Test Garden Open Day – March

Jac Semmler

Jac Semmler is an internationally recognised horticulturist and founding director of Super Bloom, an Australian plant design practice that nurtures dynamic, living beauty and diversity to places and spaces through innovative planting design, expert high-skill horticulture, and art x plant projects. With a “plants for the people” mission, Super Bloom cultivates resilient, climate-adaptive gardens that thrive in dry summer conditions across Australia and worldwide.

Jac Semmler is the author of two influential books published internationally by Thames & Hudson: Super Bloom and The Super Bloom Handbook, which share her vision for gardens and landscapes of wonder that flourish in challenging climates. As a plant advocate, she shares garden dreams and schemes as a regular contributor and guest presenter to programs and publications, including Gardening Australia.

Jaclyn Crupi

Jaclyn Crupi is a gardener, garden educator, bookseller and author. Her previous books include Garden Like a Nonno, a tribute to her nonni and all they taught her. She is happiest in her garden on the Mornington Peninsula, where she converted a tennis court into a thriving netted orchard and vegetable plot. She began growing flowering plants to attract pollinators and now nurtures a large native habitat garden.

Beci Orpin

Beci Orpin is a multidisciplinary artist, designer and author based in Brunswick, Melbourne whose broad practice is united by a signature application of colour, shape, and optimism.

She has collaborated with major brands and organisations including Apple, Google and The Australian Ballet, as well as lectured and led workshops at national institutions, including the NGV, Craft Victoria and Melbourne Design Week.

Beci has exhibited her work both locally and internationally, with solo exhibitions at Lamington Drive and Shepparton Art Museum. In 2024, Beci completed her largest installation to date – a giant soft toy rabbit, commissioned by the Immigration Museum.

Beci has also authored and illustrated 11 books.

Each month, we hold a small in-conversation event focused on gardening and planting design, followed by a hands-on workshop.

You can hear from gardeners, designers and horticulturalists about the garden’s naturalistic planting. We also invite plant-loving writers and creatives to share their experience with us.

The talk is followed by a hands-on workshop demonstrating artist-led practice with plants, such as cyanotype and botanical printing, and practical workshops, including propagation techniques and planting for your own garden.

Registration for our Test Garden Open Days is free and spaces usually book out fast. Make sure you’re following @laak.boorndap on Instagram to hear when we open registrations.