MEET THE TEAM
PRUE VAN DE LINDE - OWNER
Prue, who studied horticulture at Burnley, has always had a love of plants. Prue loves to chat about the varied characteristics of the well stocked Alowyn Plant Nursery, you will often find Prue in the front of house which she manages. Along with her husband John, Prue has built a legacy in Alowyn Gardens that will outlive us all. Prue loves to get into the garden after work, spending the quiet hours after the garden is closed planting and enjoying the landscape, and always with her loyal pup Jasper in tow.
JOHN VAN DE LINDE - OWNER
John knew early he had a calling with plants. Growing up in the Netherlands, on his family’s dairy farm, he chose to attend horticulture college straight after primary school. John made his way to Australia in 1973 and worked as a nurseryman then landscaper before beginning to dream up his own display gardens. Inspired by gardens from his travels in Europe, Canada and the US, John with his wife Prue, bought a plot of land in 1997 and with their amazing team, turned it into the spectacular ‘Alowyn Gardens’. “I’m living the dream. You can’t do much better in life than this. I’ll keep doing it until I’m too old to push a wheelbarrow,” John said.
JASPER - HAPPY GOOD BOY
Always keen to lay in your direct path, will be seen following Prue loyally.
SEB
Has been with Alowyn from day one in 1997. Most of the structures and sculptures you will see at Alowyn will have been built by Seb.
AMELIA - horticulturalist
Manages the extensive nursery and plants orders and is a go-to person for plant advice.
chelsea - horticulturalist
Manages our extensive nursery with Amelia, and is a keen plant person.
JANIS
Responsible for the vegetable gardens and grows our amazing pumpkin crop each year, keeping and storing organic seeds for following years.
DANIELLE
Helps run the cafe. Maintains website and social media.
RICHARD
Richard works hard to continuously maintain over 7 acres of gardens with the landscaping team.
COOPER
Gardens apprentice.
george
George is an ex-airport luggage carrier who in his retirement works in the gardens carting mulch, compost and takes away prunings.
corinne
Designs all the incredible product displays and maintains the indoor plant house.
andrea
You will see Andrea in front of house, the cafe and anywhere she is needed. Incredibly hard working, where we fall down, she is there to pick us up with a smile.
carolyn
Accounts keeper and maintains our barcode system. Runs the office with Prue.
michelle
Runs and sources delicious food suppliers for the Wisteria Cafe.
nicole
Cafe and front-of-house all-rounder. Always ready to greet you with a smile.
lily
Nursery apprentice extrodinaire who took out the Casey Apprentice of the Year Award in 2021.