Wiltonian of the Week: Jan Peterson

Name: Jan Peterson

Age: 51

Occupation: Owner of

Tell us a little about yourself:

I was born in Groton, Connecticut, but my parents moved to Mystic, Connecticut when I was in college. When I was in high school I had worked in Mystic, so I was already familiar with the area. I have two step kids that live in Bethel and two children of my own. My daughter, Sarah Peterson, is 18 and my son, Berkeley is 15. Sarah goes to Marymount Manhattan in the city and she studies communications there. Berkeley is a sophomore at Wilton High School. My husband, Jim Kiszka, works in the city.

What got you interested in flowers?

I’ve always loved flowers, but I was in the corporate world for 20-plus-years and I wanted a career change. I wanted to be my own boss, so I bought the flower ship in 2001. I bought it out of bankruptcy and revived it. Stewart Flowers has been around for 40-plus-years, but I’ve owned the shop for 10 years.

What kind of corporate business were you a part of before opening Stewart Flowers and Gifts?

I was in children’s publishing.

What has been most rewarding about your career change?

I have an artistic side that I couldn’t express in the corporate world.

How long have you lived in Wilton?

I’ve lived here since 1999

What brought you to Wilton?

I went to school in Boston, I lived in D.C., then I lived out west for a while and that’s where my children were born. I did my graduate degree in marketing at Northwestern and the Wilton school system is really what brought me here. I wanted my kids to grow up in a small town.

What is your favorite aspect of Wilton?

It’s probably the topography and quaintness. I like the fact that there are still some sweet stores here. The school system is also really great.

What is your best memory in Wilton?

There are a lot of great memories that I have in Wilton. My kids’ first days of school and my daughter graduating from high school are a part of those great memories.

What keeps you here?

The school system and the kids are what do it. I am not sure I would end up retiring here, but I am mainly here for the school system and the location. We are close to New York.

Do you volunteer?

I do those normal things that moms do. I am a driver for the ABC kids in Wilton and I have taught continuing education classes. Some of the classes I taught were floral classes at Stewart Flowers and Gifts. I am a member of the and I create flower arrangements for Random Acts of Kindness.

What do you do for fun in Wilton?

My main fun thing to do is gardening. I love to garden. I used to be in a garden club. I also do landscape design on the side with my business, Silvermine Gardens and I like to do yoga and exercise.

What do you enjoy gardening?

 I don’t garden vegetables, I mostly garden flowers.