Jerry Coleby-Williams

Gardening Sustainably in our continually surprising climate


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How Do I Prevent My Garden From Spreading Mosquito-Borne Diseases?

Tropical effect gardens need not be refuges for mosquito-borne disease.
Pictured: Billbergia nutans, Queen’s Tears, growing at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney

Is gardening fashion fanning ill health?

Cairns City Council has increased on-the-spot fines for homeowners found to have mosquitoes breeding on their property to $400. John Pilspanen, of Queensland Health, says the disease will keep spreading until everyone takes the necessary precautions.

Queensland Health is concerned about the increasing infection rate of the current dengue fever outbreak in far north Queensland. Described by a Public Health physician as “the most rapidly spreading outbreak”, forty staff are involved in mosquito control work. Continue Reading →


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“Queensland Gardeners Too Dumb To Grow” – Minister

In a recent guide, ‘Waterwise Queensland: Gardening with greywater’*, published on 26th April 2008, Queensland minister for Natural Resources and Water, the Honourable Craig Wallace hopes to popularise grey water in home gardens.

During the ongoing drought in SE Qld, home gardeners have grabbed their buckets and answered government calls to reduce their mains water consumption. Ten per cent of homes in Brisbane now have rainwater tanks. Residents have met and often exceeded the Water Commission’s 140 litre personal daily use target.

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A Blot On The Landscape

In many ways SE Qld is Australia’s garden centre, propagating and supplying landscapers and nurseries throughout SE Australia. Despite this, many good nursery businesses in this region are suffering during the drought. Lost custom and level 5 watering restrictions are putting reputable people out of work, and businesses are closing down.

Imagine you’re a professional nursery grower. You grow good stock and you have a good, established reputation…and you’re managing to do reasonable business. What would be the ultimate turn off for your customers?

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