Linda Anderson, Phantom's landscape designer, creates

gardens to make people happy.  On a deep level and

broader scale, she seeks to improve the environment. 

She studied landscape architecture at Cornell University and received an M.L.A. degree in 2002.

lindathephantomgardener@gmail.com

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. 

Andreas Christensen at one time a Phantom yard denizen is now happily a member of Phantom's garden maintenance crew.
Her first experiences with gardening came by her mother's side, who made every chore seem like a magical adventure. From turning the soil and planting the seeds to digging up potatoes as if they were buried treasure. The love and awe of gardening instilled in her as a child inspire her to this day.

Jesse Cunningham has been immersed in his family's nursery and landscape business since his teens.  In addition to his nursery and landscaping experience, Jesse apprenticed for years with a master arborist/plant pathologist, gaining experience and knowledge in planting, pruning and caring for woody ornamentals.

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.

Alec Gabler

David Garraffa

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.

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.

julianne.phantom@gmail.com

Norbert Lazar, the Phantom Gardener, has been a pioneer of organic gardening since long before its current buzz.  The store will turn 15 in the spring of 2008, continuing to offer a wide selection of plant material not commonly available, and a rare spirit and dedication to organic gardening.

phantomgardener@frontiernet.net

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.

enterthewoods@gmail.com

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.

Joseph Oszust is an ISA Certified Arborist and Landscape Designer.  During the spring and summer months Joe specializes in Landscape Design and Installation.  As the season progresses Joe makes the switch to specializing in the care and removal of both ornamental and large trees.  Phantom is equipped to handle all aspects of tree care and removal.  At Phantom we are climbing to new heights everyday!

josephcoszust@yahoo.com

Luanne Panarotti is a religion-major-turned-earth-steward who has spent her career in various "green" pursuits: from cheese buying for a whole foods market to promoting earth-friendly products for museum stores to teaching school kids about macroinvertebrates and what they indicate about stream health. She now serves as a Phantom "Wizard", handling advertising, workshop coordination, and the occasional landscape installation. In her free moments, she enjoys writing, birding, needlework, cryptic crosswords and spending time with her husband, kids, dog and more cats than any one family should have.

Zebedee

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.

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.

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. 

Goody

Apollo

Izzy and Leopold

Winston