Martha Stewart finds U.F. has good things
Homemaking icon may return to film an episode of her television show
BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

COURTESYOF PRINCETONNURSERIES Princeton Nurseries President Ivan Olinsky, of Upper Freehold, hosts his friend and client Martha Stewart at his facility on March 22.

America’s leading lifestyle guru Martha Stewart visited Upper Freehold last week.

Stewart brought daughter Alexis, her landscape architect and head gardener to Princeton Nurseries, where she ordered trees and plants for her Bedford, N.Y., estate.

Princeton Nurseries President Ivan Olinsky said Stewart may return in the near future to film an episode of her television show there.

Stewart first arrived in the area at the Hill Road home of Olinsky and his wife, Ginny, at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Olinsky said Stewart brought homemade cookies for the family. He also said they ate a continental breakfast.

“We had small talk and showed her the house,” Olinsky said. “Ginny showed her collection of dolls.”

Olinsky also said Stewart, a noted animal lover, really liked and paid attention to Shadow, the family’s German shepherd.

After breakfast, Olinsky took her to Princeton Nurseries and gave her a tour of the facilities. He told her about the history of Princeton Nurseries, which Stewart knew by reputation.

Olinsky said Stewart may do the television show at the nursery because it is so well-known. Princeton Nurseries has been in existence for more than 100 years and is highly respected throughout the world, he said.

“It is a reputable nursery known for new plants introduced by William Flemer III that are grown here and internationally,” Olinsky said.

Olinsky said he found Stewart extremely knowledgeable about plants. He said she wanted a variety of shade and flowering trees and shrubs for her property. He added that she was very hands-on, choosing many of the specimens herself.

Princeton Nurseries employee Steve Babbitt, husband of Upper Freehold Planning Board Administrator Susan Babbitt, went along with Olinsky and Stewart to physically tag her trees.

“She showed us the specific trees she liked,” Olinsky said. He spent about half the day with her and called the endeavor “very productive.”

Olinsky found her to be “an unusual, creative lady,” and said in person she was much like her public persona — knowledgeable, business-like and friendly.

“She was exactly as I expected,” he said. “It was a wonderful day with her.”

On her way home, Stewart stopped off at Woody’s in Allentown for lunch.