Ken Twombly is a transplanted Vermonter who moved to Connecticut in 1964 where he attended forestry and tree management classes at the University of Connecticut. In 1967, he started his own tree care business on the Twombly Nursery site. As an arborist and plant collector, his interests eventually led him to became a wholesale grower of hard-to-find woody ornamentals and conifers.
In 1987, he decided to open a retail nursery offering educational seminars featuring nationally known speakers, with an emphasis on teaching with the aid of a variety of display gardens. In 1994, he developed a 3/4-acre Winter Garden which is open to the public year round. Twombly travels extensively throughout the U.S. to source new plant materials and advancements in horticulture. As an experienced speaker, Ken lectures on gardening throughout New England. He specializes in land planning and development of older gardens as well as innovative new gardens, including woodlands, allees, orchards, poolside plantings and estate designs.
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Hoop Houses & growing fields
nearly 25 years ago |
He has published articles in Fine Gardening on topics such as Planting Techniques, The Garden in Winter and on the genus Viburnum. Most recently he appeared on the Martha Stuart Gardening Show to discuss deer resistant plants. Last winter he was awarded the Jackson Dawson Memorial Award by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society for outstanding contributions in the propagation of unusual woody plants. Ken is a member of a number of professional societies, among them: the American Conifer Society, American Rhododendron Society, Connecticut Horticultural Society, International Lilac Society, and International Plant Propagators Society. Ken is married to Priscilla Twombly and is the father of 3 children. He is an avid skier and you won't find Ken without a cup of java in his hand.
In the spring of 2004, Ken sold the nursery to three long-time employees: Andrew Brodtman, Tom Bodnar and Barry Bonin. Ken continues to be involved with the nursery as a Senior Design Consultant and is available for large-scale planning and management projects.
Ken Twombly is a transplanted Vermonter who moved to Connecticut in 1964 where he attended forestry and tree management classes at the University of Connecticut. In 1967, he started his own tree care business on the Twombly Nursery site. As an arborist and plant collector, his interests eventually led him to became a wholesale grower of hard-to-find woody ornamentals and conifers.
