Garden Plant Conservation Association of Australia Inc.

Collection Holder Interviews - Stephen Ryan

Stephen Ryan

National Plant Collections Register

Acanthus, Cornus & Sambucus

 
Stephen Ryan's garden was included in GPCAA’s Macedon Ranges Collections Tour. Caught on the steps of his verandah, Stephen took a few moments out to share insights into his new job, his garden, the Mt. Macedon nursery and the plant collections he has registered on Garden Plant Conservation Association of Australia’s National Plant Collections Register.

AT HOME IN HIS GARDEN 

E:  What species of Sempervivum did you use on your shed roof? 

S:  As many different ones as possible. 

E:  Would you use it again? 

S:  Yes. 

Collection Holder Interviews - John Nieuwesteeg

John Nieuwesteeg

National Plant Collections Register

 Alister Clark Roses & significant Australian cultivars 

It was nearly 50 years ago as a young immigrant from Holland, under his father's guidance, that John Nieuwesteeg planted his first cuttings in Australia. Today, as the next generation of the Nieuwesteeg family continues to distribute high quality roses to clients from their wholesale nursery in Coldstream, Victoria, John is recognised as one of Australia's leading rosarians. He is a second generation rose-grower who played a significant role in the search for, growing on, research, identification and release of one of the first collections registered with the GPCAA, the Alister Clark Rose Collection. John also breeds roses, is involved in and supports the Rose Society of Victoria, Heritage Roses in Australia and is currently the President of the Garden Plant Conservation Association of Australia. He holds the GPCAA registered collection of Alister Clark Roses and early Australian cultivar Roses. 

Collection Holder Interviews - Melanie Kinsey

 Melanie Kinsey

National Plant Collections Register

Hebe

EDITOR (E):  Do you have a favourite red wine or chocolate? 

MELANIE (M):  Lindt, but really any chocolate will suffice. 

E:  You’re a busy gal, Melanie... are you still a writer for the ‘Australian Horticulture’ magazine? 

M:  Yes – onto my 7^th editor! 

E:  How about the internet site ‘Global Garden’? 

M:  It’s in hibernation. 

E:  What was it about the Hebe genus that tickled your fancy enough to create and develop such an outstanding collection? 

Collection Holder Interviews - Pat Hetrel

 

 

 

Pat Hetrel

National Plant Collections Register

Magnolia and Prunus (Sato Zakura)

As part of GPC’s ‘Mountain Marvels Tour’ in August this year, members and friends visited “Como Gardens’ in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria, Australia.  Since purchasing these historic gardens, Pat and George Hetrel have meticulously maintained and developed its extensive landscape.  ‘Como Gardens’ holds a currently registered GPCAA National collection of Magnolia and Prunus (Sato Zakura). 

E:  Thank you for your hospitality today, Pat... it’s a privilege to visit.  What a magnificent garden! How much land do you have?  

P:  6 hectares. 

E:  Do you have a garrulous platoon of gifted gardeners to help you? 

Collection Holder Interviews - Simon Begg

 

 

Simon Begg

National Plant Collections Register

Rhododendron Vireya

  

In addition to his articles in the Genus November 2010 issue, Simon has kindly agreed to provide us with an interview.  Simon and Marcia purchased Beechmont in the highlands of the Dandenong Ranges in Australia in 1997 and have since developed their mountain property into a magnificent garden. 

E:  Thank you for your hospitality during our Mountain Marvels Tour last year... it was a treat to visit.  Marcia welcomed us in the coach area at the front gate and mentioned the hot and cold running water there – can you tell us the story? 

Collection Holder Interviews - Doug McKenzie

 

 

Doug McKenzie

National Plant Collections Register

Darwinia

Doug and Janet McKenzie have developed and maintained their Darwinia collection on a property in Ocean Grove, Victoria.  Doug is a legendary Australian master in grafting Darwinia. The GPC visited this collection as part of the ‘Wonders out West Tour’ in 2010.

E:  Hello Doug – thanks for your hospitality today. By jingoes – you’re an interesting man with some great Australian stories to tell.  I’m not quite sure where to begin, but here goes... 

E: What initially attracted you to Darwinia? 

D: This was one of the difficult but beautiful plant groups that I had tried to grow without success. 

E: When and where did you get your first plant? 

D:  I can’t remember really – it was in the early days of Australian plant growing, and the more difficult it was to successfully grow a plant, the better!  It was all about the challenge! 

E:  We don’t see a lot of Darwinia varieties in nurseries... why?