Ross Palmer: 'The Genius Loci and me.......and us, plus them' illustrated lecture + 2025 AGM

We are honoured to have world-renowned garden designer Ross Palmer as our guest speaker to entertain and inspire us after the 2025 AGM.

Ross was the principal and owner of Kumara Studio, a garden design studio in Hoxton, London with a diverse portfolio of projects in Europe, USA, Australia, Aotearoa and Thailand. Lateral moves such as, film work as Greens-man/landscape designer for the motion picture “The Beach” (dope field and Koh Phi Phi Lae sets being the most notable) to an organic market garden in the Hamptons on Long Island are two of the more unusual departures from domestic gardens.  

Ross is now semi-retired living on the south coast of Pōneke currently working on a few large country gardens in Marlborough and Wairarapa. He has a great interest in shepherding old gardens through to their most recent iterations, exploring their possibilities without destroying what makes them unique and charismatic. This new approach is possible with long term relationships between client, place and gardeners an ongoing dialogue. 

Two gardens open to the public are Welton House in Marlborough and Rototāwai in Kahutara, Wairarapa. 

The title of his talk is 'The Genius Loci and me.......and us, plus them' which is utterly intriguing and something we all need to see and hear right?

We can't wait!

6:00pm | Arrive, bar open 

6:15pm | AGM proper (GDSNZ financial members only)

7:30pm | Supper, bar open ($5 cash per drink or prepaid voucher)  

8pm | Ross Palmer - illustrated talk 

8:45pm | Q&A,

9pm | Evening Ends

GDSNZ members can attend both the AGM and Ross's talk for FREE. Non-financial members are very welcome to the lecture; $20 to attend in person and $10 to watch the livestream.  First drink free. All attendees/viewers MUST have a ticket - get yours now.