To celebrate Plant Appreciation Day, Thursday 13 April, big-box store Ikea is releasing a special phrase book to help our plants thrive. Plantitudes will be available for free with the purchase of a plant in-store on the day and while stocks last. Aussies love their houseplants, and they love to talk, so it’s no surprise that a new study has shown that Australian plant owners are more likely than most to talk to their plants. The global average was 13 per cent while 19 per cent of Australians admitted to talking to plants. Ikea is helping us pair the love of plants and talking with a Swedish t ..read more

Are your house plants looking blue, not green? Here are some fantastic (and playful) plant care tips from Dan Cusack at houseplant online store, Housemates; www.getplantsdelivered.com Choose the right plant for the right space This rule is for all plants, indoors or outdoors. Plants grow in different environments, so it’s important to consider light, humidity, and temperature when you are choosing the plant you want to buy. This will ensure that we put them in the correct space to ensure they not only survive, but thrive!   Don’t skimp on soil I love soil! If you stop for a second an ..read more

On an average Ainslie block lies a hidden urban farm, filled to the brim with pumpkins, tomatoes, chickens, rabbits, bees, sunflowers, grapes, microgreens, persimmons, pistachios, strawberries, feijoas … it’s a garden wonderland! Fiona Buining began plotting her pride and joy, the Ainslie Urban Farm, back in 2008. Starting from scratch, the property was the perfect blank slate on which to design her urban garden dream. Fifteen years on, Fiona has transformed her hobby farm into a thriving business that provides sustainable microgreens to 30 local restaurants and cafes. Many Canberrans have eat ..read more

The latest in news, trends and happenings for the home, with CW Home editor, Abbey Halter. Realistic wallpaper. Photo supplied. Community gardens grow global citizens The simple act of gardening can deliver unique learning experiences, research from the University of South Australia shows. Primary school children are using horticulture to engage with their curriculum through a weekly gardening project while encouraging a sustainable future. UniSA Associate Professor Kathryn Paige said the students were learning maths, chemistry, science and biology, and literacy through the project, and their ..read more

Have you ever heard of nature journalling? One part meditation, one part citizen science, it’s a pastime that fosters curiosity. According to local woman Fiona Boxall, it may also be a means of inspiring protection for the local environment, including towards locally beloved, but unprotected nature spots like Bluetts Block. “There are as many ways to nature journalling as there are nature journallers. It’s about your own personal response to an environment,” she says. “It encourages you to stop and look and respond … rather than seeing what’s around you as just a blur.” Fiona, 64, is a “sort o ..read more

The garden trend of the summer is set to centre on sustainability. Creating gardens in whatever outdoor space you have available in your home has become increasingly popular, and as summer draws near, it’s the optimal time to freshen up your foliage and plants. Award-winning horticulturist and landscape designer Adam Robinson shares his thoughts on the top trends for summer 2023 and his top tips for growing new life in your home. Balcony and terrace gardens Capi Nature Rib and Row collection. Available at Bunnings. Gardens in even the smallest spaces can be transformed into a lush and vibrant ..read more

Spring is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than with florals? Here, we take a look at how to grow your own blooms that look so good you could (literally) eat them. The lowdown on edible flowers Flowers can be so much more than just pretty in your garden. They can bring in a plethora of beneficial insects and pollinators to help your patch, they can help keep pests and disease at bay, and they can be cut, arranged and stuck in a vase. Yep, flowers are pretty cool. Most of us know that flowers can also be eaten, but it is not just the standard few you may have heard about. In fact, ever ..read more

With frosty Canberra mornings on the horizon, indoor plants can be the safest option to nurture over winter – but which ones will thrive and which will perish? To answer this, we’ve created a cheat sheet of the best winter indoor plants for your home. You’re welcome. Cymbidium Orchard Cymbidium orchid $175 Heritage Nursery in Yarralumla Cymbidium orchids require low temperatures and lots of light, so place in a sunny spot, preferably next to a window, and watch them blossom. Technically outdoor plants, it’s suggested to move them inside during the colder months, making them the perfect winter ..read more

Fiona, Michael and their family have been living at their heritage Ainslie property, also known as Ainslie Urban Farm, since 2007. When they moved in, the 1000 square metre block had a 69 square metre house with some red-hot pokers and two fruit trees. The house has since been extended to a modest and energy efficient 100 square metres. The couple selected the block for its generous northerly aspect, perfect for comfortable living and growing lots of produce. Fiona has a permaculture background, including teaching alongside permaculture co-creator, David Holmgren in Victoria. She has also taug ..read more

At first glance, you may think you have very few native animals scurrying around your backyard, but Australian gardening icon Costa Georgiadis says there’s a whole lot more than you think. As part of Junior Landcare’s ‘What’s in your backyard?’ campaign, Aussie kids are encouraged to explore their backyards and gardens to discover just how much flora and fauna lives around them. “We’re calling on all Aussie kids to get outside and explore their local environment,” says Costa. “Your backyard might be a garden. If you live in an apartment, your garden could be plants on your balcony. “You may li ..read more