| The discovery of René van Gaalen |
René van Gaalen never envisaged that his plants would be grown in people's gardens. His breeding work was focussed on creating plants that would fulfill the requirements for the cut flower market.
However, all that was to change when he moved the location of his nursery in 1996 and inadvertently attracted the attention of one of Holland’s leading perennial exporters.
Campanula 'Mystery'.
A typical example of René's talent for creating a totally unexpected variety.
A picture of Campanula ‘Mystery’ that featured on the front of René's change of address cards got into the hands of the export company’s owner, and within a year, C. ‘Mystery’ was available as a garden plant around the world and René’s portfolio of varieties had found themselves a whole new niche. At the same time the gardening world had found itself a maverick hybridiser to feed their hunger for new varieties. |
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Not your average plantsman
Tuesday, 02 December 2003 Happily producing successful cut-flower ranges, René van Gaalen had no idea that his cultivars would make such an impact as garden plants. But a character like him can’t hide away forever.
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Not your average plantsman
By Miriam Young
Happily producing successful cut-flower ranges, René van Gaalen had no idea that his cultivars would make such an impact as garden plants. But a character like him can’t hide away forever. |
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| The Nursery |
Where it all begins.
By Miriam Young
René’s breeding work is carried out both in Holland and in Ecuador. |
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| Worldwide operations |
René’s world of flowers
By Miriam Young
It’s all very well being based in Holland, the world's cutflower growing capital, but why not take advantage of favorable growing conditions offered closer to the equator? |
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| Other varieties |
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| Life away from plants |
Party on dude!
By Miriam Young
René just loves to party. Here is a selection of photographs of his non-plant time that he wants to share. |
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| Forum |
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