Judith Sleijpen graduated from Ryde School of Horticulture with distinction in Urban Horticulture and gained experience in the retail nursery industry for several years. She now conducts her garden design and horticultural consultancy business, ‘Gardens, Balconies and Beyond’ and teaches garden design and horticulture for the Northern Beaches Community College. As a Member of the Horticultural Media Association, Judith writes a monthly gardening column for Peninsula Living and has also published articles in Landscape Contractor and Manager, Better Homes and Gardens, Gardens and Outdoor Living and The Garden Gurus. Passionate about plants and garden design, she is a Professional Garden Judge for Garden Competitions, a Member of the Australian Institute of Horticulture, a former Committee Member of the Sydney Executive Committee of Open Gardens Australia and a former member of the Speakers' Bureau of the Royal Botanic Gardens.