Think New Jersey only grows tomatoes?  Think again.  New Jersey was once the pinnacle for peaches, the ultimate for orchids, the tops for turf.  19th century New Jersey plant nurseries led the nation with their innovative breeding, greenhouse, field, and marketing techniques.  Meet the horticultural superstars who made New Jersey their home. Impresarios, hermits, academics, politicos and a cast of unlikely characters will make you a believer that yes, New Jersey is the "Garden State." 

    Our speaker is Lesley Parness, who has a long career in museums and botanic gardens around the world.  She retired from her final post as Superintendent of Horticultural Education at New Jersey's Morris County Park Commission where she oversaw programming and interpretation at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Willowwood Arboretum and Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center.  Learn more about Lesley at http://www.lesleyparness.com