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Horticulture expert visits Girgarre

By Bree Lambert

Mar 11, 2026

Russell Larke (head gardener at Melbourne Arts Precinct’s Laak Boorndap), Rodger Elliot, John Arnott (horticulturalist) and Doc McDonald (Gargarro Gardens Inc chair). Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

The Gargarro Botanic Garden recently welcomed an expert in Australian horticulture, Rodger Elliot, to assess current plantings and provide recommendations to help shape the next project.

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Mr Elliot, co-author of the nine-volume Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation, was joined by experts in gardening and horticulture, John Arnott and Russell Larke, as he walked through the garden.

In anticipation of an extension of the sensory-themed garden, Mr Elliot, Mr Arnott and Mr Larke all contributed their expertise to provide recommendations.

Doc McDonald, John Arnott, Russell Larke and Rodger Elliot look at the short-leaf bluebush. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Mr Elliot pointed out that gardening could be unpredictable, and while some plants hadn’t performed as originally expected due to recent hot weather, he was surprised how well others were growing.

“This garden is demonstrating a lot of resilience,” Mr Larke said.

Mr Elliot agreed.

“Sometimes you just don’t know how they’ll behave,” he said.

“They might behave badly in other places but stick them in a different place (and) sometimes they behave.”

With the experts’ recommendations, Gargarro Gardens Inc chair Doc McDonald said the first task for the group’s next project was to source funding and finish the design.