Australian native plants have adapted to their harsh environment and flourished. Find out how to choose the right native plants for your garden or balcony to screen, attract birds or provide fragrance. You’ll also learn about edible Australian native plants as well as those that have aromatic foliage and act as fire retardants – all needing minimal maintenance. Comprehensive course notes are provided

Program
• Introduction to the Workshop
• Origins of Australian native plants
• Australian climatic zones and environments

• Major Australian native plant families and their features
• Adaptations of Australian native plants

• Australian native plants for specific locations – coastal; drought tolerant; frost resistant; etc.
• Australian native plants for suburban gardens – for screening/windbreaks; sun/shade, etc.

• Australian native plants with special features – bird attracting; fire retardant; fragrant flowers, etc.
• Edible Australian native plants

• Cultivation of Australian native plants – planting; pruning; maintenance
• Pest and disease control
• Workshop Review

About the Tutor

Judith Sleijpen graduated from Ryde School of Horticulture with distinction in Urban Horticulture and gained experience in the retail nursery industry for several years. As a Member of the Horticultural Media Association, Judith writes a monthly gardening column for “Peninsula Living” and has also published articles in “Landscape Contractor and Manager”, “Better Homes and Gardens”, “Gardens and Outdoor Living” and “The Garden Gurus”.Passionate about plants, gardens and bees, she is a Member of the Australian Institute of Horticulture, a former Committee Member of the Sydney Executive Committee of Open Gardens Australia and a former member of the Speakers' Bureau of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Apart from conducting her garden design and horticultural consultancy business, “Gardens, Balconies and Beyond”, Judith is a tour leader for the David Jones Flower Show and judges garden competitions in Ryde, Camden, Campbelltown, Bayside and Randwick.