HortiColour By Miffy Gilbert

🌿 Sunday Sessions in Sassafras – Term 2: Quinces 🎨

Escape to the Hills and immerse yourself in a day of creativity, nature, and botanical art. Set in a beautiful garden studio in Sassafras, these Sunday sessions are the perfect way to slow down and reconnect with your creative side.

✨ SUITS: All levels – beginners to advanced welcome
✨ DATES: Sundays – 10 & 24 May, 7 & 21 June
✨ TIME: 10am–4pm (morning & afternoon tea provided, BYO lunch)
✨ VENUE: Sassafras Studio (address provided upon booking)

🍐 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Explore colour mixing techniques, experiment with washes and glazing in watercolour, and learn how to build a rich colour story using coloured pencils for maximum impact.

🎨 Watercolour, coloured pencil or graphite – all mediums supported

💰 COST: $330
👯‍♀️ Bring a friend and save – $600 for two ($30 off each)

Enjoy the quiet of the Hills, a stunning garden setting, and the joy of creating something beautiful 💚

Spots are limited – book now 👉 www.horticolour.au

🌸 South Yarra Botanical Art Classes – Term 2: Dutch Iris 🎨

Join in the botanical art fun and create something truly beautiful this term! Whether you love watercolour, coloured pencil or graphite – all mediums are welcome and supported.

✨ SUITS: All levels – from complete beginners to experienced artists
✨ DATES: Fridays – 8 & 22 May, 5 & 19 June
✨ TIME: 10am–4pm (morning & afternoon tea provided, BYO lunch)
✨ VENUE: 1A Shipley Street, South Yarra (entry via side gate)

🌿 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
We’ll deep dive into colour mixing using colour theory and explore how to create depth and dimension, using the stunning Dutch Iris as our muse.

💰 COST: $330
👯‍♀️ Bring a friend and save – $600 for two ($30 off each)

Slow down, get creative, and leave with artwork you’re proud of 💜

Spots are limited – book now 👉 www.horticolour.au

NEW NEWSLETTER COMING SOON: SUBSRIBE NOW!!

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Subscribe to my newsletter and receive updates straight to your inbox — no noise, just beautiful, thoughtful inspiration.

💌 Subscribe via my website:
👉 www.horticolour.au

I’d love to have you along on the journey.
NEW NEWSLETTER COMING SOON: SUBSCRIBE NOW!!

FINAL DAYS:

ARTANICA, a botanical art exhibition, is currently being held at the Mt Macedon Horticultural Hall, Mt Macedon Golf Club, in beautiful Mt Macedon, Victoria.

Open til 6 April, Saturday to Tuesday (including Easter), 10am to 4.30pm.

All works are original and for sale.

Featured image, rose hip by Miffy Gilbert

Botanical Art Society of Australia Inc.

FIGS:

Figs feel like something out of a storybook — soft, sweet and quietly luxurious.

Crack one open and it’s like nature showing off a little: rich colour, delicate seeds, and that honeyed flavour that somehow feels both indulgent and wholesome at the same time.

They’ve been cherished for centuries, shared at long tables, woven into traditions, and savoured slowly — the kind of fruit that invites you to pause and enjoy.

Figs remind us that beauty often comes in layers......the sweetness we enjoy and the quiet strength that supports it.

Perfect for the kitchen wall, buy online at Horticolour – www.horticolour.au

The leaves of the Rugosa rose are just as special as its flowers and hips, often overlooked, but full of quiet beauty and purpose.

Rugosa rose leaves are a rich, deep green with a distinctive textured, crinkled (rugose) surface that gives the plant its name. This unique texture catches the light beautifully and adds depth and contrast in the garden, creating a lush, almost sculptural look.

One of their standout qualities is their exceptional resilience. These leaves are naturally tough and resistant to many common rose diseases like black spot and mildew, which means the plant stays healthy and vibrant with very little intervention. They’re a great example of nature doing things well, no fuss required.

There’s also a lovely sensory element to them. When brushed or crushed, rugosa rose leaves release a subtle, fresh fragrance, adding another layer of connection to the plant beyond just its visual appeal.

From a design perspective, the foliage provides a beautiful backdrop for the bold flowers and later the bright rose hips. Even when the plant isn’t in bloom, the leaves carry the garden, offering structure, texture and a feeling of fullness.

As the seasons shift, the leaves can take on soft yellow tones in autumn, adding gentle seasonal colour before falling, while still contributing to the natural cycle of the garden.

In every sense, rugosa rose leaves reflect the same qualities as the plant itself—strong, textural, low-maintenance, and quietly beautiful, proving that even the supporting elements in nature deserve their moment of appreciation. 🌿

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This original botanical artwork is available to view from March 21 – April 6 at **Artanica** – Mt Macedon Horticultural Society Hall, Mt Macedon Golf Club, Mt Macedon, 10am – 4pm daily.

Or buy online at Horticolour – www.horticolour.au

The Rugosa rose produces some of the most charming and useful rose hips you’ll come across, both beautiful and incredibly beneficial.

Rugosa rose hips are typically large, round and a vibrant red to orange colour, adding a splash of brightness to the garden well into autumn and winter. Unlike many other roses, they’re not just decorative, they’re highly valued for their nutritional and practical uses.

One of their standout qualities is their exceptionally high vitamin C content, often far exceeding that of oranges. This makes them a wonderful natural immune booster, especially when used in teas, syrups, or jams. They’ve long been used in traditional remedies to support overall health and wellbeing.

Beyond nutrition, rugosa rose hips are also incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Their slightly tangy, fruity flavour lends itself beautifully to:

* Herbal teas
* Jellies and jams
* Syrups and cordials
* Baked goods

From a gardening perspective, rugosa roses are hardy, low-maintenance plants. They tolerate poor soils, coastal conditions, wind and frost, making them a reliable choice for many climates. The hips themselves persist on the plant, providing winter interest and a valuable food source for birds and wildlife.

There’s also something quietly nostalgic about them, their natural, slightly wild look brings a sense of heritage and simplicity, reminding us of traditional cottage gardens and seasonal living.

In short, rugosa rose hips are a perfect blend of beauty, resilience, and usefulness, a small but powerful reminder that some of the best things in the garden are both ornamental and deeply practical.

This original botanical artwork is available to view from March 21 – April 6 at Artanica – Mt Macedon Horticultural Society Hall, Mt Macedon Golf Club, Mt Macedon, 10am – 4pm daily.

Or buy online at Horticolour – www.horticolour.au

One week to go!!

ARTANICA, a botanical art exhibition, is to be held at the Mt Macedon Horticultural Hall, Mt Macedon Golf Club, in beautiful Mt Macedon, Victoria.
Open 21 March to 6 April, Saturday to Tuesday (including Easter), 10am to 4.30pm.
All works are original and for sale.
Featured image, rose hip by Miffy Gilbert

Plantdeck© by Miffy Gilbert 🌿

Plantdeck© is a unique plant identification and garden planning tool designed to make garden design simpler and more inspiring. This information-packed swing-leaf booklet is an invaluable assistant for selecting plants by species or colour, making it a must-have for every garden design project.

Designed by Miffy Gilbert, Plantdeck© draws on years of hands-on experience as a horticulturalist, giving gardeners a practical, easy-to-use resource they’ll reach for again and again.

🌱 Available to purchase now on the website — perfect for gardeners, designers, and plant lovers alike.
www.horticolour.au

LAVENDAR & BEES

Lavender and bees share one of nature’s most beautiful partnerships. The fragrant purple flowers are rich in nectar, making lavender a favourite for bees and other pollinators. On warm, sunny days, a blooming lavender plant can be alive with the gentle hum of busy bees moving from flower to flower, collecting nectar and pollen. The shape of the delicate blooms is perfectly suited to bees, allowing them easy access to the nectar they rely on for energy.

As bees gather nectar, they also pollinate the flowers, helping lavender plants reproduce and thrive. In return, bees can turn this nectar into beautifully fragrant lavender honey, prized for its delicate floral flavour. Planting lavender in our gardens not only brings colour and scent to our spaces, but also helps support local bee populations and the wider ecosystem. Sometimes the simplest things we plant can make a meaningful difference. 🐝💜🌿

I would love for you to own your piece of botanical art from Miffy Gilbert. Head to my website to purchase www.horticolour.au.