A 35-Year Journey into the World of Peonies

Lecture & Lunch $48

Daniel Furman of Cricket Hill Garden in Thomaston, CT will dive into the diverse world of peonies. From their roots as medicinal plants in China and Europe, to symbols of wealth and prestige in Imperial China, and finally to a perennial suitable for almost any landscape today, peonies hold a special place in the hearts of gardeners the world over. Dan’s talk will intertwine the rich history of this storied plant with the less-than-glamorous saga of learning how to build a specialty peony nursery on a rocky hillside in Connecticut. Dan will also share practical advice on growing great peonies in New England, including cultivar and site selection, fertilization and disease control.

Daniel Furman is co-owner of Cricket Hill Garden, a second generation specialty nursery and forest farm in Thomaston, CT. Since joining the business in 2010, he has worked to expand the peony production program at the nursery, as well as diversify the stock grown to include unusual landscape and forest edibles.

Host or Publisher Elizabeth Park Conservancy