HELEN YOUNG
Horticulturist, garden writer and broadcaster
Hands-on
As the owner of a soft landscaping business for the past 20 years, I am daily in the business of gardening. I specialise in garden consultations (2-hour advice/planning/design sessions in home-owners’ gardens), plant selection, and garden renovations. My writing is constantly informed by this regular interaction with the public and the hands-on experience of creating gardens.
Media
Newspaper: For more than ten years I’ve been writing a weekly gardening column in Australia’s national newspaper, The Weekend Australian. Answering readers’ questions keeps me learning and researching, and in touch with what’s on the minds of the gardening public.
Magazines: As a freelance garden writer I’ve contributed articles to many garden magazines. Currently I’m the regular garden writer for Australian House and Garden magazine and give presentations for them at events such as the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.
Radio: I enjoy being one of the regular garden experts answering callers’ questions on 702 ABC’s Saturday radio show, since 1998.
Books
In 2003 I co-authored “Form and Foliage Guide to Planting” (Murdoch Books) with Jennifer Stackhouse, and in spring 2004 published my book “Balcony: Gardening in Small Spaces” (Lothian), which still sells steadily.
Garden tours
I’m fortunate to lead garden tours to Europe each year, travelling to France, Italy, England, Spain, Portugal and Czech Republic over the past ten years, including the Chelsea Flower Show in London each year. Other tours have included Japan, Tasmania and New Zealand. This gives me an international perspective and keeps broadening my outlook.
Qualifications
Horticulture Certificate (Distinction), with NSW State Medal
Associate Diploma Science (Landscape) (Distinction)
Member Australian Institute of Landscape Designers and Managers (AILDM)
Strengths
Meeting deadlines
Presenting clean copy
Strong research and networking skills
Excellent plant knowledge
Contact
02 9411 1167 0412 610 139
Located at Willoughby, Sydney