Q&A With Mel Baxter 100 Australian Wildflowers

Tell us a little about yourself.

I've been an illustrator and designer for the past 17 years and since 2021, I've also been writing books. I was given the incredible opportunity to write and illustrate a book on 100 Australian Wildflowers. Researching for this opened my eyes to the incredible diversity of flowering plants we have here in Australia as well as the many wonderful connections they have with the animal and fungi kingdoms.

What made you get into drawing Australian Natives?

When I moved (back) to the bush from the city, about 11 years ago, it was very easy to be inspired by the wildlife around me. The charismatic and loud (magpie and kookaburras) first got my attention, stealing pancakes on a Sunday and laughing about it from the treetops. I started following the birds and was then introduced to the quieter members of the bush, the flowering plants. They're movements, they're connections within the natural world, to animals, to fungi, to the seasons, it can all be missed if you're in a hurry. They forced me to slow down and watch.... and then draw.

Do you have any tips for drawing flowers?

The best tip I can give really is to start if you havent and keep going if you have. If you're struggling with something (drawing or other) change your perspective. Flip it upside down and try drawing from another angle. It always seems to help when we get out of what we expect something to look like and see it for what it actually is.

Your favourite gardening tip?

If you're planting natives, try and plant species that are endemic to your area. It's amazing how much success you can have when you plant what has spent millena adapting to those soils.

What are you top Australian Native Flowers?

I love the Ivory Curl and Golden Penda, they're fluffy and abundant and pretty hardy beauties for SEQLD. 

I can never go past a paper Daisy/strawflower, especially in yellow. They fill any garden with sunshine and happiness and are a long lasting cut flower. Easy to grow and reseed.

Silver leaf wattle for how they light up the bush here in the winter. 

And the Brachyscome multifida as its delicate but hardy and brings flowers out for a lot of the year. It's awesome to grow around rocks and gives the garden a fairy-like vibe.