Gardeners and Horticulturists

Joshua Hall: Head Gardener/ Plant Breeder/ Business Owner
Joshua is a dahlia breeder and passionate horticulturist. He has been published in 35 magazines and newspapers internationally, worked in corporate education, the wine industry as a judge and WSJ journalist, public relations, international trade consulting and restaurant management. Joshua has a Certificate in Horticulture, was trained by Dr Keith Hammett and has won many awards for his dahlias.

Dr Keith Hammett QSM: Science Advisor

Dr Hammett is one of the world’s leading professional breeders of ornamental plants and is the President of the Royal New Zealand Horticultural Society. He owes a lifetime career in the biological sciences to learning to grow and exhibit Dahlias in the UK while still a teenager. He qualified as a Dahlia judge 59 years ago in the UK. Keith has travelled widely, visiting Dahlia breeders and exhibitors globally for over 64 years. He has an impressive record as an innovative plant breeder in the international horticulture industry breeding multiple genera including sweet peas, amaryllis, clivia, dianthus and dahlias

Joshua Hall and Dr Hammett have been working on breeding highly aromatic and very complex aromatic sweet peas for the last three years. Joshua's wine industry nose is in play for this project in breeding plants for aromatic profile. Color and durability are also part of our evaluation matrix. Contact us if you are interested in international licensing. 

 

 

Gail Allende: Landscape Designer, NZ Native Revegetation Expert, Clivia & Daylily Breeder

A qualified landscape designer and for the past 28 years Gail has specialized in native revegetation plantings in the Auckland and North Island areas. Gail is very experienced with revegetation specifications for council requirements for landscaping projects and subdivisions. Gail's also breeds clivia, amaryllis and day lilies. If you are interested in Gail’s garden planning services, please contact us via this website.

 

Deborah Ross: Weeding Master, Photographer and Garden Assistant.

Deborah is the oil the keeps the gears spinning at Apollo Farm. Always hands on and practical, an essential part of the team. A garden maintenance extraordinaire. No you can't have her.