Ken Gillanders
Encyclopedia
Ken Gillanders OAM
is an Australian botanist, horticulturist, nurseryman and plantman
.
Ken, a nurseryman for over 50 years (now retired), and his wife Lesley started Woodbank Nursery on a bush block in Tasmania. Woodbank Nursery specialized in rare, exotic, unusual and native plants. As their nursery and its reputation grew so did their spectacular gardens containing many rare plants. Ken and Lesley collected seeds in Chile
, Ecuador
, New Zealand
, China
, South Africa
, and Lesotho
. Ken cultivated and propagated many Tasmanian natives including Leatherwood
cultivars.
Ken has presented horticultural papers in the UK, Japan
and New Zealand
. He is co-author of “Know Your Rock Garden Plants and Dwarf Bulbs”.
In 2002 retirement came, many Australian and overseas collectors were devastated describing the nursery’s closure as a “tragedy”. Ken and Lesley stayed on in their garden of botanical treasures and have increased its size to cover over 5 acres (20,234.3 m²). Nowadays they travel overseas taking photos of plants in flower, instead of collecting seed. The nursery is now known as Woodbank Gardens and hosts small events on occasions.
In June 2004, on the Queen's Birthday, Ken was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for service to Horticulture.
Ken is currently the Australian Rhododendron Registrar.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
is an Australian botanist, horticulturist, nurseryman and plantman
Plantman
Plantman aka Blackheath is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. The character first appeared in Strange Tales vol. 1 #113.-Fictional character biography:...
.
Ken, a nurseryman for over 50 years (now retired), and his wife Lesley started Woodbank Nursery on a bush block in Tasmania. Woodbank Nursery specialized in rare, exotic, unusual and native plants. As their nursery and its reputation grew so did their spectacular gardens containing many rare plants. Ken and Lesley collected seeds in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
. Ken cultivated and propagated many Tasmanian natives including Leatherwood
Eucryphia lucida
Eucryphia lucida, commonly known as the Leatherwood is a small tree or large shrub found in forest in Tasmania. An attractive plant utilised in both the horticulture and apiculture industries, it was promoted by the Tasmanian Branch of the then SGAP as an alternative to the Tasmanian blue gum for...
cultivars.
Ken has presented horticultural papers in the UK, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He is co-author of “Know Your Rock Garden Plants and Dwarf Bulbs”.
In 2002 retirement came, many Australian and overseas collectors were devastated describing the nursery’s closure as a “tragedy”. Ken and Lesley stayed on in their garden of botanical treasures and have increased its size to cover over 5 acres (20,234.3 m²). Nowadays they travel overseas taking photos of plants in flower, instead of collecting seed. The nursery is now known as Woodbank Gardens and hosts small events on occasions.
In June 2004, on the Queen's Birthday, Ken was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for service to Horticulture.
Ken is currently the Australian Rhododendron Registrar.