Coupled with the 100-year anniversary our great sense of pride stirs remembrance of the great sacrifices given by men and women who not only fought for our country in past times, but those who continue to represent we Australians with continuing courage.

There are many gardeners who have a heightened sense of remembrance on this day - some plant rosemary, while traditionalists plant poppies.

One such avid gardener springs to mind - and with this memory comes sadness that Alf Stone isn't here with us now sharing this anniversary.

Readers may remember Alf, a returned vet who worked tirelessly for the Red Cross, also well-known for his garden full of Flanders poppies .

Once planted the Flanders poppy, marked by its bright red flowers and dark centre, naturalises and you have it forever.

Garden beds should have been prepared a week prior to planting out poppy seedlings - if overlooked, quickly add a little lime and a soil compost.

Postpone fertilising with poultry manure several weeks after planting.

Admittedly, new poppy seedlings do require a little TLC until they become stronger and following my friend Jim Oliver's advice - he knows all there is to know about poppy cultivation - it is important a week or two after planting to lift up the delicate leaves from the soil, turning the ground over carefully to aerate the plants.

Rosemary - definitely easier to grow than poppies and valued for centuries for its perfume, medicinal and culinary uses - is worn on Anzac Day.

Rosemary prefers a well drained site in the sun. It is salt tolerant and frost hardy, growing up to 1.2 metres, it makes an ideal low hedge.