Maybe I am being too windy and pedantic, but when I read Government warnings on the sides of bags of potting compost, orchid compost, azalea compost and any other kind of prepacked garden aid in which micro-organisms can harm me, I take notice, put on the recommended protective gear, - mask, gloves, general cover-up, and proceed with caution. So why did I see the young lady presenter proceed with no protection in showing us how to use potting compost, in a GA show a few months ago? People have died from illnesses directly tracked back to these packages, which is why there is a government warning. A poor example to set to even one person liable to this infection, telecast to millions. Am I being just too careful?I look forward to watching GA and any other garden shows on TV, as long as they do their homework.

When you say " 3D landscapes", do you mean pictures, or do you want to work with real plants?: I am assuming you mean pictures, and here is my list: (I am most familiar with eastern Australian plants.) 1. Eucalyptus, Angophora and Corymbia. ("Gumtrees") These are all very similar plants. There are more than 700 species of them in Australia, and almost every Australian landscape has several species,(and Australians love them) so they are essential for your picture. You should use at least one smooth-barked species such as E. camaldulensis (River Redgum). There are many of these growing in Italy, but see some paintings by Hans Heyson for a more typical Australian shape. They grow by rivers on open plains, and are AustraliaÂs commonest Eucalypt. E. maculata( also called Corymbia) (Spotted Gum) is very well-known, and has a tall spotted trunk. E.grandis (Flooded Gum) has a very big, tall straight creamy-white trunk. It typically grows in wet forests and needs a strong green background of rainforest foliage to look authentic. E.saligna has a typical bluegum trunk and is a big tree of the same habitat. E.papuana (ghost gum) is a well-known gumtree of the desert. See some paintings by Albert Namatjira for the setting. Of the rough-barked Eucalypts, the best known are ironbarks such as E.crebra or the blue--leafed E.melanophloia. They have black trunks with deeply furrowed bark, and would be very suitable for your picture. For flowers, the Angophoras and Corymbias are better than Eucalypts, as the flowers are held on the outside of the canopy. A.leiocarpa (Rusty applegum) is very well-known and popular. It grows in many environments including rocks where its roots make good pictures. Western Australian Corymbias are small trees with the showiest flowers. E.ficifolia is very popular and well-known. In Australia gumtree leaves typically show insect damage, and this is considered to be part of their beauty (see paintings by May Gibbs) so you should include insect damage if you are showing close pictures of the leaves. 2. Acacia (Wattles). There are more than 800 species in Australia. Typical Australian landscapes would have up to six species. The species with showy flowers are usually small. A.podalyrifolia is well-known and has blue-green leaves and grown in many environments. (A typical Australian landscape should feature plants with blue-green or silvery-leaves) A.harpohpylla (Brigalow) is a silver-leafed tree of the plains. For a typical landscape you might like to choose one wattle with phyllodes and one with leaves. 3. Grevillea. I would choose G.robusta (silky oak) which is a tree of rainforest margins, very well-known. There are more than 300 grevilleas in Australia and most are from heath environments. 4. Brachychiton acerifolius. This is a popular garden plant which drops its leaves in spring, and becomes covered with red flowers at the same time as the silky oaks are flowering. They look very picturesque together. This is a...

Perhaps you could have a trip to Mount Annas(Correct Name?) which I beleive has native plants from all over and discover what they do with the WA natives. I thought Kangaroo paw like it a bit damp and sandy. We had a man from Strathmerton,Vic.speak at APS the other night who ripped up his clay fairly deeply, mulched, hilled and swailed, and had good results. Yes it has to do with microclimate and soil . Research to learn about the plants' natural habitat. After all some WA plants do not grow in sand. Don Burke has a good native garden. But Mount Annas National gardens would be your best bet.

I've grown an extensive rainforest of over 400 local area species, including Lemon Myrtle and other Backhousia, under eucalypts - ironbark, gums, etc. and used several large truckloads of fresh tree lopper mulch, all with maximum benefit! Only downside is that eucalypts will take all the moisture and fertiliser they can steal from your intended use for your plants. And it can inhibit growth in some planted species such as fruit trees. Again, a greedy need for nourishment they don't really need. I never had myrtle rust, but did have the brownish colouring on older leaves under shade. No leaf drop, no treatment either. Please work with your natural flora and don't chop it down! If you are concerned about fire risk, that's a different matter, but growing dry rainforest (scrub) species around the house will give some protection because of the high moisture content and less oil in the foliage. Marjorie, SE Qld.