Episode 269 - Peter Donegan - Peter Donegan Garden Design

In this episode I catch with friend of the show, Peter Donegan from Peter Donegan Garden Design, a designer based in Ireland.

I always love chatting with Peter and hearing the creativity behind his designs, and in this episode he talks about a couple of recent award victories, including one we're he'll be representing Europe.

He also talks about his recent trip to a University in Turkey, as well as a potential garden he'll be designing in Australia.

You can follow Peter on Instagram @peterdonegan

If you're wanting to sign up to be on the mailing list for The Landscaping School, you can find the link here.

You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast

You can view each episode on our YouTube channel

Episode 268 - Chris Varsamakis - Zorbas Gardens

In this episode I speak with Chris Varsamakis from Zorbas Gardens, a design, construction and maintenance business based just outside of Geelong in Teesdale. 

Chris has gone from having his first horticultural job 3 years ago, to being a solo operator as recently as 14 months ago, to now having 7 full time employees as well as a couple of sub contractors on his books, so he's grown very quick, but as you'll hear, it's been measured growth and he's doing a lot of the right things to make it sustainable.

Chris talks about one of the keys to being able to scale that quick, and also shares his experiences of working with past guest and business coach, Paul Hamilton.

You can follow Chris on Instagram @zorbas_gardens

If you're wanting to sign up to be on the mailing list for The Landscaping School, you can find the link here.

You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast

You can view each episode on our YouTube channel

Episode 267 - Patrick Hudecek - Peak Project Group

In this episode I speak with Patrick Hudecek from Peak Project Group, a landscaping company based in Mansfield, Victoria building high end landscapes in the high country.

Patrick initially started the business himself, and around 12 months ago had two other team members come on board as partners in the business, and he explains why it's working so well in the partnership.

He also explains how they have weekly meetings between the partners and daily short site chats to let everyone on site know their roles.

You can follow Patrick on Instagram @peak_project_group

If you're wanting to sign up to be on the mailing list for The Landscaping School, you can find the link here.

You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast

You can view each episode on our YouTube channel

Episode 266 - Tim Hanna - Hanna Digital Design

In this episode I speak with Tim Hanna from Hanna Digital Design, a design company based in Vietnam who convert 2D designs into stunning 3D renders as well as doing elevation drawings.

Tim talks about how he started his apprenticeship in Parks and Gardens in Melbourne, working in garden maintenance for a couple of big name businesses before starting out on his own and having up to 6 employees, and then moving over to Vietnam where he started Hanna Digital Designs and now employs 8 staff.

He talks about how his staff have stayed and grown over the years and the reasons why, and also talks about the room for growth.

You can follow Tim on Instagram @hanna_digital_design

If you're wanting to sign up to be on the mailing list for The Landscaping School, you can find the link here.

You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast

You can view each episode on our YouTube channel

Episode 265 - Natalie Back - Living Earth Design

In this episode I speak with Natalie Back from Living Earth Design. Natalie is a landscape designer based in Melbourne and while only early into her design career, it's clear she has a great business mind and there's plenty to learn from her in this episode.

She talks about how valuable it's been being part of Landscaping Victoria's mentor program, where she's being mentored by Peter Shaw.

She also talks about her experience designing and building a garden at MIFGS this year with Open Gardens Victoria, and more importantly talks about how she marketed herself there, which is something I may copy off her for next year, it's that brilliant an idea.

You can follow Natalie on Instagram @livingearthdesign

If you're wanting to sign up to be on the mailing list for The Landscaping School, you can find the link here.

You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast

You can view each episode on our YouTube channel

Amy Downie part 2 - Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

In this episode I catch up again with Amy Downie from the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

Amy was last on about 6 months ago on episode 236 and she spoke about how at the Botanic Gardens, she works on escarpment horticulture, and that she was hopeful of one day going on a trip where they'd need to climb on a 300m cliff to get the seeds of an endangered Eucalypt, Eucalyptus stenostoma. Well she just got back from that exact trip, so I wanted to get her on to hear all about it and what could possibly be next!

You can follow Amy on Instagram @amydownie_

If you're wanting to sign up to be on the mailing list for The Landscaping School, you can find the link here.

You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast

You can view each episode on our YouTube channel

Episode 263 - Q and A Episode

In this episode I answer some questions asked via Instagram.

Regular episodes will return next week

If you're wanting to sign up to be on the mailing list for The Landscaping School, you can find the link here.

You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast

You can view each episode on our YouTube channel

Episode 262 - Tyler Howard

In this episode I speak with Tyler Howard. Tyler is a horticulturist based in NSW and is an extremely knowledgeable fella, so much so that he was awarded the AIH Horticulturist Of The Year for 2025 by the Australian Institute of Horticulture.

He's also been a recipient of the Global Footprints Scholarship where he travelled overseas to work on some of the world's best gardens, and created great contacts while there, to the point where he's travelled back to work at the Chelsea Flower Show for folks he met there previously.

Tyler works with Graham Ross on his radio show and also is part of Ross Garden Tours, so he definitely knows his stuff!

You can follow Tyler on Instagram @thoward_hort

If you're wanting to sign up to be on the mailing list for The Landscaping School, you can find the link here.

You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast

You can view each episode on our YouTube channel