SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549




                                    FORM 8-K
                                 Current Report
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                December 17, 2002


                         GRIFFIN LAND & NURSERIES, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


Delaware                                     0-29288      06-0868496
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(State or other jurisdiction               (Commission    (IRS Employer
   of incorporation)                        File Number)  Identification No.)


One Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York                      10020
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(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code          (212) 218-7910
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Item 9.     Regulation FD Disclosure
- ------------------------------------

            Registrant's December 17, 2002 Press Release is attached hereto as
            Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference into this Item 9.

            Exhibit 99.1: Registrant's December 17, 2002 Press Release
            (attached hereto).


                                    SIGNATURE


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                  GRIFFIN LAND & NURSERIES, INC.


                                  /s/  Anthony J. Galici
                                  ----------------------
                                  Anthony J. Galici
                                  Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
                                  Secretary

Dated:  December 17, 2002


NEWS FROM:                                   Exhibit 99.1
                                             ------------

GRIFFIN LAND & NURSERIES, INC.          CONTACT:
                                        Anthony Galici
                                        Chief Financial Officer
                                        (860) 653-4541

GRIFFIN ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF MORTGAGE ON TWO OFFICE BUILDINGS
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK (December 17, 2002) Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc. (Nasdaq:
GRIF)("Griffin") announced today that its real estate division, Griffin Land,
completed a $9.75 million nonrecourse mortgage loan secured by two 80,000 square
foot Class A office buildings in Griffin Center, Windsor, Connecticut.  The
mortgage loan has a 6.08% rate and a ten year term with payments based on a
twenty-five year amortization period.  The proceeds were used principally to
finance Griffin Land's recent acquisition of the 70% interest in these buildings
that was held by USAA Real Estate Company.  Griffin Land previously held a 30%
interest in these buildings.

     Griffin operates landscape nursery and real estate businesses and has an
approximate 35% equity investment in Centaur Communications, Ltd., a publishing
company based in the United Kingdom.

     Forward-Looking Statements:
     This Press Release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act.
Although Griffin believes that its plans, intentions and expectations reflected
in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that
such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved.   The projected
information disclosed herein is based on assumptions and estimates that, while
considered reasonable by Griffin as of the date hereof, are inherently subject
to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and
contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of Griffin.