Influential Australian Garden People

Book excerpt: Immerse yourself in the lives of Australia's influential garden shapers and creators. Paul Bangay, Arno King and Janine Mendel may all create totally different style gardens but they share many similar experiences. The scent of rosemary around the sandpit, planting carrots as a five year old, or running free in the Australian bush are just some of the common childhood experiences that have sparked an interest in the natural world for this generation. Some have come to garden making or writing through science, architecture or the arts. Collectively they have a wealth of expertise, what makes them unique is their passion and individual vision for garden making in Australia in the 21st century. We can journey with them as they relate their own experience within the context of increased urbanisation, shifts in lifestyle choices and concern for environmental sustainability. As Australia negotiates this transition, important questions arise about the future shape of our gardens and our connection to them. Above all else, this generation represents a fundamental shift in the values and beliefs attached by our society to nature, landscape and cultivated spaces.