Hortimacultralist

A what?

Yes that's the typical response I get from non-green thumbs when they ask me what I do for work. It's actually surprising the amount of people who don't know what a horticulturalist is. Ok we aren't a glamorous profession like Builders, Plumbers or Electricians (and not as well paid) but we are friendly folk, that is until you start asking us stupid questions like "I'm after a plant, it's got green leaves...."

So what is a horticulture? Dictionary.com defines it as:

1. the cultivation of a garden, orchard, or nursery; the cultivation of flowers, fruits, vegetables or ornamental plants
2. the science and art of cultivating plants

Horticulture has a very long history, dating back thousands of years and correlates with the time our nomadic hunter gatherer ancestors transitioned into a more sedentary lifestyle requiring the cultivation of plants for food and medicinal purposes.

It's one of those passions passed down through the generations from parents or grandparents to children. For those who of you have followed my blogs, you will know that the spark that ignited my horticulture passion came from my Nan and I think most people get their green thumb from their grandparents.

It's unfortunate that that link or transition is disappearing from our culture. Busy lives and less opportunities due to the pressure of urban sprawl have made it harder for plant knowledge and passion to be passed on within a family unit. Of course there is still a lot of opportunities for people interested in the field to get involved but I really believe that spark we need (and this goes for any passion) is really important in the formative years, when we are discovering more about the world we live in.

More than a decade ago saw the boom of DIY gardening shows (of course Burke's Backyard and Gardening Australia had roots well before this). It was a great time as the message of getting into the garden resonated with many and the visitors to garden centers increased. Home gardeners had access to a lot of information via media and in turned headed back out into the garden. Most of those shows have now disappeared and the humble Horticulturalist can be relied on a bit more for plant knowledge - so don't be afraid to ask questions when buying plants, we are happy to pass on what we've learnt.

A recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald titled "Horticulture not seen as a viable career, even though it's crucial for our cities" had me feeling a bit disappointed. It's sad to think that many people turn away from the field because it's not high profile enough.

Sure it can be a tough industry and a lot of hard work, especially when you are subject to the seasons and weather conditions throughout the year. Couple that with the high turnover of staff you see in the industry you can't help but agree with these kind of headlines. If you want to get anywhere and want to get anything out of life you've got to start somewhere and put in the effort -  find your passion, find the niche in the market and developed that, the possibilities could be endless.

The positive message that the article emphasizes is the importance horticulture still has in the modern world, especially in our cities where the development and management of open spaces for educational and recreational pursuits is critical for the community to keep that sense of connection to the natural world.

The way we use plants in the landscape is evolving very quickly to keep up with the needs of the urban environment. The use of plants to ascetically soften buildings or green walls and rooftop gardens to reduce building temperatures, the use of rain gardens to harness, clean and reduce run-off from storm water and the increase of community and street verge gardens are also becoming more popular in cities and have all been driven by horticulturalist's passionate about increasing the plant/life balance.

There definitely is a science behind why and how plants grow the way the do and in a lot of cases why they don't always behave the way you want them to. I have many friends that ask me for advise and it's quite satisfying for me to help them out. There is never a shortage of photo's being sent to my phone asking "what's this?" or "whats wrong with this?" I hope that my answers are always helpful and I can pass something on that will inspire my friends to keep trying to green their thumbs.

There is something special about nurturing nature, seeing plants and gardens grow and develop. The natural world can be so beautiful and interesting if you give it a closer look. Horticulture can be very rewarding and there are many more opportunities today than ever with new horticultural pathways opening as our cities grow.