editors's letter
Australians love growing citrus at home, and this is the time of year when the spoils hang heavy on the tree. But if your lemon, lime or orange tree is more spoiled than spoils, you might nd the answer to your woes in our special citrus clinic. ere are 12 meaty Q&As to dig into (page 42), plus Jane Edmanson’s wrap up of pests, diseases and other irritants.
Winter also ushers in the fragrant and sometimes ckle daphne – we have a terri c growing guide on page 12, with a selection of cultivars to look for. If daphne is not for you, how about giant bromeliads, (Alcanterea spp., page 16), dainty winter iris (page 18) or the curious silk tassel bush (page 20)? Or maybe you’re thinking shade, fruit and something for the future? Tino Carnevale talks ‘pears for your heirs’ on page 58, and now is a perfect time to plant one bare-rooted. And I adore the breaking-all-the-rules mix of camellias and grevilleas (and many more plants) in the feature garden on page 24 – a product of passion, expertise and good instincts.
Passion is one of the key qualities we’re looking for in our Gardener of the Year competition. Entries are coming in, and we’re delighted to announce that this year, the ve state nalists chosen by the magazine and TV teams will be featured on the TV show, as well as in the magazine. Once the TV segments have been broadcast, public voting will commence. Yes, you get to choose this year’s winner!
Find your entry coupon on page 49 of this issue, and visit gardeningaustralia.com.au/awards for more details or to lodge an online entry. If you’re still unsure whether or not to enter, turn to page 50 where we catch up with the 2016 winner, Shirley Johnson. Shirley says she didn’t imagine for a second she would take out the title (and the fabulous overseas trip), but decided to share her story anyway. Just as well she did! We hope her holiday report and photos inspire you to share your own story with us.