Fall Episode: Sleepy Cat Farm, Part III - A Horticultural Perspective

Sleepy Cat Farm embodies the vision of Fred Landman who, since acquiring a Georgian Revival house and six acres of neglected grounds in Greenwich, CT, has transformed his property into a magical thirteen-acre landscape that serves as a testament to his belief in the harmony between house and garden. This four-part Virtual Program, which began with two episodes in the spring and summer, continues to explore the evolution of Fred’s vision from 1994 to today. It tells the story of how the talented architects, horticulturists and artisans he collaborates with have married landscape and architecture to create a series of highly personal sanctuaries. Fred delights in sharing these spaces with hundreds of visitors every year.

FALL EPISODE A Horticultural Perspective

Alan Gorkin, First Head Horticulturist at Sleepy Cat Farm Foundation

Thursday, October 2 | 2 p.m. Eastern

Horticulturist Alan Gorkin discusses how his role in the garden expanded as the garden itself evolved. Alan came to Sleepy Cat Farm’s expanded greenhouses and vegetable gardens in 2008, after working at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Cranford Rose Garden, and as head grower and cutting garden supervisor for Old Westbury Gardens on Long Island. For a while he was the garden’s only full-time employee; a landscaping service managed the overall maintenance program. It wasn’t long before Fred Landman recognized that Alan’s talents could be utilized in a broader capacity. Fred put Alan in charge of a handpicked staff and oversight of the landscaping service and let Alan build on the bones of the garden that he and landscape architect Charles Stick created. Drawing partly on lessons from Charles and partly on his own horticultural expertise, Alan complemented the garden’s pathways, vistas and architecture with unique plantings until his retirement last year. His longtime contributions to the garden underlie much of Sleepy Cat Farm’s magical charm. 

ABOUT SLEEPY CAT FARM FOUNDATION and FRED LANDMAN Sleepy Cat Farm Foundation, founded by Garden Conservancy Board Member Fred Landman, has been participating in the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program for sixteen years. Starting with a modest attendance, Sleepy Cat Open Days now typically sell out with 900 visitors. Along with Open Days and various Garden Conservancy fundraising events, Fred’s wife, Seen Lippert, has hosted Farm to Table Cooking Classes, and Sleepy Cat Horticulturist Alan Gorkin has given Digging Deeper garden talks. Fred and Seen believe in sharing the beauty and bounty of their garden in many ways. They support the Greenwich Land Trust, Green and Clean, Greenwich Historical Society, and other local organizations and charities. They share the produce from their garden with a local food bank. In addition to Garden Conservancy Open Days, they host numerous Garden Clubs with private tours and special presentations throughout the year.

Note: You will receive the webinar link directly from Zoom.

A recording of this webinar will be sent to all registrants a few days after the event. We encourage you to register, even if you cannot attend the live webinar.