Testimonials
What they said about our old, Web 1.0 website (2002 – March 2010)
I am full of admiration for what you are doing and will do what I can to support indigenous planting. Thank you also for the 'Flora for Fauna' UK website details.
Marilyn Sena, Devon, UK
Of all the sites I've looked at, yours is the only one that has even touched on the subject of hybrid plants and their uselessness for attracting certain birds. I really want to create a haven for all the little bird guys who don't get a look in, and your site was really helpful.
Also, I love the sections about fire-retardant plants for around the house.I've been here for almost a year from Melbourne. This block is a clean slate just asking to have a garden put in, with as many ultra-local indigenous plants as possible to bring in the under-represented bird life.
Burkes Backyard, and the like, really do have a lot to answer for with their endorsement/encouragement for hybrids and exotics too, with a broad spectrum approach to bird life, as if all birds are the same and all need the same habitat.
Ha! I'm all opinionated about stuff I know so little about!
What I do know is your site rocks, and it's so obviously sound information with so many considered ideas, it's what I've been searching for to launch myself, in good stead, into a lifelong (yet backlogged) love of indigenous plants. You're helping me with my very first 'real' garden. Woohoo!
I'm gonna print out a couple of pages and show them to my luddite, purist plant loving parents and they'll read them in their flora and fauna sanctuary, in their little mudbrick house under a solar powered diode light in front of the fire and also be really chuffed to know that there are such great resources out there.
And just in general, your site and info is brilliant. You obviously know your stuff.
Thank you.
Kirsty Johnson, Kandos, NSW
We really appreciate your website. I (Matthew) sat on a Garden escapes steering committee in 2000 as the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators representative. Nursery & Garden Industry NSW & ACT also sat on this steering committee and really hindered proceedings.
A plant has the capacity to tremendously modify an environment over time, beyond the life span of the planter. The freedom of an individual to choose a plant and plant it where they wish is not a right but a privilege that should be treated with great respect if individuals wish to maintain and keep this freedom.
In our view there should be a local native plant nursery in every locality providing local plants. There is always a local native plant that can substitute for an exotic. If we had looked to our local native plants before importing so many exotic landscape plants, we would not have the massive weed problem we have today - all things are connected. Thanks again.
Matthew Bailey and Vanessa McTyer, Comboyne, NSW
What a great company you have - I had a quick browse around your website. As I watch the sprinklers go on all over our suburban Californian neighborhood night and day (even though we're in our third year of relative drought), I think we could certainly do with a little more awareness of indigenous plants around here; and as for Southern California growing rice in what is essentially a desert with virtually no natural water, the mind boggles!
D.M., California, USA (D.M. is well-known in her industry, and prefers to remain anonymous)
Your work is really interesting and valuable to the community. My school will be happy to link with you.
We're building an indigenous garden in our school yard. We're stocking our garden with locally indigenous species - and species of significance to the Wadi Wadi people.
Ultimately our garden will become an outdoor learning space, with a range of areas to undertake classes. We're making links with our local community in the process. One of the most valuable resources we've found has been the publication available as a pdf download from the dept of environment here http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/nswcultureheritage/IllawarraAboriginalResourceUse.htm
My school would be very keen to maintain links with your organisation and share our ideas and learn from others. In fact there is a bit of a movement going on in schools at the moment in building indigenous gardens that you could probably tap into.
Anyway thanks for all the info and links to books and nurseries on your site.
Simon Zulian, Oak Flats, NSW
I'm a Bushland Management Officer with a background in gardening and landscaping and have come across your site. I'd like to say it's fantastic, full of great information and sending the all important message of increasing biodiversity and creating habitat for local wildlife by using indigenous plants in the home garden. We have a program with similar goals in the council I work for, it's called Gardens For Wildlife: www.knox.vic.gov.au. It's a free service and we visit gardens and make assessments on the identification of weed species and offer suitable alternatives with a huge focus on local indigenous species, the ultimate goal being returning habitat, preserving rare and endangered species and installing a sense of place, the Aussie Bush. Thanks for providing your website, It's very inspiring.
Andrew Van Vloten, Selby, Victoria
Your excellent article,’Planting for Bushfire Protection’ says beautifully all the things I have been trying to say for years. I wish that everyone who comes to live in the bush had as much awareness and foresight.
Margaret Boyd, Bullengarook, Victoria
I came across your article ‘A Marriage of Aesthetics & Ecology’ and your website, both of which I found really interesting.
Hugh Jones, Australian Plants Society NSW, North Shore Group, Hornsby, NSW
I was delighted to see your great website and I agree totally with the sentiments expressed . . . I feel saddened by nurseries promoting weeds that do untold damage to our beautiful environment. Hopefully people like yourself will make a difference in raising greater awareness of the natural beauty of this country and the need to preserve it.
David McDougall, Beverly Hills, NSW
I stumbled across your web site and love your principles and values.
Alan Tate, Erskineville, NSW
Your website – enjoyable and inspiring!
Rev. Rob Billings SJ, Bihar, India
I like your website, especially the book reviews. Keep up the good work.
Frances Cincotta, Newstead Natives Nursery, Newstead, Victoria
What a load of codswallop. We don't live in caves or bark humpys.
Elwyn Swane, former spokesperson, Nursery & Garden Industry of NSW & ACT
Aesthetics and ecological integrity are the two distinct aspects of gardening, and your website makes it very clear that the first is achievable without compromising the second. It supports our conviction that the gardening culture has to change.
Barbara Pelczynska and Stanislaw Pelczynski, former convenors, Bendigo & District Environment Council, Junortoun, Victoria
What a fantastic web site!
Jan Hainke, Secretary, Hedgewise, Sutton Forest, NSW
(Hedgewise is a community group established to encourage awareness and participation in the planting of appropriate vegetation in urban and rural areas.)
A great website!
Col Freeman, Sustainable Natural Resources Group, Taree, NSW
What they said about our Pacific Palms garden (2008 – present)
I am so impressed with the development of your house and garden. I love the idea of the dry creek fed by the hidden 'spring' and the beautiful natural looking water areas. I can imagine that the birds think they are in paradise.
I found your article ‘Our Eco-House & Garden’ most interesting and your ideas in such harmony with the land you chose. We need many more designers to think like you.
Patricia Mitchell, Newcastle, NSW
I could not believe that a garden of essentially local plants could be so brilliant. The plants seem to be at their optimum and they all fit together perfectly. It just looked too good to be true!
Allan Woollett, Kilaben Bay, NSW
Inspiring and lovely. Wonderful to see local plantings. Loved the island and can imagine the birds/wldlife fully supported.
Maureen & Norm Webb, St. George’s Basin, NSW
Lovely natural setting. Love the lake.
Linda & Ron Stewart, Illawaong, NSW.
Fantastic!
Ewan Lawson, Miranda, NSW
Wonderful naturalistic garden in a terrific setting. Thank you.
Annette & John Houseman, Redbank, NSW
Absolutely brilliant – a real credit to you both for the thought and planning (and hard work!) Thank you.
Jeff Hancock & Sharyn Ryan-Hancock, Eagleton, NSW
Stimulating and inspiring garden. Thank you.
ASGAP Garden Design Study Group, Sydney, NSW
A great example of allowing nature to dictate, rather than an egotist with a 'dozer!
Jonathan Steeds & Olga Blacha, Somersby, NSW
What they said about our Rozelle, Sydney garden (open in 1998 and 1999 for Australia’s Open Garden Scheme)
Inspiring!
Niki Crawford, Balmain, NSW
Cool! (and a little bit like ours, ideal!)
Ron & Deb Malor, Leichhardt, NSW
Wonderful!
Liz Treby, Balmain, NSW
Wonderful, cool, peaceful.
Susan Miller, Newtown, NSW
Relaxing and peaceful.
June & Roger Levers, Sutherland, NSW
An absolute delight.
Australia’s Open Garden Scheme selector Di Chappel, Tamworth, NSW
I dream of achieving such splendour.
Pam Renouf, Collaroy Plateau, NSW
Lots of great ideas.
Louise O’Brien, Rozelle, NSW
Excellent and shady too.
Jennie Brown, Drummoyne, NSW
Beautiful tranquility.
Ruth Hinch, Oxford, UK
A lovely, peaceful haven.
Anne Simpson, Randwick, NSW
Beautiful, so peaceful.
Lyn Chalk, Drummoyne, NSW
Very serene – thank you!
Chris Hutch, Leichhardt, NSW
A haven of serenity! Thank you.
Terrey Stevenson, Balmain, NSW
So green and cool and interesting. Thank you.
Ian Spring, Chiswick, NSW
Beautifully cool! Thank you.
Peta Grant, Alexandria, NSW
Gorgeous – like an oasis. Thank you for sharing your private space.
Judi Rossi, Earlwood, NSW
Heavenly!
Gail Hewison, Birchgrove, NSW
An oasis from the rat race.
Tony & Jannene Finnemore, North Ryde, NSW
Thank you for having us at your place. What a beautiful garden! Congratulations for such beauty, really refreshing for one’s spirits.
E & S Knight, Rozelle, NSW
Thank you for your creativity.
Bill & Pam Neville, Glebe, NSW
A beautiful haven.
Bill & Connie Peters, Ultimo, NSW
A wonderful oasis.
Valerie Blackett-Ireland, Leichhardt, NSW
A gem in a cityscape.
Jenny Faragher, Nelson Bay, NSW
What a wonderful peaceful place in the middle of the city.
Kris Caulder, Rozelle, NSW
Natural beauty reminds us that we are happiest when we merge with nature. How lovely!
Elizabeth Gray, Drummoyne, NSW
It is an inspiration to see such a lovely garden in a relatively small area. If only more city dwellers would follow suit.
Veronica Piatti, Ryde, NSW
Beautiful – just shows what can be done in a small space.
Jenni Collins, Lilyfield, NSW
A peaceful home and retreat from city noises.
Lyn Thorn, Glen Innes, NSW
So tranquil – you would think you were in the country.
Marion Hare, Balmain, NSW
A piece of paradise. So peaceful, it has such a nice bush smell.
Naomi Townsend, Rozelle, NSW
A delightful and refreshing oasis – also attracting birds.
Marie & Des O’Connor, Connells Point, NSW
Lovely use of a small space + scale.
Lisa & Lewis Chandler, Lilyfield, NSW
Beautiful, serene, cool, peaceful.
Angela Sainsbury, Leichhardt, NSW
A lovely oasis in the midst of the city.
Elisabeth Allen, Drummoyne, NSW