The Likely Impacts of Climate Change on Home Gardens of the Adelaide Plains: Perceiving Change, Managing Risk, Planning for the Future

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Drought and climate change have resulted in severe restrictions on watering home gardens in Adelaide, South Australia. The long term indications are that the restrictions will be permanent. The impacts on a city of 1 million (approx.) that is largely comprised of quarter acre housing allotments, each with their own private garden, have been significant. Many gardens have suffered loss of significant shade and fruit trees, areas of lawn or grass have died, flowers and vegetables have not been grown. The loss of amenity and productivity have created distress, dismay, resignation and anger among home owners. The over-all sense of loss pervades home gardeners, the nursery and design industry. Dealing with the changed circumstances in a positive manner will relieve the feelings of grief over 'lost' gardening traditions and amenity, resolve the challenges of acceptance and promote a sustainable way forward within an emerging design framework that takes full account of the impact of climate change.

Stream: Human Impacts

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

My research is in relation to the likely impacts of climate change on home gardens of the Adelaide Plains. I am interested in developing a new design framework for home gardens that accepts and plans for change in climate, especially warmer temperatures, less rainfall, more extreme events, and what plants will grow in the conditions projected to develop in the future. To accommodate the projected climate change design features will need to change too. Changes from the established Anglo-European gardening tradition to a new paradigm will cause uncertainty and distress for many home owners. I want my research to provide some re-assurance about gardening in the future as a means of maintaining pleasant home environments and promoting acceptance of the changes that lie ahead. I believe my research will have a wider impact among home gardeners in countries with emerging economies and aspirations for Western lifestyles, as well as for home gardeners in countries with established economies who will all face the impacts of climate change at this micro-level. My personal interests include garden history, the impact of the Mediterranean on culture and lifestyle, and growing a diverse range of plants most likely to be successful in the changed circumstances.