Costa Georgiadis
Costa studied landscape architecture at the UNSW, where he developed a deep interest in ecological design and sustainable living. His career began with SBS’s Costa’s Garden Odyssey, a show that explored the spiritual and environmental dimensions of gardening. Costa took on the role of host of Gardening Australia in 2011. This brought his infectious energy, passionate love of plants and signature beard to Australian TV.
Costa has an holistic approach to the garden. He passionately believes that we need cultivate the soul and the soil. He has a community verge garden in Bondi which features compost systems and worm farms illustrating his commitment to regenerative practices. He’s a passionate advocate for youth education, serving as an ambassador for Junior Landcare. He extends this to building a love of plants and gardens in the next generation and hosts Gardening Australia Junior.
Costa is a multifaceted personality. He’s a rugby referee, occasional performer, and has worked across Europe on rooftop gardens and natural swimming ponds. His book Costa’s World: Gardening for the Soil, the Soul and the Suburbs shows his philosophy and how he lives what he believes.
Costa’s charisma and authenticity have earned him accolades, including a Silver Logie and AACTA Audience Choice Awards. Whether he’s chatting at a farmers market or singing at Beardstock, Costa Georgiadis lives and breathes the joy of connecting people with nature. Come and meet him yourself at the Yarra Valley Spring Plant Fair
Jane Edmanson
Jane Edmanson OAM is one of Australia’s most respected gardeners. She has a passion for sustainable gardening and environmental education. Born in 1950 and raised on a citrus farm outside of Mildura, Jane’s early life on the farm laid the foundation for her lifelong passion for plants.
She studied teaching at Monash University and started her working life teaching in Western Victoria. She later obtained certificates in horticulture and landscape technology from Burnley. Her nursery career started at the State Schools Nursery before eventually becoming co-owner of the Bell Street Garden Centre in Coburg.
Jane became a familiar face on Australian television in 1989, replacing Kevin Heinze on ABC’s Sow What. This lead her to be one of the founding presenters of Gardening Australia in 1990. Jane remains the only original host still on the show. Her warm, practical advice, deep plant knowledge and love of people have made her a trusted voice in homes across the country.
In addition to writing several gardening books and contributing to Gardening Australia magazine, Jane has lead garden tours across Australia and the wider world. She is the immediate past patron of RHSV and was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2004 for her contributions to horticulture and environmental sustainability.
Jane continues to inspire Australians to connect with nature, one garden at a time. Come and chat with Jane about your garden experiences. at the Yarra Valley Spring Garden Fair
Vasili Kanidiadis
Kanidiadis grew up in Coburg in Melbourne's north. He began broadcasting on Greek radio station 3XY for 7 years before moving to Channel 31 He has studied structural engineering, classical piano and horticulture.
Vasili is a much loved garden expert who has run garden centers, help develop products and made thousands of videos for TV and YouTube about plant and garden health. Roughly half way through his career he had a complete change in garden philosophy and hasn't looked back since.
Teena Crawford
Teena runs a horticultural consultancy business working in various areas including residential garden sector, lecturing, botanical tour guiding and writing.
University trained with more than forty years’ experience as a professional horticulturist. Teena grew up working in the family Azalea nursery with her parents and grandparents. She studied horticultural science at Melbourne Uni. - Burnley Manager of Smith and Gordon Wholesale nursery for 32 years.
She has held many roles including: 11 years co-host of Smart Gardening on 3AW Radio (during 1990s and 2000’s). Writer for different publications including The Age and Your Garden magazine. Botanical guide on garden tours around the world for Botanica World Discoveries. Garden consultant for both private clients and other horticultural businesses.
Lecturer on various plants and garden topics. Keen gardener opening her own garden in Australian Open Garden scheme on several occasions. Past board member of NGIV - Nursery and Garden Industry of Victoria.
Currently returned to being a judge of the prestigious Show Garden competition at MIFGS- Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. A Show where she has been involved in many roles including contract growing plants for exhibits, planning and design for exhibits, working on various MIFGS stands and mentoring up and coming designers exhibiting for the first time.
The culmination of Teen’s experience has led her to writing a book with a designer, friend and colleague, Lisa Ellis (Lisa Ellis Gardens) called ‘Plantology – The Essential Guide to Better Gardens’ – released December 2024.
Ben Brooker
Ben Brooker is passionate about studying the problems we face in our gardens and looks holistically at the root causes, concentrating on the health of our soils & their improvement, eliminating any need for chemical herbicides, pesticides & fungicides.
He is a collector and grower of a wide range of rare, unusual and just stunning perennial plants. His nursery and garden is in Gippsland.
Clive Larkman
Clive has worked in horticulture since travelling across Asia, UK and USA. With a degree in Biology, diploma in Philosophy.
He and his family, have built Larkman Nurseries and Romantic Nursery into key production nurseries and the Herb-Chilli Festival into a major event.
He sat on key Agribusiness bodies: NGIV, IPPS, Primary Training, AIH, TALGA, AgYV, VAC and a local councillor and was International IPPS president.
Clive has a passion for plants and cooking and gets satisfaction from teaching how to grow and use herbs. His philosophy is, life is for living and knowledge is for sharing.
Sandra Shwarz
Sandra is an educator, landscape architect and author who is passionate about understanding and sharing what makes green spaces restorative.
The seed for her book was sown while undertaking a double Masters – Landscape Architecture, at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Alnarp) and University of Melbourne (Parkville/Burnley). The book expands on her academic work and draws on experiences and reflections on restorative and therapeutic green spaces across Europe, Asia, North and Central America.
Sandra continues to share her learning with others, such as the University of Melbourne (Burnley Campus), expand her research and understanding of the many benefits of green spaces and she volunteers weekly at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, helping care for the gardens that are so appreciated by the patients, staff and visitors
Chloe Foster
Chloe is a lifelong horticulturist and gardener. Spending her childhood with her Pa in his veggie garden. Heading straight into a Diploma of Horticulture after school, becoming passionate and obsessed with the Australian flora. Then taking on a Bachelor of Biological Science focusing on botany and geology.
Her career began working in wholesale and retail nurseries. Before moving into the public horticulture realm. Holding positions with Melbourne Zoo and Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, specialising in the cultivation of hard to grow species.
Chloe loves creating engaging gardens and helping people select the ‘right plant for the right place.’ This philosophy spills over into her teaching Horticulture at Melbourne Polytechnic, where she spends her days getting students excited about plants and gardening.
Chatting about plants is her favourite past time. Which has lead to co-hosting the successful 3CR Gardening Show. You will find more of Chloe’s writing in Gardening Australia and Organic Gardener magazines. She loves using her knowledge to educate people through writing and broadcasting.
David Liddle
David Liddle is an expert plantscaper who has been working in the industry for 20 years. David presents on Outdoors/Indoors in Adelaide, writes for Vasilis magazine and absolutely loves the garden.
Owen O’Neil
Owen is a self-confessed Carnivorous plant nerd. His intrigue for these weird and wonderful plants began at a young age, quickly becoming an obsession. Over 35 years Owen has grown and bred many species. Sarracenia Trumpet Pitcher plants among his favourites. Situated in Goulburn NSW the cool winters and warm summers offer ideal growing conditions for his Award-winning plants.
His enthusiasm for his plants is matched by his desire to share the secrets of these remarkable and beautiful botanical marvels.
In addition to being a guest speaker at the National Arboretum in Canberra, Owen has spoken to horticulture students, garden clubs, and schools. Owen has spent time in the wilds of Northern America observing many of the species he has grown in their natural habitats.
He has taken out multiple awards and championships in competitions from local shows to the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Merryle Johnson
Merryle has a life-long addiction to flowers, colour and designing with plants. Merryle developed her love of plants and nature on the family farm in central Victoria, and has gone on to build up a seed and plant collection of some of the most beautiful and unusual plants from around the world. With her new web site that allows others to share the wonder, her Seedscape business has taken off.
Merryle has spent a lifetime collecting and working with unusual and hardy perennial plants, many of which are grown by seed.