 From 1980 to 1997 he also wrote a regular column for "The Age", published in Melbourne.In 1984 Garnett contributed to the government's project to rejuvenate Victoria's country botanic gardens, and in the early 1990s successfully advocated the establishment of an independent board for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.In 1996 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for contributions to horticulture.