Gardens of the Gilded Age

A beautifully researched tribute to America's turn-of-the-century landscapes. Jana Milbocker brings these magnificent, maximalist gardens--and their layered histories--to life. I revisited favorites like Wave Hill and Longwood with fresh eyes and added several new destinations to my travel wish list.--Teresa Woodard, author of Garden to the Max: Joyful, Visionary Maximalist Design Jana Milbocker has done an outstanding job ferreting out a hit parade of the truly greatest gardens in America. She doesn't miss a beat, and has laid out a sumptuous spread for our enjoyment.--Stephen F. Byrns, President, Untermyer Gardens Conservancy In Gardens of the Gilded Age, Jana Milbocker presents a much needed, comprehensive overview of Country Place gardens of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Not only will you come away with a thorough understanding of Gilded Age gardens' provenance, but the articulate prose and beautiful photography will have you adding each and every garden to your bucket list!--Jim Donahue, Curator of Historic Landscapes & Horticulture, The Preservation Society of Newport County Jana Milbocker's Gardens of the Gilded Age takes readers behind the gates, hedges, and walls of America's most wealthy and prominent citizens during the golden era of lavish estate gardens. Filled with beautiful images, the garden profiles detail the plants and architectural features of each landscape. My favorite section of the book was about the head gardeners and their staff--the folks who actually planted and maintained and installed these magnificent gardens. This peek behind-the-scenes is both inspirational and educational.--Kathy Jentz, garden book author and host of the GardenDC Podcast Gardens of the Gilded Age is a stunning journey through the golden age of American landscape design. From European-inspired courtyards to sweeping coastal estates, each page captures the visionary owners and designers that shaped these enduring landscapes. This is an inspiring and essential read for anyone who believes great landscapes can influence both public life and the national imagination.--Paul B. Redman, President and CEO, Longwood Gardens Gardens of the Gilded Age offers readers a wonderful view into the unifying elements of America's greatest gardens. Jana Milbocker sets the stage with her overview of the historical influences of garden design from the Country Place Era. What follows is a visual tour of thirty of the most impressive gardens in the country, documented by lush contemporary photography that showcases the enduring beauty of the horticultural collections and architecture of these sites. Milbocker's book is an excellent primer into the people and places of a defining moment in the built heritage of our nation.--Gina J. Wouters, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Planting Fields Foundation As a non-profit leader committed to preserving a historic landscape, I found Gardens of the Gilded Age to be a beautifully curated exploration of the East Coast's most remarkable garden estates. Through contemporary and historical photography, the book illuminates the vision of the owners and the talented landscape designers who shaped these extraordinary properties. As soon as you start to explore Jana's book, you want to jump in a car and visit all of these wonderful homes and gardens. Gardens of the Gilded Age is a meaningful contribution to our understanding of this important era in American horticultural history.--Karen Binder, Executive Director, Blithewold Manor, Gardens, Arboretum Gardens of the Gilded Age thoughtfully highlights The Ringling as a defining expression of John and Mable Ringling's vision, where art, architecture, and landscape helped shape Sarasota into a cultural destination. Today, as steward of The Ringling, Florida State University honors that legacy by preserving this extraordinary estate and advancing its role as a center for education, scholarship, and public engagement.--Steven High, Executive Director of The Ringling Museum of Art