking more than one kind of pie lately (sadly for my husband this is an analogy only...)!

So what has kept me so busy? Well apart from the usual of getting dirty in the garden (mine and my wonderful client's) I've been busy prototyping a few products I'm going to ~~hopefully~~ get off to market in the coming weeks and working on a very exciting campaign for a food retail client.

I've loved the eclectic nature of my work over the last few weeks so much so that I think that's what I want to be doing, however it has left me a bit perplexed when asked that age old question last week, "So what do you do?" My usual response would be, "I'm a Horticulturist" but now I find myself not wanting to respond only with this title. I feel I want to be, and am, more than just a Horticulturist.

I'm not your typical Horticulturist, Garden Designer or Florist. I've never wanted to be a 'typical' anything. Being pigeon-holed into one particular career is what I've been working against my whole working life. When boxed into one title only I feel like a bird with its wings clipped, all my creative freedom has been robbed from me and I feel stifled.

I find myself at a very exciting point in my life and career. I'm submersing myself into a number of things I love to do (just what life should be). Talking about plants, gardens and flowers is my mother-tongue, it's as if I was born speaking this language. But, typical of me I don't want to just be called a "Horticulturist" or a "Florist", I don't like titles. I find them restrictive and I don't want to be recognised by another name other than my own.

So for now I'm just me doing what I love - talking and working with flowers, plants and gardens in all their guises. I'll just have to work out how best to answer the question, "so what do you do" as best as I can in under 10 minutes.

PS. I'm also working on updating my website to include all the "pies" I'm working on. Bear with me as technology is definitely not my second language!

{getting creative with cos!}

2011-09-26T09:36:00.000+10:00

I've been a bit absent of late - blame it on lettuce! Yep lettuce, and assorted salad leaves, of all kinds and persuasions: cos, butter, iceberg (really doesn't deserve it's bad reputation!), radicchio, rocket etc etc...

I'm super excited about a little project I'm working on with a prominent healthy 'fast-food' retailer at the moment. I'm getting all creative with using salad leaves in other ways than drowning them in dressing. I'll be able to reveal more in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Image: via the kitchn

{flowers & the city - a New York sidewalk}

2011-09-07T08:14:00.000+10:00

If only all city sidewalks were this pretty... If there were gardens like these dotted about I really do believe people working in the city would be a lot happier. I remember too well how bland, dreary and grey the city looked while wandering about on my lunch break, and how happy I would be when I'd stumble across a florist stand or a burst of colour like this time.

I'm off into the CBD today for a client visit (very exciting - a balcony garden in the middle of Darlinghurst!) and to take a look at the beautiful window displays of David Jones' annual Spring Flower Show - photos tomorrow I promise!

Image: Tony Bielaczyc @ Martha Stewart

{S P R I N G!!!}

2011-09-02T09:16:00.000+10:00

Ooops I'm a day late...

I was out enjoying the glorious first day of Spring!

Images: {hort couture}

{good ol' fashioned school excursion}

2011-08-31T17:45:00.000+10:00

My floristry class piled onto the TAFE school bus yesterday to experience the amazing Flora International flower farm in south-western Sydney. This place was incredible - a rose farm on steroids!

Flora are the largest Phalaenopsis Orchid and hydroponic Rose growers in NSW, along with also growing a large expanse of Oriental Lilies.

The sheer size of the space is quite overwhelming. When the doors of the first glasshouse were opened up for us to step inside there was a collective breath-stopping moment where all our jaws fell to the ground taking in the amazing scene before us. This one glasshouse alone measures 4,000 sq/m. In total there are 35,000 sq/m of plants grown under glasshouse conditions.

Not only is it massive, but it is a finely tuned machine. Every minute detail is measured and calculated by the computer system which collects data relating to light intensity, temperature, humidity, nutrient levels, water uptake and so on to ensure the optimal growing condition for the plants at all times.

Window louvres and curtains are all
operated via computer - all 35,000 sq/m!

I was really impressed by the measures put in place to try and be as environmentally conscious as possible. Whilst spraying is still used as the final resort in treating any pests or diseases, other more natural measures are also used, for example 'good bugs' are released to eat the 'bad bugs', bug attracting traps and sticky mats are erected around the glasshouses and most importantly good hygiene is adhered to with a staff member conducting weekly checks on the plants - recording health of plants, and numbers of pests present to ensure preventative methods are effective.

Not just a big blue rubber band. Thrips are attracted to blue = bye bye bad bugs!!

There are no holidays - harvesting occurs every day of the year (twice a day in summer!), except New Years Day (we'll allow them that!) with of course the lead up to St. Valentine's Day being their busiest time of year. I can now fully appreciate the cost of red roses on V'Day and will never again question the price increase - trust me on this, these farmers deserve every penny they earn from those ruby red buds!

The well-oiled smooth machine continues in the bunching shed where the lovely ladies delicately handle the perfect buds to sort and wrap ready for market. Strict quality control ensures no buds are too open, too tightly closed or stems are bent.

Just when I thought I couldn't be more surprised or delighted we were ushered into Phalaenopsis Orchid heaven... this is certainly an experience the camera cannot express...

Too beautiful for words!

As if it was hand-painted

I came away from the experience so much more appreciative of the effort that goes into producing such beautiful flowers. These guys and girls work incredibly hard under less than ideal conditions at times (can you imagine the heat under that glass in summer?!) all the while trying to compete with the imported cut flowers flooding the market.

On that note, I would strongly encourage buying locally grown cut flowers where possible. All flowers imported into Australia undergo strict quarantine regulations which stipulate they must be gassed with methyl bromide to protect against the introduction of pest and diseases and treated with Roundup to counteract illegal propagation. Not only are these extremely nasty for our own health and that of the environment - they also greatly reduce the health and quality of the cut flower reducing vase life significantly in comparison to the locally grown produce.I would like to encourage you when next purchasing a bunch of roses, Oriental lillies or a Phalaenopsis Orchid to ask the seller if it is locally grown - support an Australian owned and operated company right here on our doorstep in Sydney.

Flora are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm for retail trade, alternatively you can purchase stock at Flemington Flower Markets. Guided tours of the farm take 1-2 hours and are a must for any flower lover.

For more information visit Flora International's website here

All images: {hort couture}

{haute couture v. hort couture : gardening gloves}

2011-08-29T15:55:00.002+10:00

I'm not sure about you but I spend a pretty penny on gardening gloves. Not because I buy expensive designer gloves either. I buy the practical ones - standard issue rubber grip and knitted back. They do the job - just not for long.... I tend to go through at least a pair per month or so.

I adore these Ethel gloves - they are the haute couture of gardening gloves! I like the fact they are made specifically to fit a woman's hands, so there's no extra fabric that makes them cumbersome and difficult to do fine weeding or planting out seedlings.

There are so many gorgeous prints and a rainbow of colours to choose from - you could have a pair for each day of the week!

These leather ones may not be as pretty but I think they'll be super practical for work.

Do you have a favourite glove?

Images: via Ethel Gloves

{haute couture v. hort couture : bloom}

2011-08-19T14:53:00.000+10:00

Some girls having a shoe fetish, others one for handbags.Mine is magazines - more specifically, the house and garden variety. I have my favourites that are a ritual purchase each month and others which are on a month-by-month basis - have a quick flick through at the newsstand to see if there is something that catches my eye enough to purchase or maybe just wait to borrow from the library - it can end up an expensive addiction otherwise...

{my little obsession has taken over the office shelves and any flat surface...}

Much to my husband's horror I've found another gem! BLOOM magazine is a mecca of all things stunningly beautiful in the way of buds and blooms. It's certainly not a monthly purchase at the cost of around 60euros a copy... and there's also the minor issue of possibly having to fork out for French lessons to truly be able to appreciate it... but I believe the universal language of the beauty of flowers transcends all language barriers.

Definitely on the birthday/Christmas wish list!!

{Images courtesy of Bloom}

{a reminder of what's to come}

2011-08-15T11:38:00.001+10:00

The days are getting that little bit longer - the sun is coming up earlier and setting a little later and the promise of spring is just around the corner.

Winter in Sydney is very mild so I don't mind it too much, in comparison to Melbourne it's utterly balmy!! But, when the days are a little grey, wet and chilly, and I get a bit blue with the winter wearies I look forward to what is to come: the blossom bursting into life, bulbs jumping out of the ground, the buzz of bees and chirp of chicks in their nest, and that soft scent of spring in the air.

Just in case you need to escape to some summer time beauty

Image via the very gorgeous Wisteria and Cow Parsley (because spring hasn't hit my garden yet...)

{i've been invaded!}

2011-08-05T09:49:00.000+10:00

I have a little issue happening in my garden shed... it's crept up on me slowly but all of a sudden I've been overrun by plastic plant pots.

As I have an aversion to throwing things in the rubbish that will add to landfill for the next 100 years, I've collected way too many plastic pots telling myself, "that pot could come in handy for something one day", knowing full well I'd never use some of them ever again!

I decided I'd have a little clean out and take all my unwanted pots to the recycling centre at our local council rubbish depot only to find out they don't accept them as recycling material and they would have to go in with the general waste & I would have to pay $10 for the delightful act - hell no I think not! So, back home they came with me and back into the shed they went. Feeling slightly deflated but mostly frustrated I thought I'd have to accept the fact I'd have to build a shed for all my unwanted, probably never-to-be-used again pots...

Then fate stepped in and I received an email from a wholesale plant supplier announcing they have just introduced a "Pot Buy Back Scheme". TIMING!! Not only will they collect them - they also pay you for them! OK so you wouldn't be banking on paying your mortgage off with pots but every little cent counts. The only catch (there's always a catch!) is that they only buy back certain pots and once which have come from their nursery. Fair enough. It's definitely something I'll be keeping in mind for future jobs and sharing with others in the industry.

But in the meantime what to do with my random assortment of plastic? Well I came across a few recycling initiatives around the country, including this recycling centre in Victoria (the video is a little long but worth watching for some interesting facts about recycling plastic pots)

Closer to home there is a collection centre at Eden Gardens and another at Sydney Wildflower Nursery

The reason I've found for council rubbish depots not accepting them is rather a poor one if you ask me - sheer laziness (something new for councils!!) as it comes down to the cleaning process apparently as pots need to be cleaned with high-pressure water and chemically treated to remove contaminants which interfere with recycling machinery. I don't buy this as you can see from the above video it IS possible.

So think twice when next planting out your garden about what to do with all those pots you're left with at the end - they don't have to go in the rubbish. Talk to your nursery centre about setting up a recycling centre if they don't already have one in place. This is really important for us all to do - there is an alternative and we should start demanding it be more available.Take back your garden shed from all those pots!!

{an 'ah-choo bouquet'!}

2011-08-03T11:16:00.000+10:00

My 'yellow-goodness-sneezy-wheezy' bouquet

We had our first hands-on session of floral arranging at TAFE yesterday - YAY!

It sounds cliche I know but "it's harder than it looks"! I felt all fingers and thumbs getting my head around the spiralling technique to create a bouquet. I've tried it before at home but have never been hugely successful with it - no hiding yesterday though with our teacher coming around and offering advice and gentle critique about our arrangements.

Hitting the markets before the sun is up makes deciding on what to buy a little challenging. I'm certainly not on my A-game at that time of morning to make any sensible or rational decisions about what to buy. So I made the very amateur mistake of letting my heart dictate over my head and came away with WATTLE - oh dear!! It was the gorgeous vivid sunburst yellow blossom to blame. It accented beautifully against my yet to open buds of yellow tulips. A little voice inside my head was saying "you shouldn't buy it" as I handed over my cash, but I wasn't going to let them tell me what to do! Five minutes into class I wished I had. Much to my horror one of my poor fellow students was instantly affected by the tiny terror of pollen... I felt rather embarrassed and felt the need to constantly apologise (" but it was the yellow!!!" I'd cry)

A gentle critique session - note teacher's bouquet in green wrapping...

How the pros do it! Teacher's 'how to' bouquet

Apart from the coughing and wheezing, and getting myself tangled up it was an enjoyable morning of bouquet creating. # 1 lesson learnt from first week of floral design - don't buy material with highly allergic pollen no matter the fantastic yellow colour!

PS. Sorry about blurry images - maybe photography should be the next course...

{cookie cutter gardens}

2011-07-26T09:50:00.001+10:00

You may ask, "what do cookie cutters have to do with gardening?". Well it's a terminology I've given to all those gardens out there that look identical to the neighbours, the one around the corner, or around the block. You know the ones: highly manicured and clipped gardens with a green hedge made up of either Murraya paniculata, Buxus or Vibrunum spp., a square of lawn, a couple of standard iceberg roses and maybe a border of Mondo Grass.

Following on from my last post I got to thinking - instead of feeling angry about such a short-sighted opinion I found I was more frustrated by such an uneducated point of view. It's not a new point of view for me. I've always held a torch for creating gardens that are individual and designed specifically for the site they sit within and the client who will be using them.

Whilst I can completely understand taking a liking to a particular style or theme and using certain designs as precedence, I have trouble understanding why you would want a garden that looked exactly the same as someone elses? And so I came up with the term "cookie cutter gardens".

Reading of the case of Julie Bass, in Michigan and the statement made by the city planner, Mr Rulkowski, it dawned on me that the issue is more a case of someone not fitting the social norm and not following the trend that society sets out telling us how we should act or appear. By not fitting the comfortable stereotype and being different her garden was deemed inappropriate.

It has been something I have thought about for some time - why are there so many gardens that look so much the same? And why do people insist on using such a limited plant palette? I have spoken with others in the industry and asked for their thoughts/opinions on the matter, they've all had similar responses along the lines of: "people like to use what is proven to look good", "people are scared to step outside the square" or "that's what's in the magazines and TV shows, so that's what people want". Whatever the reason I'm certainly not laying blame or saying it's wrong - just wondering why???

Would you choose to be: 'same same' or 'different'?

When I was writing my business plan for {hort couture} I realised that one of the most important elements I wanted to deliver my clients was a custom design approach. Rather than creating ‘cookie cutter’ gardens with a limited planting palette, I want to ensure an individual and site specific planting palette is recommended. Sure, if a client likes the Jones' garden down the road that's fine - I want to understand what they like about it and find a way that we can use certain elements as precedence only, making the garden unique in it's own way so it is not a mirror reflection.

To me a garden is to a gardener what a canvas is to an artist. Creating a garden is an art. You can purchase a one-off original commissioned piece of artwork that takes all things into consideration for just you and your garden or a stock-standard, mass-printed poster from IKEA that is produced for the masses.

With a bit of research and proper planning there is no reason you can’t extend your plant palette a bit, buck the latest fashion trend for gardens ... murraya hedges, standard iceberg roses and buxus borders, and make your garden stand out from the crowd for all the right reasons – after all who wants to see themselves in the same outfit as everyone else walking down the street?

Images: i am baker

{grow your own - if you dare...}

2011-07-22T14:41:00.000+10:00

It's official the Law is an Ass - at least it is in the overly litigious USA! Following on from my post yesterday about converting our front yard into our productive zone I came across the most absurd incidence of law breaking in Oak Park, Michigan, USA.

At first I thought it may have been because she had planted on the nature strip causing an obstacle to pedestrians (thinking of course if this were the case the Council would have no doubt been scared of the obvious implications of people suing for accidents caused by a stray tomato or bean...) BUT Julie Bass had done no differently to me and put in five raised planter beds in which to grow her vegies in her OWN front yard!

The argument from the city planners are that local codes require front yards to have only “suitable” live plant material. Ummm I'm confused as to what the so called "suitable" plant material might be. In an interview with Detroit News, City planner Kevin Rulkowski said, "a tomato vine on a tomato cage is just not attractive... Add that to the big wooden boxes. It's not the first impression people often put in front of their home ... or want to see in their neighborhood." Then the comment that I nearly choked on, "I don't know of any community where I have seen a full garden in the front yard. In planing and zoning, we try and put things in appropriate places." (Obviously he hasn't come across many Italain/Greek suburban gardens)

So, from this I'm perplexed about a couple of things:

1. Am I going to face a law suit for choosing to grow vegetables in the most appropriate position on my property?

2. What constitutes "suitable live material"?

3. In Kevin Ruklowski and his fellow colleagues minds what constitutes a "full garden"?

If someone dared tell me how and what I should be gardening in my own front yard I'd swiftly show them the gate via the pointy end of my boot, with a gentle nudge from my gardening fork just to make sure they got the hint!

What about you - would you dare???

~Image via Log House Plants (wouldn't you know it they happen to be a nursery specialising in edible and ornamental plants! ...in Oregon, USA - I wonder if they sell them with a warning sticker about where they're allowed to be planted?)

{in my garden :: front yard transformation}

2011-07-21T09:58:00.002+10:00

Vegie patch in the front yard? Hell yeah! We are lucky enough to have a large lawn area which our dog loves, but it takes up way too much of my time mowing it (weekly during summer...), I hate the idea of watering a lawn during summer so it tends to brown-off in the hot/dry spells - not very attractive, and it does nothing to attract birds or bees into my garden. So I always knew it wasn't going to stay for long. Not to mention that we are lucky enough to have soil which is amazing quality. The area was once covered with market gardens so the soil is beautifully friable and perfect for growing produce - a shame to be covered in grass...

As the front yard receives the most sun it is the most practical site to locate our vegetable beds. I'm a huge fan of gardens incorporating the productive with the ornamental. I've always adored the French potager style gardens and find the Italian/Greek suburban gardens fascinating how they use every square inch to grow something productive.

I'm going to practice crop rotation amongst four beds. We've erected three raised beds using non-treated, kiln dried Cedar timber from Naturalyards, with the fourth 'bed' being the garden itself, which will be a perennial border mixed with herbs, vegies and productive trees ( Malus ioensis 'Plena' {Crabapple}, Punica granatum {Pomegranate} and some citrus). I've been an admirer of Hendrik van Leeuwen for a number of years and love the garden he created in his own backyard. A must see here

So far we've been purchasing our seedlings from an organic grower at the Sunday Farmer's Markets we shop at, but I'm hoping my not-so-subtle hints for a subscription to The Diggers Club for my birthday may mean we're able to diversify our yield a bit more and introduce more heirloom varieties.

Our little patch so far includes:

* Broadbeans

* Butter lettuce

* Broccoli

* Bok Choy

* English Spinach

* Sugar-snap Peas

* Radicchio

* Parsley

* Thyme

* & a lucky dip mix of cottage garden style flowering plants

I'd really like to get in some garlic, rhubarb, globe artichokes and dill (mainly for their flower heads!). To be honest, the list is endless and will only be limited by space (we do have a HUGE nature strip so I may just creep out onto that...)

Next step is to put in some drainage lines, pebbled pathways and mark out the perennial border beds. I'm looking forward to the next Cottage Garden Club meeting to pick up a few goodies to start off my perennial border. Lots to do - bring on Spring I say!!!

{greening up the workspace}

2011-07-13T11:21:00.000+10:00

I know full well how bland working in an office can be. All those grey workstations, beige carpet, dirty cream walls... how is anyone supposed to feel inspired to work??? From day one of sitting at a new desk I would put my mark on it and make it feel more like somewhere I could spend 8 hours each day. Photos of friends and family, inspiring phrases or quotes, holiday postcards, images torn from magazines - anything to brighten-up the space.

So, when I was asked to provide some indoor potted plants for a corporate client recently I could 100% relate to their client brief. They wanted to 'green-up the workspace'!! Who doesn't?

It's amazing what a difference a plant can make to an office environment. And don't go thinking that fake plants can provide the same effect. Fake plants don't need love and attention nor do they give back either. Having a living, growing plant to look after requires you to think of something other than those boring spreadsheets, "hmm does my plant need water? maybe a it needs to move to the other window...."

Recent trials conducted by the University of Technology Sydney, of the benefits of plants in classrooms found that performance across the curriculum, including spelling, mathematics and science, were consistently improved, along with the unanimous agreement from both teachers and students alike that the plants improved the appearance and ambiance of the classrooms.
Research conducted by a number of Universities including Oxford University and Washington State University indicate the following about plants in the work space:

Aid in cleaning the air and a creating a healthier environment by reduction of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
Plant-filled rooms contain 50% to 60% fewer airborne moulds and bacteria than rooms without plants, therefore, by cleaning workplace air with plants, staff illness and costs of sick leave can be reduced
Employees tend to be less stressed and have better reaction rates
Positive effects on both employee perceptions and dispositions, which ultimately may lead to increased staff retention.
Plants absorb noise in busy office environments. Improving the ambiance and reducing distraction, it may increase productivity.

Delivery chic too! En route for another delivery...

Does your workspace need a dose of greenery?

{a new title for the business card: 'soon to be florist"...}

2011-07-05T19:44:00.006+10:00

To me life without flowers would be dull - simply shades of grey. In their own simple way they bring life, vibrancy and quite often that certain je ne sais quoi to any occasion or space. They are not just for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, Mother's Day or Valentine's Day. They should be enjoyed every day, even if its simply admiring the arrangements in the window of the Florist shop on your way to work.

That's what I used to do. Even if it took me an extra five minutes I would still go an extra block to make sure I walked past my favourite florist before arriving at the office each morning. Just seeing the beautiful faces of the flowers staring back at me would put a smile on my face and give me the strength to walk through the office doors. I always knew one day those dear faces would beckon me to spend the whole day with them...

So, with great excitement I enrolled in a Commercial Floristry course last week! It's something I have been wanting to do for the longest time. I've always dabbled here and there with a bit of random flower arranging but have always dreamt of doing it professionally and adding it to my repertoire of skills. As I was recently told, "...people will always get married, sadly people will pass away, boys will always be in trouble - we always need flowers".

My version of a mixed bag of lollies.

I loved that my house looked like a flower shop

So with this exciting new venture ahead of me I had my first visit to the Flower Markets on Friday. At the very dark and chilly hour of 5am my darling neighbour and I went off to fill our market baskets with all-sorts of loveliness. I was like a kid in a candy shop - deciding on what to leave behind was hard, I wanted to take it all home! I was able to restrain myself to the assortment above and had such fun creating some special posies for friends and family.

& maybe just a couple for my bedside table too - waking up to these pretty faces is such a wonderful way to start the day!

~ I look forward to sharing with you all that I learn along the way during the next 12 months. Hopefully my skills will improve and progress!~

{the bridesmaid & the florist}

2011-06-24T17:19:00.001+10:00

Once upon a time there was a young girl who dreamed of playing amongst flowers all day, surrounded by beautiful blooms and 'cotton-wooled' in their soft scent.

One fine summer's day this young girl would meet her long-time best friend on the school bus on their first day of school. Over the years they shared many of life's ups and downs; graduating school, university and college, meeting boyfriends - breaking up with boyfriends, starting jobs - quiting jobs. Years would pass and oceans would separate them, but they would always remain the closest of friends.

Many years later the young girl met her 'Knight in white shining armour' and had her best-friend by her side as she married. A few years would pass when one day this best-friend would too meet the 'Man of her dreams' and ask her friend to be by her side as she married. "What an honour" thought the not-so-young-anymore girl. But then, the best-friend asked something which would bring even more happiness and joy, "would you help me do my wedding flowers?". Oh, how this brought a smile inside her heart. What fun they would have creating the most beautiful bouquets and decorations for such a special occasion!

And so, off went this not-so-young-anymore girl searching across the seas, over the mountains and down into the valleys, filling her 'www. bookmarks basket' with all sorts of loveliness and inspiration for the big day which lay ahead.

... what a thrill I got when I heard my best-friend was to be married next year - on top of that excitement I then had the added bonus of not only being asked to accompany her as part of her bridal party but to also assist her with her flowers!!

A few years ago now, 5 1/2 to be exact, she was there to help me and my Mum put together the flowers for my own wedding. If there was such a thing as "Best Bridesmaid of the Year Award" this friend would certainly have been the outstanding winner. So, it is such a pleasure to be able to repay the favour.

Planning for a wedding is a lot of fun, albeit a bit stressful - dresses, accessories, food and of course flowers!!! So I'm very excited to be able to be a part of this excitement and can't wait until February for the big day to come.

In the meantime I'm seriously thinking about attending TAFE to study Floristry (how handy!) - until then I think I may just have to practice a few posies! Stay tuned for the next installment of this fairytale story!!

Images: Saipua - absolutely amazing flower arrangements by Sarah Ryhanen. She is such a huge source of inspiration and delivers without doubt the most amazing dose of beauty.

{an afternoon with Jennifer Stackhouse at the home of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie}

2011-06-15T09:28:00.000+10:00

Like most Australian children I was brought up reading the tales of May Gibbs' Snugglepot & Cuddlepie, believing they truly existed among the blossom and gum nuts on the Eucalypt trees, and being scared of Banksia seed pods for the fear the nasty Banksia Men would jump out at me.

I loved the sweet little skirts of blossom and the bare little bottoms

So when I read that Jennifer Stackhouse, Editor of Australian Gardening magazine would be guest of 'Fireside Chats' at "Nutcote Cottage", the home of May Gibbs, I jumped at the chance to cosy up to a fire and hear her speak about her experiences thus far in the gardening and horticulture world. It was a very wet, soggy, windy old day in Sydney so it was the perfect place to be. Jennifer was very warm and generous in sharing her thoughts about specific topics and gardening in general.

Caroline Minogue (Chair of Nutcote Trust) with Jennifer Stackhouse

Afterwards the most amazing afternoon tea was served in the aptly named 'Bib and Bub Tea Room' (think traditional afternoon tea of passionfruit iced sponge; scones, jam and cream; lamingtons and hot brewed cups of tea).

'Bib and Bub'

The grounds of "Nutcote Cottage" have been lovingly restored by volunteers to the original plans set out by May Gibbs herself with many plant species she grew reintroduced to the garden. Being winter it was all looking a bit sleepy, but come spring it would look amazing.

the gorgeous 'Caterpillar Hedge' outside the 'Bib & Bub Tearooms'

Today the gardens play host to around 7000 visitors, from the young to young-at-heart. Children celebrate their birthdays dressing up as Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, and grown-ups can play their own dress-ups and get married in the beautiful garden.

I would highly recommend visiting this little gem nestled by the harbour no matter your age to either recount your childhood memories or foster new ones. To find out more visit the May Gibbs' website here

Finally, I just had to share the below photos - May had her own Gardening Assistant too!

In memory of her beloved Scotty Dog. Reminds me of my own helper in the garden....

my four-legged child and Gardening Assistant

{rare plant collecting one cold & soggy weekend}

2011-06-12T11:49:00.002+10:00

This post is a little late, but the weather today reminded me to post it...

Just a tad soggy under foot. No stopping me though!

Not even the cold, rain or mud could spoil a day out in the mountains hunting for rare and unusual plants at the 7th Annual Collectors' Plant Fair. This is my idea of shopping mecca, forget your Westfields' and mega shopping malls! It's so lovely to get up-close and personal with the retailers who are passionate about the plants they grow, tend to and sell, as well as being able to pick up those hard-to-find plants you don't see being stocked in the franchise nurseries.

A sea of umbrellas (note girl in ~~white~~ brown canvas shoes ...
this was definitely a gumboots day)

It is held within the grounds of the private property of Peta Trahar in picturesque Bilpin. She along with a horde of volunteers do an amazing job of organising and running the day. Hundreds of people barrel into her garden, traipsing around her yard and stomping all over her lawn. Peta even has the heart to open up her home to hold small gatherings for the speaker events. This year's speakers included Myles Baldwin and Costa Georgiadis.

Loving the planted pushy!


Oh how I want one of these in my backyard

My 'Poor Pete' - what a trooper!

Family and friends felt sorry for 'Poor Pete' being dragged along to another one of my off-beat gardening trips, but he genuinely enjoyed himself - despite the pockets full of water, muddy jeans and boots! I made it up to him by stopping for warm soup and home-made apple pie at this delightful little cafe with the most divine bunches of roses - their smell was intoxicating!

I was quite restrained in my purchases as one hand was always in use holding the umbrella but managed to come away with a selection of treasures.

Happy as a pig in mud! At the start of the stall - still dry and clean!

Sadly there will be no fair in 2012 as organisers have decided to pursue other ventures to further promote rare and unusual plants - I'll keep you posted on what form this may take, I'm sure it will be just as exciting!

{my own ongoing project}

2011-06-10T09:38:00.000+10:00

I thought I'd share my own gardening project with you. I've had trepidations about doing so as my garden is no Picasso - it's more a kindergarten kids hand-painting...

When we moved into our home nearly two years ago I was faced with an overgrown jungle. There was little in the way of a theme or concept for the garden, with random plants that clashed, some which had overgrown others completely and then those which were completely unsuitable for the location.

Unlike other gardeners or home owners who might have looked at it and just wanted to rip everything out, take it to the tip and start again with a blank canvas, I assessed what I had to work with and what I could re-use.

Looking back at these photos I now wonder if I would take it on again - what a mess! But I love a challenge and so I took to the garden bit by bit working my way around slowly but surely. The plants that had overgrown into a jungle were cut back and those in the wrong location were moved to more appropriate sections of the garden. I'm now selecting new plants based on their suitability for the location and planting theme (now I have one!).

It's a work in progress, one which takes a lot of time, when I have it to spare after 'playing' in other people's gardens. There is still a huge amount of work for me to do and I have a lot of plans still to put into place, but when I look back on the before photos I can see that I have achieved something. I look forward to the day I can share with you my big "viola" moment of unveiling the finished piece of artwork!


Before: what a jungle!

A 'licorice all-sorts' themed garden... with a bit of a ho-hum outlook


After: Presentable at least for a party. I uncovered a whole assortment of hidden gems, including a number of orchids not seen in this photo

After: a new hedge of Magnolia 'Little Gems' will hopefully provide
some much needed privacy and screening for using the backyard

Before: a mess... enough said!

After: A lick of paint and a few productive plants - passionfruit,
herbs and tomatoes.

{cows have feelings too...please help ban Live Export}

2011-06-08T10:54:00.002+10:00

I absolutely adore cows. If I could I would have a couple in my backyard here on the Northern Beaches!

It is because of this affection for them that I couldn't watch the recent vision on television about the Live Animal Exports. The thought of what the vision included was enough to deeply upset me. I couldn't even bring myself to open the emails about signing the petition to ban the exports in fear that I would see images that would tear my heart apart.

My earliest memories include cows. To me they were always a part of my life. They were always in view out one of the windows of our house, and quite often I would wake up to hear them grazing in the paddock outside my bedroom window. Not to mention the number of poddy calves who became pets. Growing up on a cattle farm I came to have an understanding of what their ultimate destiny is early on. As a young child it was something I tried not to think about too much. When the trucks would come to take a load of cattle to the markets I'd head off down the paddock in the opposite direction - I couldn't watch, it was like saying goodbye to friends you wouldn't see again.

My recent trip away to the country affirmed my love for them - their big, brown, beautiful eyes with their long lashes; the way they slowly chew away on the same piece of grass for minutes on end taking their time and enjoying every morsel; the fact they can be so stupid yet so smart at the same time!

I finally plucked up enough courage to open a request to sign the BAN LIVE EXPORT petition this morning. My eyes were very cautious as to what they saw and took in, but I got there in the end - I'd sign it a hundred times or more if I could to stop this horrendous and extremely unneccessary act. I would strongly urge everyone to do the same. These poor darlings do have a voice - but sadly it is one we don't hear or understand. It is up to us to use our voice to stop this and give them the right to have their ultimate destiny at least granted with dignity and grace.

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION NOW! It's so very very important.

Image of darling calves and their mummy: by {the hort couture gardener}

{heaven is: this view! p.s. did I sleep through winter?}

2011-06-03T18:44:00.000+10:00

I had to double check the calendar this morning. Why? To make sure I hadn't slept through winter and woken up in Spring.

What a perfect day!

There are so many reasons I'm always grateful to be alive on days like today. To live on the doorstep of the world's most beautiful beaches, feel the warmth of the sun on my skin and be outdoors doing what I love following my passion, is truly a gift and not one eveyone gets to unwrap.

Sure, there are not so perfect days with moments where owning your own business, and doing something for the love v. money, can be difficult and you question "what the hell am I doing/thinking?!". But, it is always the small things that remind you of the answer to this sometimes perplexing question. For example, these photos were taken at a seminar I attended today. Don't ask me to recite anything I learnt though - that view was so special you couldn't help but be drawn into it. I think heaven has a new postcode!!

{baby it's cold outside}

2011-06-01T08:36:00.001+10:00

Winter is officially here. However, if you ask me I think it arrived a little early this year. Apart from the difficulty of getting out of a warm, cosy bed in the morning I've come to quite enjoy winter and embrace the change of seasons in my garden.

Winter in Sydney is actually quite pleasant and is over before you know it. Although I wouldn't swap a Sydney winter for quids, I do miss the misty, foggy mornings of a Melbourne winter (the photos were taken on one of my early morning walks a few years back). There was always a special, almost eery, quietness about these winter mornings in Melbourne! I love the skeletal trees in all their nakedness - to me their true form is a thing of elegant beauty.

Much like me in the morning, my garden is looking a little sleepy at the moment. The last of the autumn leaves are hanging by a thread and the summer/autumn flowering perennials have well and truly closed up shop and taken their annual vacation. I am excited though by the tiny heads of my bulbs starting to burst through the cold soil - it reminds me that warmer weather is just around the corner and my garden will once again be a burst of colour.

Whilst it's not nearly as busy in the garden compared to the summer months there is still plenty to do. Deciduous trees will benefit from a haircut; mulch can be topped up to preserve that precious moisture in the soil for the onset of warmer weather; bare-rooted fruit and ornamental trees do well if planted now; and you can always tend to your tools in your potting shed to get out of the weather. I'm planning on doing a bit of garden construction while it's cool - I don't like working in the heat and would rather use this time to get such jobs done so I can focus all my efforts on my plants when the weather turns warmer. Besides, the physical exercise works off all those cups of hot chocolate, glasses of red wine and hearty, comfort food!!

{mining on the Liverpool Plains = sacrilege}

2011-05-26T08:36:00.001+10:00

Locking us out - we should lock them up!

The guts of the earth ripped out...

and left spilling all over the place

to leave a big, empty hole...

literally across the other side of the road, what it would
have once looked like - rich, productive, alluvial soils
- will these paddocks be next?

Perhaps from my post yesterday you could get a glimpse into why I love the country so much. It is my home and my escape. There are so many things I love about the country and reasons why I'm passionate about sustainable agriculture - so it was with great sadness and lots of anger that I saw the beautiful countryside being ripped open at it's very heart. I never thought I would see the day that this atrocity would occur on this beautiful, productive land I once called home.

The above photos were taken just a few km's outside the town of Quirindi. It was a property once owned by a friend of my father and had been in his family for generations. The land had provided many families with a livelihood and a place to call home. When they owned this land they abided strict rules and regulations, for example they were not even allowed to chop down a tree without prior permission - now look at what is being done to it. Thousands of trees have been cut down, the house that sat atop the hill was bulldozed and the guts of the earth have been ripped out and spilling over. It is not an individual case - this is only one instance that I saw, but there are many more across the countryside and they are increasing in number as large mining companies buy up more and more land. It is not land that should become mines - it is land that provides us with food to feed our families. It is such a short-term gain that will have long-term effects. Once all this land is ripped apart it will be left barren, no longer able to support crops or sheep and cattle - where will we produce our food then?

While I feel it is a David and Goliath effort to stop this progressing further, I feel somewhat comforted by the fact that I'm not alone. It is a sentiment shared by many others, and was one recently featured in the March issue of Country Style magazine. The story of the Andrews family was one which touched my heartstrings - a family fighting to save their property 'Tarwyn Park' from coal mining explorations. The property, like so many, has been in the family for generations and they have put their heart and soul into developing sustainable agricultural methods to care for the land and the many generations of the family to come. I strongly urge you to read more about their plight and do what you can to spread their story. Read more here: 'Save Tarwyn Park'

My father's property is not safe either, he's chased mining company helicopters off his land and we even saw a 'Spy-in-the-Sky' plane overhead one afternoon when we were out checking on the cattle. They'll be back with their big, fat cheque books but they can whistle. They may be big and they may throw their weight around with their big, fat cheque books - but I HATE bullies and that's what they are. We need to stand up to them and put our foot down, stamp both of them down loud and firm on the earth that belongs to us and the generations of our families to come.

I strongly encourage you to read more here:
The Greens: Liverpool Plains 'No New Coal'
Caroona Coal Action Group
Landcare NSW

{for clearer images, please click on the picture or right click and open in new window}

{an escape to the country}

2011-05-25T09:12:00.000+10:00

nothing but the buzz of bees.....

...the trill of birds

...& big, wide open space!

Every now and again everyone needs to escape to the country. For me it's been much too long so last week I took a much needed trip back to my grass roots to fill my lungs with fresh air and rest my mind and senses. I escaped the claustrophobia of the city for wide open spaces, noise of traffic and neighbours for the trill of birds and the bright neon lights for the milky way.

The country holds a special place in my heart - it is where I was born and bred. Whilst not all memories of it are perfect - floods and drought, to me it is my home and place where I go back to recharge my batteries and remember who I am and where I came from.I love being able to run around the paddocks - sing, scream or be totally quiet and have no-one to care.

I spent a couple of days on my father's property in Northern NSW, just a little south of Tamworth, on the Liverpool Plains. It is rich, fertile grazing country where he runs a couple of hundred head of breeding cattle. Ohhh and I absolutely adore cows!! I think it was the experience of being brought up around them, to have a respect for, but not fear them. And of course, being a surrogate mum to the poddy calves who you just couldn't help but falling in love with. Quite often I find myself wishing I could turn back the clock to that 'simpler' more fulfilling life.


'The fencing truck' is as old as me, bought the year I was born: 1980, and still going strong. So many memories rest in this vehicle....

Mummies-to-be, due to calf in the next few months.
Can't wait to see their beautiful babies!

Nothing but the big blue sky and wide
open space as far as the eye can see!

As the saying goes, "you can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl" and it couldn't be more true for me - I'm a bit of a country gal stuck in the city and dream of the day I can call it home again.

{back soon!}

2011-05-23T08:09:00.000+10:00

Apologies for the lack of communication lately. I haven't had much of a chance to sit in my office chair for very long of late - life has been extremely busy with work committments and a recent trip away to the country to visit family.

I have so many posts that I want to write my mind is buzzing - especially a couple of issues close to my heart from my recent visit to my father's property.

I'll be working on these over the next few days and hope to be back with you toot-sweet.

Check back for posts including some of the below:

* Hort Couture vs. Haute Couture
* Cottage Garden Club Meeting take 2
* Mining the Liverpool Plains
* Our new pets - 1001 wriggly worms

Image: 'dones1' here

{compost: it's the law!}

2011-05-04T09:29:00.000+10:00

It's International Composting Awareness Week - which I think ties in quite nicely after National Permaculture Day on Sunday, both going hand-in- hand with each other.

Hopefully with a little shameless self-promotion people will be encouraged to partake in both.
Or is it more a case of being heavy handed rather than the softly-softly approach? Did you know in San Francisco it is law to compost your waste? Since October 2009 San Fran residences and businesses have been required to separate their rubbish: blue for recycling, black for trash AND green for compost! It's all part of an ambitious goal to reduce waste and have the city sending nothing to landfills or incinerators by 2020. And don't think they're not serious either, fines range from $100 to $1,000 depending on warnings! For some this is the incentive they need to consider this not a 'hippy' or 'greenie' habit, but an everyday one which we all need to adopt. Read media coverage here

Each week on 'bin-night' I'm quietly proud of our little bin (odd thing to be proud of I know!). The reason being though, ours is generally the only one with its lid properly closed while others are brimming with bags and their lids ajar. We are quite strict with what goes into our rubbish bin - all plastic, glass, paper and cardboard are separately recycled, and all food waste (except meat and dairy) is composted in our two Aero Bins. It's not difficult and when you consider that it is estimated that almost half of all municipal waste is comprised of organic material, the decomposition of which is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions from landfill, it should be compulsory!

No space excuses either - a snazzy apartment composter here

Pretty compost here

Arty-farty compost bins here

{a matter of principle - ethical principles of permaculture}

2011-05-02T18:21:00.000+10:00

I like to think we all live by a few basic ethics - be kind and courteous to one another, do not steal from others, do not hurt or injure others etc. Rules are generally set to allow us to live in a fair and equitable manner and should we choose to disobey we will be made to repent in whatever way the law deems adequate.

Nature is much the same - the difference being she does not issue tickets for disobeying her rules. Instead she has her own way of showing her displeasure with our actions - this year in Australia we have bared the brunt of her unhappiness with us BIG TIME! Floods, Fires, Cyclones - you name it, she dished it out to us!

Through careful observation of nature, traditional indigenous and tribal communities, Permaculture developed its own ethics which act as foundations to this system of design and way of thinking. They are three simple, broad stroke statements intended to guide everyday thinking and actions which I believe can be applied not only to gardening but life in general - if we all lived by these simple statements a little more the world would be a much more lovely place.

:: Care for the earth (husband soil, forests and water)

:: Care for people (look after self, kin and community)

:: Fair share (set limits to consumption and reproduction, and redistribute surplus)

Image: Permaculture Principles

{gardening au naturel: the way nature intended}

2011-04-29T11:42:00.000+10:00

I recently received this via the Permaculture Group I signed up with (Permaculture Manly Warringah Pittwater Group). They have a 'Google Group' which is great way of sharing ideas, hints & tips, news stories, upcoming events and even up/re-cycling unwanted bits and pieces from our homes and backyards.

This is a humorous take on how a dialogue between God and St Francis might go if they were to discuss the current trend in gardening. Whilst presented in a satirical manner, it really does highlight how ridiculous some gardening mentality has become. If we only looked more to nature than to commercial TV programs or multi-national hardware/nursery conglomerates for our gardening advice we would all have more hours on the weekend to actually enjoy our gardens rather than be slaves to them.d

GOD: Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect no- maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long- lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.

ST. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites.

They started calling your flowers "weeds" and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.

GOD: Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.

GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week.

GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?

ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.

GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?

ST. FRANCIS: No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.

GOD: Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?

ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir.

GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.

ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it, so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.

GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a natural cycle of life.

ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.

GOD: No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?

ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.

GOD: And where do they get this mulch?

ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.

GOD: Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?

ST. CATHERINE: "Dumb and Dumber," Lord. It's a story about...

GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.

Couldn't have said it better myself!!

Now go rake up that pile of Autumn leaves and let the kids run through them before putting them in the compost or make your garden a winter blanket from them!

Image: The garden of Eden with the fall of man - Jan Brueghel and Rubens via Commons.Wikimedia

{permaculture : the new 'black' !}

2011-04-28T09:52:00.000+10:00

For those that haven't heard the terminology before, Permaculture refers to the system of, not only gardening, but of living, in a harmonious way with nature. It is defined as "the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people — providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way".

Whilst not necessarily a 'new' method of gardening or way of living, the method was scientifically developed in the 70s by two Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren (along with their associates). Mollison describes the word permaculture as a portmanteau of permanent agriculture, and permanent culture.

It is about using what we have in our backgrounds to provide for ourselves in a more sustainable and wholisitic way, reducing our reliance on more commercial methods of production and our impact on the earth i.e. growing our own food, harvesting water and energy from rain and sun/wind, composting our waste etc.

It is such a fabulous concept and one which is beginning to become more fashionable. Whilst our country cousins have been practicing it for sometime now, more urbanites are turning their lawns bordered with box hedges and iceberg roses into productive spaces filled with fruit trees, vegetables, herbs and even chooks. Parents are wanting to share with their children the lessons of where food comes from and know themselves that what they are feeding their families. This is certainly one trend I'm advocating for everyone to follow - let's make it the 'new black'!

This Sunday, 1st May is the 3rd Annual National Permaculture Day. As such, my next few posts will be focusing on the WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHY of Permaculture!

Image: Choose Permaculture

{lest we forget: ANZAC day 2011}

2011-04-25T09:06:00.000+10:00

In Winston Churchill's words: 'Never was so much owed by so many to so few'

Today we remember all those who have put our lives, our freedom and the desire for peace ahead of their own. Our gratitude will be endless.

Image: Kate Andrews

{happy easter!}

2011-04-24T17:36:00.002+10:00

The spirit of Easter: joyful giving & living, hope, frienship, peace and love.

Wishing you and yours a very safe and happy Easter!

Photo: {hort couture}

{hort couture vs. haute couture: these boots were made for gardening}

2011-04-20T13:52:00.000+10:00

I've always loved gumboots. I wear them to their death - only throwing them out when the holes they sadly acquire during their stressful and busy lifetime, defeat their purpose.

Yellow Hunter gumboots have been on my wish list for awhile now - I chicken out on the $200 price tag...but aren't they divine?

I do love these red numbers though, they're not yellow but they're definitely a bit of gardening haute couture!

Photo: Petersham Nurseries, Richmond Surrey UK
Boots available from Ilse Jacobsen

{heaven is: being surrounded by beautiful buds & blooms}

2011-04-11T09:13:00.000+10:00

Be still my beating heart! This is my idea of a heavenly workspace: being surrounded by the beauty of all those gorgeous buds and blooms. I've always said (& please don't take this personally) that flowers are much easier to work with than people - they just sit there and look pretty.

Since a little girl I have dreamed of owning my own little shop of treasures filled with gardening goodies and brimming with beautiful fresh flowers. I can see it in all it's glory, all the finer details of how it would look, of course including the yellow and white stripe window awning.

PS. In case you were wondering, heaven can be found here @ Saipua an uber pretty floristry in New York. It's definitely going on the 'To Visit' bucket list!

What about you? What's your idea of a heavenly workspace?

All images by Jennifer Causey

{our backyard}

2011-04-07T14:17:00.000+10:00

So very Sydney!!!

So very 'Snugglepot & Cuddlepie'!!

ok it's not exactly my backyard, it's our backyard though - all us lucky Sydney siders!

Is there a more iconic image of Australia than the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge framed by the beautiful blossoms of a Eucalyptus 'Summer Beauty'?

A few weeks back now I spent the day exploring the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens. I had managed to forget how picturesque they are with the backdrop of the city skyline and the blue harbour.

It was a stinking hot day - middle of summer back then, but the gardens were a cool respite from the heat of the city. I stepped out of the stress of the city to be greeted by two lovely ladies at the 'Friends of the Gardens' who couldn't have been more friendly (but then as my Mum says, "all gardeners are lovely"). I also met and chatted with another two lovely gardeners who tend to the Sunken Garden and Rose Garden - certainly in the heat they were doing an amazing job keeping it looking it's best under the extreme circumstances.

L: Dee Mortimore, R: Adrian Pedra

'Gertrude Jekyll' - the perfume was amazing!

Those office-workers need to take time to smell these roses!!!

The fabulous herbarium - I want my front yard to look like this!

For me the gardens are wonderland for me to be inspired by, to learn from and ogle over all the beauty they contain. For others, the gardens are a place for quiet contemplation, a lunch-break, reading, running or walking, sleeping and sun-baking and even getting married (they are a very popular choice for couples wishing to take advantage of the gorgeous backdrop for photos)

I can't believe I hadn't made the effort to visit sooner. I'm going to make another visit in a few weeks to see the change of seasons in the gardens. I'd highly recommend taking a stroll around these beautiful gardens with a picnic basket and blanket in hand to stop, sit and take it all in! Ahhh bliss!

{ethical dilemma}

2011-04-05T11:55:00.000+10:00


We're destroying his home in the quest to build ours. ©Photograph: Attila Balazs/epa/Corbis via The Habitat Advocate

Have you ever faced having to go against your beliefs or values? I have very strong feelings about a certain issue which I've always known was going to be an issue at some point in my career, it's one that gets me very emotional, to the point of tears, when discussing it. It popped its not-so-pretty face up yesterday...

The issue is - Merbau, a timber product I'm vehemently against the use of and am not afraid of saying so, not even to a client. This is the ethical dilemma I'm faced with - are my morals and values of high enough significance for me to walk away from a paying job - I believe they may be...

Merbau (also known and sold as Kwila) grows in the rainforests of South-east Asia: the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. It is commonly used in timber decking and flooring and is very popular in Australia due to its durability and resistance to termites. The problem is that the majority of Merbau is illegally logged, deforesting and destroying these pristine locations, exploiting the local communities and driving wildlife to the brink of extinction.

Australia is a large contributor to this serious problem as we keep providing the demand for the supply. It is very difficult to guarantee the source of the timber is legal, and somewhat difficult to trust those who imply it is. For example, Rimbunan Hijau, a Malaysian based global forest logger which controls around 60% of the forest industry in Papua New Guinea, is in fact owned 50% owned by the Boral 'Group' of Australia and 50% by Caltex (source: http://www.scribd.com/doc/24211537/2258-Christchurch-New via The Habitat Advocate

The issue is HUGE and far reaching, but one I feel passionate about and therefore am not scared by the thought that it is one which is too big for one person to make a difference. I could think of myself as just a Horticulturist who has no power whatsoever to make a difference. But I don't believe in such a defeatist attitude. Instead I am a Horticulturist whose mission it is to educate others about the choices we can make and the changes we can help bring about by starting in our own backyards. I chose not to follow this career path only because I love pretty gardens and flowers, but because I want to inspire and educate others. It is my duty of care to both clients and the environment to provide more environmentally friendly alternatives. As the saying goes, "knowledge is power". Therefore, by informing my clients I hope it would not come to me having to walk away from the job. Instead I would hope to have informed them of the benefits of using other materials leaving them with no doubt they are making a much wiser choice by going with a more sustainable product.

The argument against using this product is really much too long and involved to go into on this particular post, but as it is something I feel so incredibly strongly about, is something I will post further on.

To learn more about sustainable options and vital statistics about the devastation of illegal logging visit these links:
Forest Stewardship Council Australia - Find a FSC Certified Product
Good Wood Guide
CHOICE reviews Sustainable Flooring
Behind the Veneer
The Last Frontier

{thinking of: Japan & the cherry blossoms}

2011-04-03T16:24:00.000+10:00

If plans had been kept Hubby and I would be traveling to Japan this week to tick-off one of my "to do's" on my bucket list: to visit the cherry blossoms in Japan! It has been a long awaited for holiday so at the time I thought it was very unfortunate that his work commitments meant we would have to cancel plans... for a second time... It would now appear that fate had its reasons all along...

It seems so little with the sheer enormity of the situation, but last weekend I tacked onto a girlfriends fundraising concert for the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal and sold these paper cranes to send all proceeds to the Japan Pacific Appeal. People's generosity is always so refreshing and makes me wish I could do more.

The sakura season is one of the peak tourist times in Japan, bringing huge numbers of tourists who pump many $$$ into the economy.

I send nothing but love and light to those in Japan, and those with loved ones living there.

{rainy days = inside days}

2011-03-31T09:36:00.000+11:00

I never complain about the rain, but today I feel slightly put out by it. I've been looking forward to working with a client in her garden today, but it seems someone wants to take my fun away from me... As a rule it is advisable not to do too much work in your garden after heavy or long periods of rain as you risk compacting the soil and compromising its structure. So we've rainchecked our gardening date for when the sun decides to shine on us.

So I'm indoors bound to work on a few projects I have going on at the moment. One of which is an exciting overhaul of a neglected space. The client has a sizeable orchid collection they inherited from their father, a keen orchid grower and collector. Living amongst native bushland they have a lot of trouble with wallabies eating the precious flower stalks of the orchids.

A fenced area, once housing several dog kennels is now in the process of the ultimate makeover. It will become a lush garden filled with Cymbidium orchids where the owners will be able to relax in a quiet space to contemplate their beautiful surroundings of the bush and a tend to a small productive zone with a vegetable and herb garden - all safely housed away from the nibbling native fauna. Early stage sketch below along with a 'before' shot. I'll keep you updated on its progress.

Rainy day workspace

Concept sketch

'Before' entry. The beautiful Angophora will
become a centrepiece of the garden

{the kitchen sink}

2011-03-31T08:56:00.000+11:00

What a perfect potting table, everything you need including the kitchen sink! Not sure how long mine would stay looking like that though...

Image from Cottage Style Magazine, May 2010 via here

{a mobile garden on wheels}

2011-03-30T09:18:00.000+11:00

Love Love Love! For simple reasons really... 1. it's just the cutuest little car in YELLOW (ok slightly orange...) 2. I can take my vegie & herb garden with me - the ultimate drive thru! What's not to love?

Probably not very practical - but then practical is boring!

I cannot help but smile at the children's faces in the back seat.

Have a wonderful day!

Via here

{everlasting love: potted wedding bonboniere}

2011-03-29T10:43:00.000+11:00

I have the pleasure of attending our friend's wedding on Saturday. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity of dressing up and getting a bit glam. Although, I'm a bit concerned about the heels I'm wearing... I've become much more comfortable in my gumboots these days!

Weddings have such a joyous feel about them, they focus on all the positive things in life like love, happiness, family and friends, beauty and hope for the future. It is always an honor to be included in one of the most special days in the life of two people.

Having organised my own wedding I understand how many elements go into making the day as special as possible for both the couple and guests. Of course, flowers were an important part of mine, but for many it is also about what to give your guests as favours for sharing the day with you.

Wedding favours have been around for centuries. They were first given to guests by wealthy European aristocrats at celebratory occasions such as birthdays, christenings and marriages. The gifts usually consisted of five almonds or pieces of candy representing fertility, health, wealth, happiness and longevity.

Wedding favours, or bonbonniere as they are otherwise known, have become more of a token of appreciation for attending the special occassion and a momento to remind you of the momentous day you were a part of. Therefore, how fitting to have something which is everlasting, just as you wish the love of the newly married couple to be. Another bonus is they can double as place-cards, so they 'kill two birds with one stone' so to speak.

{Hort Couture} would be delighted to assist happy couples with organising this important element of their special day. All styles of weddings (or any celebration) can be catered for from eco-chic, fun and funky, to uber-glamorous and sophisticated. Favours can include seeds, herbs, annuals, orchids or bulbs. Let your love grow!

Herbs in pots photo by Miki Duisterhof via here. Succulents via here & here

{heaven is: this potager garden!}

2011-03-28T11:33:00.000+11:00

Oh I just found heaven! How stunning is this potager garden? It works on so many levels and everything has been thought of - even clever 'mud-on-your-boots-minimising-pavers' amongst the rows of peas - it's garden art!

Read more about this garden at this divine blog here. Disclaimer: it's totally addictive and you'll find yourself booking tickets to Europe toot-sweet!

{helpful little critters : along came a spider}

2011-03-27T14:05:00.000+11:00

Friendly little critter & his miniature 'fairy-light' decorations!

We all have fears in life, surely there is something that scares us all, even if just a little. Fortunately for me I don't come across my fears too often when I'm gardening, as long as you don't ask me to go too high up the ladder and it's not snake season! The fear of heights I blame on genetics. My father for all his mucho-manliness has a gripping fear of heights he seemed to pass on. Whilst my fear of snakes is very much an attribute of growing up on a farm where we had King Brown and Red-Belly Black snakes slither through our yard, up on our verandah and even up to our front door regularly during summer - my mother is yet again my hero in this field, but more on that another time...

It was my Mum who instilled in me to respect spiders and their work in the garden. We were taught never to kill, just leave well alone, especially Tarantulas who indicated rain when they graced us with their presence! Perhaps for this reason then, I don't have an issue with the eight-legged critters who have become my 'outdoor pets'. We have a mutual understanding - they keep out of my way and I let them eat for free!

I recently met a client who up until the time his father-in-law sprayed for spiders in the garden hadn't had a pest problem. Since he lost his St. Andrews Cross and Orb spiders he had an infestation of bronze-orange bug (stink bugs) on his citrus, something he has not experienced prior. Perhaps a coincidence?

Spider McMansion keeping watch above my shed door

We have a number of St. Andrews Cross and Orb spiders who call our backyard 'Home' and whilst my husband isn't as pleased as I am to have them around, they really are helpful little critters to have around the garden with their webs acting as nets catching moths and bugs wishing to lay their eggs on my poor unsuspecting plants. I'm never too pleased if they catch butterflies or bees though, but that is nature I guess, and what goes around comes around, as sometimes they end up on the dinner menu, providing food for the birds I'm trying to attract into the garden.

St Andrews Cross and Orb spiders are generally not aggressive by nature and tend to be more fearful of us. I let them weave their webs wherever they like, as long as they are not in my direct path - I believe nature knows best so I let her have the first say. From time to time I need to knock away at one resident's web, when his modest abode becomes a bit more like a McMansion over the entrance to my shed!

Not all spiders are as 'friendly' as these two so it's a good idea to have an identification sheet handy in case you are bitten.

{the language of flowers}

2011-03-24T11:35:00.000+11:00

Being self-employed has many benefits, and as I’m finding out many stresses, so the ability to choose when and how I take my breaks is my idea of heaven. With the work of the day done, the gentle light of the afternoon sun streaming in our dining room beckoned for me to sit and enjoy a cuppa and some chillax time with a good book. Reading a dictionary may not be everyone’s idea of a good book – but this one is special, it’s all about flowers of course!

Amongst my treasures I bought at the Cottage Garden Club Meeting, was the sweetest little book called “The Language of Flowers”. The author of this dictionary of flowers and their meaning, remains unkown. The only clue given is that the gentleman who wrote it did so for his wife for their golden wedding anniversary, which they celebrated in August 1913! The original book was handscripted with delicate watercolour paintings of flowers and plants bordering each page. For many years it remained a family heirloom, however with their permission it has been lovingly reproduced for us all to enjoy.

So yesterday afternoon, I poured myself a proper cup of tea and read the dictionary!

Some of my favourite flowers (really I don’t think there isn’t a flower I don’t call my favourite, but I’ve tried to narrow down the list)

Anemone – Forsaken
Bluebells – Constancy
Columbine – Folly
Daphne Odora – Painting the lilly
Lilly-of-the-valley – Return of happiness
Lotus – Eloquence
Magnolia – Dignity
Pansy – Thoughts
White Rosebuds – Girlhood & a heart ignorant of love
Yellow Tulips – Hopeless love

Let me know if you have any flowers you’d like to know the meaning of!

{luck of the Irish to you & your sweet peas!}

2011-03-18T12:11:00.000+11:00

I know it should be a clover - but St. Pat's day is all about Sweet Peas for me!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! My post is a little late for those of us in Oz but somewhere in the world it's still ok to drink a pint of Guinness for breakfast!

For me St. Pat's day isn't so much about beer before noon but the day to sow my sweet pea seeds! This year I'm even more excited as I was lucky enough to be given some seed pods of Lathyrus odoratus 'Cupani original', the original sweet pea found by the Franciscan monk Fr. Cupani in Sicily and sent to England in 1699 where it was first cultivated. 'Cupani original' bears clusters of maroon-purple flowers with the trademark heady sweet pea fragrance, stronger than modern day varieties.

I find it hard to single out certain flowers as my favourites, but for their sentimental value Sweet Peas would be very close to the top of the list. Their delicious fragrance has such strong memories attached as my mum would have them in her garden every spring and cut bunches of them to put in our bedrooms. They were the first thing I planted in our new garden when we moved in. Don't mind the moving boxes or arranging furniture, I quickly worked over a little patch of dirt so as I could get some seedlings planted in time for spring blooms! To me a house is not a home until you can pick your own bunch of sweet peas to have by your bedside.

My first sweet peas - along with other favourites such as Snapdragons!

Some hints and tips for your Sweet Peas!

Traditionally planted on St. Patrick's Day (17th March), can be sown anytime March to April.
Pre-germinate seeds by placing them on wet kitchen towel or mix with moist seed-raising mix. Plant out plumped seeds carefully, especially if they have already begun to sprout, 2-3cm deep and 5-7cm apart.
Best in soil with pH between 7 and 8, hence recommendations to add lime to soil prior to planting
Add a generous layer of compost and animal manure to the soil along with a mixed fertiliser, not too high in nitrogen though, dig through to a depth of 10-15cm
If the soil is too wet, seeds will rot. Prevent this by creating a raised planting bed for the seeds to improve drainage.
They like plenty of sun so if growing on a trellis run rows north-south to maximise the amount of sun received
Support plants with either a trellis, tripod or mesh. Dwarf varieties which grow to 25-60cm are ideal for borders, rockeries and pots
Erect support prior to planting so as not to disturb establishing root system
Prune any spindly plants to promote stronger growth
Deadhead spent blooms to promote flowering
To discourage powdery mildew, space plants to improve air circulation and avoid wetting leaves when watering
Water regularly, especially in hot weather, use a liquid fertiliser fortnightly

{is it autumn yet?}

2011-03-08T16:11:00.000+11:00

Although the calendar has been turned over to March, here in Sydney it still feels like summer. Why then did the weather not change overnight from Summer on February 28 to Autumn on March 1? Did Autumn not receive the memo about change of dress code?

Well, I've found out it's got more to do with the moon than with a failed email... Technically speaking it's not really Autumn until the March equinox, which incidentally occurs this year on March 20 at exactly 10:21am! What this means is, at this specific time the centre of the Sun is in the same plane as the Earth's equator. Therefore the sun will rise due east, set due west and we will have 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night. Hence the name, derived from the Latin aequus=equal and nox=night. This is only strictly true however if you are located on the equator, elsewhere it is only approximate. Nevertheless it marks an important occassion on the calendar as the we officially begin Autumn here in the Southern Hemisphere and the Northern Hemisphere begins its Spring.

And just in case your New Year resolutions didn't make it past January let alone February, don't fear, according to the astronomical Persian calendar New Year's day occurs when the March equinox occurs before noon sundial time in Tehran, or the next day if the equinox falls in the afternoon.

So here's to another chance of committing to our New Year resolutions and hopefully some nice cool Autumn weather!

Photo via here

{a little rain dance}

2011-03-06T21:58:00.000+11:00

I wish this was me!!

I've been a bit slow getting my 'Autumn/Winter 2011' collection up as I've been busy doing daily rain dances in my backyard (hell I'd do it in my front yard too if it brought the rain!). It's been teasing us that it wants to rain but a few spots here and there don't do much apart from making the hair a bit unruly!

The garden and lawn are certainly looking tired and completely over this hot, dry summer. Needless to say I'm collecting buckets of water from every tap inside and out - my city friends/family think I'm crazy, but some things just never leave you growing up in drought. Except in extreme circumstances like flood, which unfortunately our country has experienced its fair share of this year, you never complain about the rain in the country. Whisper a whinge about the rain and your as good as telling the Rain God their bum looks big in those jeans. They'll turn on their heel and be out of there, and you'll be having to wait a long time until they forgive, forget and decide they want to be friends with you enough to want pay you a visit again!

So I'll be out there again tomorrow beating the ground to convince the Rain Gods to pay us a visit - stay a while even!

Photo via here

{haute couture vs hort couture}

2011-03-01T13:29:00.000+11:00

I'm so excited about the first day of autumn. However, summer is digging in it's heels and not wanting to leave the party just yet, with a forecast of 36 degrees today (& it certainly feels like it's going to get there!).

Today's oppressive heat has brought me inside to focus on my next post, "Autumn Collection", what to plant, where & when during the next three months! Until then enjoy a bit of haute couture of the {hort couture} variety!!

Photos via Ecouterre

{eastern garden design - part four: architecture}

2011-02-28T12:20:00.000+11:00

Being married to an Architect I've come to (forced to?) appreciate the importance of architecture in our environment and how it can either enhance or detract from the beauty of the surrounding landscape. Certainly within Chinese garden design architecture is fundamental, it is the primary element around which everything else is designed.

The gardens are designed so as they are not revealed all at once, rather in a more picturesque fashion, whereby vistas are created from within pavilions, or as you stroll along the covered corridors and meandering pathways, or through a decorative port hole in the wall. By containing the garden before expanding to reveal its entirety it enhances the enjoyment, as you are constantly surprised by the unfolding beauty before you and curious about what else is contained around the corner.

A view from outside the garden - a preview of what lies within!

The highly decorative and detailed waterside pavilions are generally modestly and simply decorated inside. They provide a place for quiet observation and contemplation of the garden, often providing inspiration for poetry and painting. The covered corridors offer the ability to wander the gardens no matter the weather, while the zig-zagging pathways are intentionally used to encourage you to slow down and enjoy the journey through the garden, it is also believed they ward off evil spirits! Unlike other pavements which do not encourage you to look at your feet, here they are given special treatment, with intricately designed and laid paving, adding another level of beauty to the garden.

'Lenient Jade Pavillion' - one of the many waterside pavilions
Highly decorative 'Dragon Wall' to the left of the pavilion

A covered zig-zagging corridor with views across the central lake and garden

Decorative 'port hole' window to garden beyond

Beautiful and highly decorative paving,
with zig-zagging path in background

Closer view of the decorative pebble pathway

'Moon Gates', circular openings within walls, add a sense of anticipation and heightened interest to step through and discover what is beyond. They also act as a wonderful frame to the landscape on either side. Historically they were only found in the garden's of the very wealthy.

Looking through the 'Moon Gate' to the garden beyond

The thing which struck me the most about the gardens was that I felt completely at ease and relaxed as soon as I entered. The walls act as a security blanket from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. You certainly get the sense that the gardens fulfil their objective of providing a place of shelter and spiritual utopia for you to connect with nature and your inner-self. Everything slows down in the gardens, your mind relaxes and you become conscious of any tension melting away.

The walls from outside the garden. Within lies complete sanctuary.

I thoroughly enjoyed my meander through the gardens, even finding myself doing a second turn inadvertently. You seem to see something different each time, be it from a different angle or by choosing to take a different path. The garden acts as a reminder that we should enjoy the journey as much as the destination!!

{the cottage garden club}

2011-02-27T14:21:00.000+11:00

Yesterday's blog entry was about rocks in chinese garden design, well I've been living under one! How this special little club has flown under my radar is a mystery. I stumbled across its existence in a past copy of Gardening Australia magazine. I instantly rang the Secretary, Sue Perkins to find out more and couldn't have come across a more lovely or enthusiastic person. The club meets every three months at Epping in a big ol' church hall (as you will see from pictures below, it may not be big enough for long!). There are over 700 members in the club who all have a common bond of loving gardens, in particular, Cottage Gardens. Stalls full of plants welcome you in, as does a cuppa. Best to get there early as plants are snapped up like hot cakes. Of course I came away with an array of goodies - some FREE! (you have to love the generosity of gardeners!). Lunch is provided by members each bringing a plate to contribute- good opportunity for recipe swapping!

Being a member of this lovely 'little' group has many benefits: attending these meetings to listen to the wonderful speakers, joining in a "Ramble" (sneaky peaking on another member's garden or other generous person who opens up their garden for us to look at), interstate and international guided garden tours at discounted rates and of course the quarterly newsletter. Personally, I think the $15 for the annual membership is money well spent just to spend the day with like minded people who don't think I'm crazy if all I do is talk plants and gardening!! (PS. lunch is pretty awesome too - check out all the homecooked yumminess!!)

You had me at the first stall...

Fantastic perennials from Bob Griffin's nursery
"Cooramilla Nursery" all the way from Blayney!

Not a spare seat to be found! Tables laden with lunchtime goodies!

Books from Florilegium - my other weakness!!

{eastern garden design - part three: rock}

2011-02-25T16:13:00.000+11:00

As a child I'd love lying back amongst the clover staring up at the sky and losing myself amongst the 'images' in the clouds. If you let your imagination go and run wild a bit you can see the beautiful and the bizarre! The use of rock in Chinese gardens is much the same - sometimes you need to use a little imagination to understand what they are portraying.

Foreground: Phoenix Rock. Background: Unicorn Rock

Left of screen: Dragon Rock. Right of screen: Tortoise Rock

Rock Forest

Rocks in Chinese garden design are used both structurally and sculpturally. The sculptural rocks are composed to depict mountain ranges or peaks, others are strategically positioned individually to display their human, animal or spiritual qualities. Rock is also used to provide the strong and masculine 'yang' element of the garden, balanced by the soft and feminine 'ying' of water. It is interesting then to note that the Chinese word for landscape, 'shan shui', translates to 'mountains and waters'.

As with anything created by nature, the features of rock vary greatly: colour, pattern, shape and texture, and hence each rock is prized for its individuality. Whilst some may be carved by hand, generally speaking those which occur naturally are held in higher regard. Many of the rocks used in the Chinese Gardens of Friendship were sourced locally from the NSW Central West town of Cumnock (not far from where I grew up...)

Whilst I'm not suggesting you go out and start collecting rock from the bush, I do recommend thinking about adding a sculptural element to your garden. Something with a personal meaning is always lovely, but if not, something which will draw the eye into the garden will add interest and gives the garden another level.

PS. Yes I do still love to lie amongst the clover and create cloud shapes...try it sometime it's very relaxing!

{eastern garden design - part two: water}

2011-02-23T10:48:00.000+11:00

With the experience of drought as a child still vividly etched on my memory, I have a great respect for and appreciation of water. Whilst some may simply see it as the clear liquid that flows out of the tap, I see it as a precious resource, each drop collected and used thoughtfully. We never had much of it growing up on the farm. I was always jealous of the 'town kids' who didn't have to think twice about turning on the tap to run a bath or run through the sprinkler on a hot day. Many years have passed since then but I'm still extraordinarily cautious with its use. So stepping into the gardens I was instantly drawn to the water in all its forms.

Dramatic effect - Cascading water

Serene and peaceful - still water in main lake

Water in the gardens is used various ways for various effects, from the still water in the main lake, the trickling streams gently meandering through the garden, to the powerful cascading waterfalls emptying back into the lake. The element of water is used in the design of Chinese gardens to 'soften' the hard forms of rock whilst creating a cool and serene atmosphere. The sound of water is also very relaxing, aiding in the visitors quest for quiet contemplation and meditation. Whilst most suburban blocks, terrace courtyards or balconies don't allow for the vast expanse of water used here in the Chinese Gardens, a small water feature can be incorporated into most spaces. Not only will you be albe to enjoy their asthetic appeal and therapeutic benefits, but you have a good chance of also encouraging fauna into your garden ~ a small pond will create a wonderful habitat for frogs and encourage insect eating lizards or a bird bath will be very much welcomed by local birds looking for relief on a hot day to drink or bathe.

I'm slowly learning not to be afraid of using water. My own garden plans incorporate both bird baths and a frog pond. Used thoughtfully and responsibly the benefits of its use will far outweigh the guilt I might have of 'non-essential' use, or if I do ever feel guilty at least I will be able to retreat into my cool and serene garden to relax about it!!

{eastern garden design - part one: plants of course!}

2011-02-21T13:42:00.000+11:00

I have a passion for plants, anyone who knows me well or even a little will know this about me. So I shall be biased and start with plants as the first key element to discuss about Chinese garden design.

The first thing I noticed when I entered the gardens was the fusion of plants being used - exotics such as Camellia, Willow, Azalea and Magnolias seemed to fit so seamlessly and perfectly next to Australian natives such as Banksia.

'Topiarised' Banksia with Weeping Willow overhead

The scenes within the gardens resemble the wild landscape in a miniature form - mountains, waterfalls, lakes etc, and whilst to the untrained eye everything may look natural, these gardens are meticulously maintained - pruning and plant training would be an ongoing task. Plants are not chosen for their beauty alone. Their form, texture and symbolic meaning is also of great importance. Bamboo represents a strong but resilient character with upright morality. Pine symbolises longevity, persistence, tenacity and dignity. Pyrus ussuriensis 'Manchurian Pear' is regarded as the "Tree of good Government", symbolising durability and longevity. The simple beauty of the lotus signifies purity whilst renewal and strength of will is symbolised in the form of the blossom of the flowering plum. Each season is represented in the garden, from the beauty of the blossom in spring to the fiery autumnal tones of the maple leaves as the season passes into winter.

I was so taken by the beauty of the lotus, both in tight bud form and when fully open. It is so graceful and dignified holding its head up high with an air of lady-like sophistication.

Serenity and Grace all in the one perfect package

For me, the thing to take away from this is to plant with purpose and meaning. I'm very much against following trends and don't just design to fit in with what society dictates is fashionable at the time. I think a garden is so much lovelier when it has meaning and a story to tell, be it a short story: courtyard or balcony, a penguin paperback: suburban backyard or an epic novel: sprawling country estate!

{kung hei fat choy} - chinese new year in the gardens

2011-02-12T14:02:00.000+11:00

I spent the day playing tourist in my own city yesterday. It's amazing the difference it makes when you can wander the city in your own time, not rushing from place to place meeting deadlines and dodging traffic jams.

As this weekend is the culmination of the Chinese New Year celebrations, I thought it appropriate to visit the Chinese Garden of Friendship. It was 22 years ago that I last visited these beautiful gardens! Whilst I thought they were lovely back then, I found a much greater appreciation of their design now having studied the intricacy of Eastern Garden design - everything has meaning in these gardens which takes their beauty to an even higher level.


So young! My sister & I ~ 1988 (I'm in the sexy green socks!)

22 years on ~ a solo poser!

Behind their high walls the gardens offer a place of peace, reflection and sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of Sydney's CBD. It is such a lovely place to be alone, just you and your thoughts, a place to rejuvenate the spirit and calm the mind. This feeling of peace is brought about by the sense of everything being in perfect harmony and balance, achieved through the careful use of the four key elements of water, stone, plants and architecture.

In the next couple of blogs I will focus on each of these four elements - you never know you might just be able to take a few ideas and re-create your own sanctuary.

I couldn't recommend highly enough a visit to these stunning gardens. Find out more about the Chinese Garden of Friendship here.

{a very stylish garden shed}

2011-02-01T12:15:00.000+11:00

I would like to say this is my gardening shed, sadly it is not. Mine is a dusty garage decorated with the resident spider's cobwebs and quite the collection of empty plastic pots. This gorgeous space belongs to Heather Cameron, a very lucky lady indeed. It was featured sometime ago in American "Country Living" and I have had it pinned on my 'inspiration/aspiration' board ever since. I don't know how much gardening would get done though...

{loving summer in the city!}

2011-01-28T13:07:00.000+11:00

Sydney in summer: the days are long, hot and sticky; the ear-piercing orchestra of cicadas is your alarm clock each morning; and your feet seem to have a permanent thong V-tan going on.

So it was with a great big smile that I saw the city had put on her summer dress to get in on the fun too! These temporary garden beds are in Martin Place in the CBD. There is everything from succulents to a bit of a vegie patch going on in these plantings. It's like a bit of lippy for the city - how pretty!!

{mother nature}

2011-01-13T10:02:00.000+11:00

Mother nature has reminded of us how powerful she is with the devastating floods in QLD now affecting the vast majority of the state. It has completely changed people's lives forever. Tragedies such as these put life in perspective. Our general day-to-day trials and tribulations can hardly compare against such loss. I tried to remind myself of this as I was standing on the long bus trip home from work, stuck in traffic and without air-conditioning, thinking to myself this is the pits - but then I looked out the window across Sydney Harbour with a beautiful afternoon pinky-blue sky horizon and realised how fortunate I am.

My heart went out to those who have lost everything and must now start over again. The emotional turmoil would be hard enough to have to deal with let alone the physical work that is ahead of them to rebuild their homes, businesses and lives. It is too much to think about - where do you start?

Having lived in Brisbane myself it is all too recognisable. Fortunately, my family are safe and well further south but they have friends who have lost everything, all they are left with are memories and a big clean up.

It is through such tragedy that we are reminded how strong a nation we are. In times such as these we rally together to show our support to friends, family and complete strangers. My mind is all a buzz with ideas as to how I can offer help, not just financially, but actually getting in there and getting my hands dirty. I'm thinking that when this all subsides and the media coverage begins to dwindle and people start moving on with life, is when these poor people are going to need our help the most. I'd like to bring a bit of beauty back into their lives. Flowers in all their simplicity can bring so much hope, joy and peace.

"Where flowers bloom so does hope" - Lady Bird Johnson

{welcome}

2011-01-06T14:00:00.000+11:00

Welcome to my little patch of the 'big-wide blog-world'!! This is where I will share my passion for flowers, dirt, worms, compost, the great outdoors, the environment and all things garedenesque! It is also where I will chronicle my adventures with my new little business {hort couture}.

{hort couture} is the baby I have dreamed about since a little girl growing up on the farm in central west NSW. It was a childhood spent getting dirt under my nails and on my knees out in the paddocks, down by the river which wended its way through our property, or by my Mother's side in her sprawling country garden. It is she who I owe my passion for gardening - she instilled in me the great love I have for Mother Nature, even when she is in bad mood or disciplining us with drought and flood.

My own garden is an experiment, a science laboratory for me to test out ideas - what plants work where, what looks good together, how to control pests and diseases etc... I'll share my hits and misses with you!

I hope you enjoy my garden ramblings and meanderings down the garden path.