Linzy Vos

I started working with plants professionally at 17, and though there were some years spent considering another career, in 2010 I returned to horticulture never looked back. While I am grateful to have acquired a wide array of skills, it turns out that plants will always hold my heart. I’ve been a landscaper, heavy equipment operator, gardener, and greenhouse and nursery grower. Now I work primarily for the production side of Rocky Dale — growing and propagating specimens available for sale. I am a board member of the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association, and a Vermont Certified Horticulturist. When I’m not working with plants at RDG or in my own gardens at home, I continue the long task of renovating the little cottage in the woods I share with my partner and our pets, and am learning to sail my very own sailboat with the help of friends.

Gene Lauer

I graduated with a BArch from the University of Michigan and practiced architecture in Ottawa, Ontario and Winterthur, Switzerland before moving to Vermont in 1977. Visiting the incredible gardens in Europe had inspired an early career change, from architecture to landscaping, and that year I co-founded Siteworks, a design and contracting firm that kept me happily engaged, and “growing” for decades. I joined the team at Rocky Dale Gardens in 2018, which has allowed me to continue to enjoy my life’s work — creating amazing gardens with healthy, unusual, and beautiful plants. Indeed, my first season there I probably “reinvested” most of my paycheck into Rocky Dale, bringing home enough plant material to create my own botanical garden at home — much to the delight of family and friends. It’s still evolving, as are the wonderful gardens here at Rocky Dale.

Kristine Ference

I came to Rocky Dale Gardens in 2019 after a 5 year sojourn to Wisconsin and Oregon. My "roots" in the gardening business were planted at a family owned garden center in Rutland, Vt. 20 years ago. During that time, I started a one woman gardening biz, that's still going strong today. I am grateful for the constant inspiration, beauty, and knowledge that Rocky Dale provides to all.

Robin Andresen

I have been a major tree enthusiast since I was 17, and came to Vermont to study the forests of New England. I graduated Middlebury College Feb ’24 with a bachelors in Biology and Environmental Studies. My love of horticulture began during a summer internship at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston.  After that I spent two seasons as a gardener at Windfall Orchard in Cornwall, VT, and did a stint as a research assistant in a moss lab at Midd. I joined Rocky Dale spring ’25, and have been thrilled to learn from such a wonderful group of mentors in a gorgeous garden environment. I live in Bristol with my parter Allison. In my free time I enjoy making pickles, dancing, foraging mushrooms and guerrilla gardening. 

Zack Pittel

I've recently found my way into gardening by way of farming. I joined Rocky Dale Gardens this spring ('25) after working as a rice and duck farmer at Boundbrook Farm in Ferrisburgh for two years. As a rice farmer, I learned the value of growing food in harmony with the landscape. My inspiration as a farmer and gardener draws from my time abroad in Japan, where I was fortunate to experience a way of life influenced by and strongly connected to the natural world. 

I live in Bristol and am a UVM alum with a degree in Community Entrepreneurship. This year at Rocky Dale I'll be assisting Ed and the team in various projects around the gardens. I hope to bring my practical knowledge from farming into my work, with a focus on details and an appreciation for aesthetics. I'm thrilled to learn more about gardening, horticulture, and landscape design through this process, and to contribute what I can towards this incredible community space. 

Marianne Eaton

Act 3. Adventures at Rocky Dale.
Life is a never ending exploration mixed with opportunities for adventure. A global traveler, photographer and life-long learner, my Act 3 includes learning how to nurture infant plants on their journey to become healthy teenagers for sale. I live a sheltered life under the hoop house, content to learn the recipes for each newly arrived plant while listening to the river below. My teacher, Linzy, is a fantastic educator and I take her lessons home to cultivate this newly found appreciation for what plants can teach.
My former life as a marketer through video production is still embedded in my creative endeavors. I live happily in New Haven with my partner, Fernando, and my cat, Poppy.