garden design magazines

I was asked recently what magazines and other things I look at on a regular basis to get ideas and find out what is happening in the world of garden & design.  It can be a time consuming occupation pouring through magazines and finding things on the internet, but I do flick through a few mags on a fairly regular basis to see what is going on in the world of plants, design and all things garden.

Of course some mags are better than others, but there is always something to be gleaned.  Without making the list too long these are a few that I stick to on a fairly regular basis. 

My favourite would have to be Gardens Illustrated and it is one of the most interesting and intelligent gardening magazines around.  A UK publication, so sometimes its very 'English'  and the gardens don't alwasy translate to our climate, but its nice to know there is a whole nation obsessed with gardening and all things botanical. They also have some great podcasts.

I also look at a couple of American magazines on a fairly regular basis, Garden Design and Fine Gardening.

In Australia, I find the publications not as finished as the OS ones and there is a lot of the same things over and over again.....there is also a hefty emphasis in Australian magazines for vegetable gardens and very little else.  We just dont seem to be able to understand that there is so much more to gardening than just growing vegetables. And where are all the articles about interesting people in the professional gardening world rather than joe blog down the road. 

But it is good to look at Gardening Australia magazine and the Organic Gardener that come out of ABC.  Peter Cundall is usually headlines in Organic gardener and who doesn't like Peter Cundall....!

I also occassionally look at The English Garden which have just recently put out a newer magazine called The Edible Garden that is quite good also.

Australian Country Style often have great gardens to pour over and can be very inspirational and their facebook page is sometimes fun to have a look at.

The general house and design magazines have embraced gardens and gardening finally and so I always have a flick through Australian House and Garden, Home Beautiful, Vogue living, Inside Out, Belle etc etc. (usually in the library)

And here is a hint, if you don't want to go and buy them all to look at them monthly, most good libraries will carry many of these magazines.  I often zip up into the library for a quick flick through all the monthly house and garden type mags....it keeps one up to date and can give you a whole half an hour of blissfull peace and quiet.

I was also sent recently a list that a friend found on the internet of the top 10 garden design blogs, which made a bit of interesting reading.  It came out of America, so if you do a quick search using Australia searching then you can find quite a few blogs running around Australia as well that are quite fun to have a read of sometimes.

And just for a little gardening interest other than magazines....this light show by artist Bruce Munro at Longwood Gardens in Philadelphia looks fabulous.

People are doing fab things in gardens all over the world.

If you know of any other great garden/gardening publications please let me know.

brisbane sojourn

I have had a few weeks of total techno silence...no computer, no phone messages, very little connection....yep I went on holidays and decided that if it was to be all sun, sand and enjoyment, then a little quite from the office and technology was definitely needed.  Hence to say, it was wonderful.

I have also enjoyed getting back into it now, so maybe there is something to be said for a little techno quiet.

On my way home, I stopped in Brisbane for a little catch up with some old friends.  I spent a lot of my youth in Brisbane and haven't been there or seen said friends for quite a number of years, so it was quite wonderful to visit old 'stamping ground' and catch up.  

And I must say, Brisbane was a bit of  a revelation....so much change and so much of it done so well.

I was pleasantly and enjoyably surprised.  Brisbane has had lots of renovation and development and there is little evidence in the major public areas of severe flooding that happened last year.  And for once, I really enjoyed the semi-tropical gardens and plantings ....maybe I am just looking at them with a more mature eye?

In fact, Brisbane was absolutley buzzing and there are people out everywhere and lots and lots of things to do.  For some fabulous places to go.......

Try Jetty Oxford, a groovy little restaurant/cafe on the banks of the river at Bulimba (a rather up and coming type suburb of brisbane).  There are some lovely shops and gardens around this area also.  

For anyone into gardens or to just get a bit of an idea about semi-tropical plantings, head to the Roma Street Parkland.  This has transformed this part of town...and yes I know its been there for ages, but its wellestablished now. Its quite formal and staged but worth a look.

Head to southbank and go to the GOMA...Gallery of Modern Art.   That was really enjoyable.

Lunch in the cafe wasn't flash...but the place was buzzing on a rainy public holiday...and cold for queensland standards.

But the grounds and surrounding landscaping is lovely to look at and wander through.  Quite modern and interesting but still with a lush feel.

I didn't get to the botanic gardens this time, but I did go to the Story Bridge Hotel one night - yes one must go to the pub in Brisbane, its compulsory... and not a bad wine list.  And then for a BBQ in the park just near there the next morning....all much more upmarket than I remember...not a wino in sight!

Please excuse my photos....I had to borrow some...I lost all mine.  Some of them were lovely too.

Looking forward to getting back to Brisbane soon.