Associate Professor Frances Bonner
University of Queensland
Waterwise advice on television gardening programs
Among the many cultural intermediaries involved in disseminating ideas about responsible and irresponsible water use, the role of television garden program presenters is little investigated. This paper will report a study of the advice given on regular gardening magazine shows, like Gardening Australia and Better Homes and Gardens, and on makeover shows like Backyard Blitz and Ground Force. The growing prominence and characterisation there of 'waterwise gardening' and the contradictions evident between the different items in garden magazine shows will be the principal focus. Another aspect raised will be the extent to which the recent disappearance of dedicated garden makeover shows can be attributed to their signature use of water features and large swathes of instant turf, both now under question.
Email: f.bonner@uq.edu.au