/www/asatourscomau_679/public/wp-content/themes/asatours/single-person.php

Leaders, Lecturers & Tour Managers

John Patrick

John Patrick will be familiar to many for his work on radio and television presenting programs relating to gardens, their plants and their history. Until recently, he was a presenter on ABC’s television series Gardening Australia. John has also written extensively on gardens throughout the world, including articles in Vogue Living and The Australian Garden Journal. He has written thirteen books as diverse as Trees for Town and City Gardens and A Brief Biography of Robert Sweet. John has lectured widely in Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand and has worked as a judge and consultant to garden shows and events. In 1985 he organised the opening of gardens for Victoria’s Sesquicentenary which led to his involvement in the founding of what is now Australia’s Open Garden Scheme. His knowledge of European history allows him to place garden history in a special context, one that reflects the social milieu in which gardens were created. His encyclopaedic knowledge of plants will give garden visits a special appeal and permit a greater appreciation of the particular environment and conditions of the garden. John has led ASA tours to New Zealand, the USA, South Africa, China, Japan, Bhutan, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France and Britain. He is an enthusiastic traveller with a special interest in the food and culture of countries he visits.

Gardening Australia John Patrick, Bickleigh Vale, 6th September 2008:

Publications

Through the 1980s when John was Senior Lecturer at Burnley College he wrote a number of books including The Australian Garden. He also organised and wrote the guidebook to Victoria’s Open Gardens for the State’s sesquicentenary and this grew to become first Victoria’s Open Garden Scheme and then Australia’s Open Garden Scheme. He wrote the first two Open Garden Scheme Guidebooks. He was Series Editor for the very popular Lothian Australian Garden Series for which he wrote Trees for Town and City Gardens, Great Garden, No Sweat and Beautiful Gardens with Less Water. John has also written A Brief Biography of Robert Sweet. His most recent publication, written with Jenny Wade is Contemporary Australian Garden Design: Secrets of Leading Garden Designers (2008)

Past Tours

John first joined ASA in 2003 and has since led over 50 ASA tours including programs to Italy, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Africa, Morocco, Bhutan, Japan and the USA. These include:

  • Atacama to Patagonia: Chile’s Natural World (2018)
  • Natural Landscapes & Gardens of Morocco (2018)
  • Gardens, Art & Fall Foliage: New England, New York and Pennsylvania (2017)
  • Natural Landscapes & Gardens of the Channel Islands: Jersey, Guernsey, Herm, Burhou & Sark (2017)
  • Gardens, Villages & Châteaux of Normandy & Brittany (2016)
  • Cherry Blossom & The Art of the Japanese Garden (2016, 2019)
  • Gardens of Italy: The Italian Lakes, The Piedmont, Tuscany, Umbria & Rome (2015)
  • Garden Masterpieces of Italy & England and the Chelsea Flower Show  (2014)
  • Gardens, Art & Fall Foliage: Coastal Maine to Philadelphia including Boston & New York (2014-2015)
  • Landscapes and Gardens of the Côte d’Azur, Provence & the Cévennes National Park (2014)
  • Natural Landscapes and Gardens of South Africa (2013)
  • Gardens in Spanish Culture: from the Alhambra to Gaudí including the Córdoba Patio Festival (2013)
  • Natural Landscapes & Gardens of New Zealand (2012)
  • Landscapes and Gardens of Northern California: Creating a Style (2012)
  • Bhutan: Himalayan Fortress of the Gods (2011)
  • Gardens of Japan with John Patrick (2009 – 2011)
  • Gardens, Villages & Historic Homes of North East England & the Scottish Borders with John Patrick (2010)
  • Gardens, Villages & Historic Homes: Ireland, Southern England & the Chelsea Flower Show (2009)
  • Gardens, Villages & Châteaux of North Western France, (2007 – 2008)
  • Cities, Gardens and Vineyards of Central Italy & the Cinque Terre, (2006)
  • Gardens, Villages & Châteaux of the French Riviera, Provence and the Dordogne, (2003 – 2005)
  • Northern Italy & France: Palaces, Villas, Gardens & Vineyards tours (2000 & 2002)