Jillian Ballantine, Manager of Perennial Plants at Phantom,  grew up in Minnesota, later broadening her gardening

knowledge and honing her skills in warmer zones such as California and Florida.  She is a devoted animal lover and was able to combine her love of animals and plants while working on the beautiful grounds and gardens of the San Diego Zoo.  In addition to perennials, you can pick her brain about topics as broad as water gardening, bonsai, and tropical plants. 

 

 

 

 

Yannick Baum is the "strong man" on Phantom's Garden Maintenance crew.  It's a rare moment to catch him sitting down!  His tireless energy and good humor keep us going on the longest days of summer.  His ability to hear, spot and identify the critters in the landscape reminds us throughout the day of the diversity and wonder of nature... and just why we do this!!

 

 

 

 

 

Lorien Botcher, who manages to retain her smile even as the rain pours down on us, is a core member of Phantom's Garden Maintenance crew.  She comes to us with years of experience in estate gardening and greenhouse management.  At the end of each day... it's Lorien's attention to detail that can be counted on to set the Phantom's gardening service apart from others.

 

 

 

 

 

David Campolong............................................

Dave most recently was Project Manager for the landscape crew.  This season he will be staying home and will be busy taking care of his two young sons.  We will miss Dave terribly on the crew, but hope he has some time for design work and consulting.

 

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“Laz” has been an integral member of our landscape crew for many seasons.  He is a skilled machine operator, experienced with planting large caliper trees as well as small ornamentals.  His eye for hardscape and plant layout is well appreciated on our large scale installations.  We are fortunate to have him on our crew and rely on his tireless and enthusiastic energy. ....................................

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Andreas Christensen comes to us from a varied and colorful background of extensive travel in foreign countries and has lived in many parts of the United States.  She has studied art in many forms:  drawing, painting, figurative sculpture, felt and fabric, and graphics.  She is now focused on deepening her knowledge of plants and pouring her creative energy into landscape design. She has studied at the Institute of Ecosystem Studies and loves working at Phantom. We are happy that Andreas has made her home here in the Hudson Valley and thrilled to have her here at Phantom.

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Briana Davis, founder and former owner of Hearty

Roots Community Farm in Tivoli, now works as The

Phantom Gardener's edible plants guru.  She manages,

plants, and harvests the Phantom's Organic Garden,

as well as starting and supplying seedlings for sale at

the Phantom Gardener.  Briana shares her knowledge

and passion for veggies in hands-on garden

workshops throughout the season.

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Isaiah Greenwald ...................................

Whether he sports dreadlocks or a shaved head, Isaiah brings a cool, unflappable, vibe to the yard.  Often accompanied by his canine friends, Bo and Indica, he is a mellow, but passionate plantsman.  Isaiah is currently studying music at Bard College and is continually expanding his collection of plants at his home in Red Hook.

 

 

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Eli Joseph-Hunter is the woody plant geek here at

The Phantom Gardener.  His passion and enthusiasm

for the plant world is contagious.  He is actively applying his

knowledge and energy to the establishment of

his own arboretum in the Catskills.

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Julianne Klasen-Daoud, (a.k.a. “Juj”), Manager of The Phantom Gardener, has been beautifying the Phantom grounds since 1993.  She started working here summers as a college student, became enamored with the plants and pottery and made it her mission to broaden Phantom’s range of garden merchandise.  Her selection of pottery, gifts, annuals, houseplants, temperennials and tropicals results in unusual plant combinations and displays that give The Phantom Gardener its unique appeal.   Juj continues to develop the product lines, focusing on fair trade items and locally crafted goods.

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Norbert Lazar, the Phantom Gardener, has been

a pioneer of organic gardening since long before its

current buzz.  The store will turn 14 in the spring

of 2007, continuing to offer a wideselection of plant

material not commonly available, and a rare spirit

and dedication to organic gardening.

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Virginia Luppino, Landscape Designer, manager

of The Phantom's Gardening/Maintenance Crew,

obsesses over plants from her home in Ulster County.

Her earliest memories and influences emanate from

the abundance of her grandfather’s gardens in Brooklyn;

where carrying the onion peels to the compost was an

adventure through a maze of rose bushes, squash vines

and fig trees. She longs for the day when the lawnmower

becomes obsolete in favor of native groundcovers.

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Cass Neimeth-Lazar, has an insightful and creative spirit.  Currently in her junior year of high school, she spends her free time with her horse, Nessie, or playing softball and basketball.  You will see Cass working the Phantom front counter or helping customers in the store. 

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Gaye Parise...

Gaye works as part-time consultant to Phantom.  She has years of retail experience, a very creative flair for merchandise presentation and a strong commitment to organic goods and fair trade items.

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Derek Pinelli studies Business at Marist College and works hard on our landscape crew during the summer and on weekends.  Strong and athletic, he brings a good-natured attitude and youthful energy to each job that he tackles.  The height and agility that serve him well on the basketball court come in handy while planting for Phantom!

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Daniel Scaggs

A recent transplant from New Jersey, Dan is a gregarious addition to our landscape crew.  Dan brings comic relief or planting expertise to each project (whichever is more needed at the time!).  A google mishap brought our Red Hook up on his search instead of Red Hook, Brooklyn.  With characteristic flexibility and  curiosity, he and his fiancé ventured forth to check it out.  Thanks to google, we have a great addition to our Phantom family. ......................................

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Ursula Schaad works behind the scenes as master of accounts receivable and payable.  She multi-tasks everything from bookkeeping to scheduling, and is Phantom’s friendly and efficient liaison to our clients.  She is a dedicated mother of a handsome four-year-old son, Colby, who practices riding his new bicycle here on Phantom’s seven acres. Ursula grew up on her grandparents nursery and as often as she can, gets outside to tend her own gardens with the same skill and dedication that she applies in the office.

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Sybille Schubert, a dedicated gardener and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, celebrates the wonder of growing food in the garden and sharing it at the table.   Working at Phantom has awakened a hidden passion for houseplants and she has become a greenhouse geek. She is a master of complementing foliage and flowers with eclectic containers of beautiful glass, found metal objects and ceramic pots.  She has found that houseplants offer a rewarding indoor landscape while the winter landscape lays dormant.

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Cassandra Tice comes to Phantom every day with a positive attitude and genuine desire to help.  She is finishing up her senior year of high school and plans to attend college in the fall.  We’re looking forward to having her at Phantom this season before she heads off to school.

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Larry Tomlin works behind the scenes ironing out the kinks and glitches of our daily life.  He studied horticulture and for many years had his own landscape business.  If he’s not on the roof installing new shade cloth, you might find him in his workshop planning the next Phantom project.  .............................................................

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