If you’ve ever stopped and admired a lovely lavender garden – then you might have our next guest to thank.
Wairau Valley’s Elsie Hall is a world-renowned lavender breeder, who’s patented plants are blooming in gardens around the globe.
Her most famous lavender variety, named ‘Thumbelina Leigh’, sees around a million plants produced in Europe every year.
Elsie’s just been awarded the 2026 Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture Plant Raisers’ Award at a recent ceremony in Dunedin. She joins Emile Donovan on the show tonight.
Photo: RNZ/Carol Stiles