Lachlan Bull’s passion for plants is growing and growing.
The young operator of Bull Botanics first opened the doors to his small store opposite the popular Exchange House in August 2022 and earlier this year expanded, reopening a full nursery.
“Expanding was always part of my plan,” Lachlan said.
“It thrills me to curate and showcase a selection of plants that people might otherwise never see, the new outdoor area drastically increases the scope of that.”
The site at 53 Princes Highway, Lucknow, had previously been a popular nursery for many years, however in recent times it had become a bare, vacant piece of land.
Lachlan and his small team at Bull Botanics have brought it back to life with the nursery now bright and light with a wide variety of plants.
“East Gippsland has a wide range of climates and soil types, allowing a fairly diverse range of plants to thrive here,” Lachlan said.
“Generally native plants perform exceptionally well and do a superior job of attracting our local wildlife into the garden.
“In short I believe plants are inherently beautiful, fascinating and intelligent creatures.
I think if more people learned about and understood some of their inner workings they would be awestruck by their intricacies and complexity.”
Lachlan didn’t grow up with a love of plants, however grew to embrace them and it’s now a passion.
“I certainly wasn’t born with a green thumb. I’ve killed plants in almost every way imaginable,” he said.
“However, I think that’s the only way to learn and identify what has gone wrong, why it’s gone wrong, and how to fix it.”
Lachlan loves indoor plants, having said that he isn’t a fan of all plants.
“I despise yuccas, agapanthus and nandinas – utter horticultural abominations,” he said.
“It’s a tough call, my interests are forever evolving, but right now I’m especially into indoor plants. “Most of the really unique varieties we have come from the subtropics, though that’s likely to change as we continue to explore and expand our collection.”
LACHLAN’S TOP
GARDENING TIPS
– Start with the soil: “I’m a big proponent of the soil food web and its impact on plant health. Prioritise building and maintaining healthy soil to support your plants; a strong foundation makes all the difference.”
– Choose the right plants for the right place: “Select a variety that is appropriate for its intended location. You’re fighting a losing battle trying to grow a plant where it isn’t adapted. Light, temperature, wind, soil type, etc, are all important factors to consider.”
– Monitor your plants regularly: “Early detection of pests and diseases makes them much easier to manage. Some plants are more prone to specific problems, so knowing what to look out for can give you an upper hand in maintaining plant health.”
