You will immediately recognise Sophie from her long-standing role on Gardening Australia, as the South Australian presenter. But there’s so much more to this woman! She’s a human dynamo not afraid to take on bigger and bigger challenges.
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What drew you to horticulture originally?
I grew up in a nursery, literally! My family’s business which was a large plant nursery in the Adelaide Hills which sold retail, as well as wholesaling to councils, landscapers and garden designers. Our home was on the property where the nursery was and we had an amazing large garden around our house, with beautiful large trees including many rare and special varieties. Both my parents were passionate plants people, and my mother loved to play in her garden.
We also had florist shops, and it was here that I worked growing up, with the last florist shop sold when I was 15. When I left school the last thing I wanted to do was to work in the nursery. I went to Melbourne and studied for 4 years to become a Naturopath. (If I had kept up my qualification it would now be a Bachelor of Applied Science – Naturopathy), and ironically, we did study some botany while gaining an understanding of herbal medicine. My father passed away just after I graduated so I came home for a couple of months to give my mum a hand. Three months in and I was hooked.
What pathway did you take to get there?
Non-conventional 😊. In the mid-90s, I, along with many others in the nursery industry, was interviewed by a training organisation and given a retrospective Cert 4 in Horticulture. The nursery was sold in 1997 and then I started working part time for other retail nurseries and part time as a garden consultant to home gardeners. I also started writing for newspapers and magazines, as well as doing more gardening talkback and I started doing garden segments on Channel 7.
What obstacles did you encounter along the way?
While I had a great plant knowledge, I had no real training in how to run a business. I did end up doing a business course about a year before we sold the nursery. In hindsight it would have been great to do this earlier, as running a successful nursery is not just about loving plants.
Who were your mentors?
I was very fortunate to have Noel Lothian (Director of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide) and Trevor Nottle (gardening author and garden historian) give me informal advice when I was starting out, and since then I know so many amazing gardeners who continue to give me help and advice.
What are you working on at the moment?
Everything 😊 – TV, Radio, writing, books, workshops, garden talks, garden consulting or hosting garden tours. I am also able to support communities doing it tough, helping to reconnect them back to gardens and gardening for their physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing, and from a food security perspective (whether because of fire, flood, drought or other challenges). In addition, I am able to support worthy organisations and causes from Botanic Gardens of Adelaide to Friends of Waite Arboretum and Butterfly Conservation SA, by being on the Board or as their Patron or Ambassador.
What does an average day consist of for you?
No such thing. I am very blessed to do so many things that no two days are ever the same. My only regular commitments are just two days of filming for Gardening Australia a month and talkback radio each weekend, so everything else changes from week to week.
What is your favourite plant?
Usually the one I saw last, but having a flower with scent certainly puts a plant at the front of the line.
What hort projects are on your “To Do” list?
Having sold my last garden at Mt Barker a year ago, I have been renting while my youngest (twin girls) finished year 12 at two different schools. Now they have finished I am really excited to be on the hunt for my next property………………… Watch this space! And just for those who are thinking I am downsizing, I am actually looking for a larger property, and it will probably have harsher conditions. I am interested in demonstration dry climate gardening, revegetation and rewilding.
What are your 3 most worthwhile tips that you can give to women who are starting out in the horticulture industry?
- Garden because you love it, not because it’s your job
- Be determined
- Always trust your gut feel