Heather Hartshorne (1930-2021) was a passionate gardener, she began looking after friends’ gardens and the convent at Semaphore. She had a thirst for knowledge and enrolled in the Advanced Certificate in Horticulture at the SA Botanic Gardens.

Over the next four years she juggled motherhood with work, study and field trips before qualifying as a horticulturalist.

Doors began opening for Heather and she won an award to research coastal plants. She produced a detailed report which went on to be published as a book called Plants for Dry Gardens.

Next came a career in television with Heather co-presenting the ABC Home Gardens program. It would take a day to film two 15-minute programs and the pay was minimal but she loved the fame. Heather also became a lecturer in horticulture while continuing her gardening business.

When middle son Justin left school, he agreed to help his mum for two weeks and began to love it. He then followed his passion and continued his mother’s legacy by studying horticulture and further developing Hartshorne Landscaping into the business it is today.