Winter Episode: Sleepy Cat Farm, Part IV - Planning and Perfecting with the Future in Mind

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.

WINTER EPISODE Planning and Perfecting with the Future in Mind

Kristi Wright, Head Horticulturist at Sleepy Cat Farm Foundation

Thursday, December 11 | 2 p.m. Eastern

Our final episode in the story of Sleepy Cat Farm’s evolution looks to the future with Kristi Wright, who succeeded Alan Gorkin as Head Horticulturist in 2024. Kristi likes to think of the garden’s design as a stage set on which the scene continually changes according to the season, the gardener’s hand, or on occasion, the whim of Mother Nature. She seeks to maintain the design integrity of each of the garden’s features when it’s time to edit an overgrown area; reassess sun/shade issues, introduce unusual species, or face the challenges that climate change presents. Another objective is creating opportunities for Sleepy Cat Farm to serve the wider community. Local food banks rely on Sleepy Cat’s vegetable garden and orchard for produce. A six-month internship program is in the works, and a volunteer program is a possibility for the future. Kristi hopes to create a plant list on the garden’s website in order to share the staff’s horticultural knowledge with gardeners everywhere. For now, however, Kristi, her team, and Fred Landman can’t wait to show off to the next wave of Open Day visitors all the wonders that Sleepy Cat Farm has to offer.

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.