'Gardens of the Gilded Age' Book Talk & Tour 2026

Step back into the Gilded Age—a time of elegance, innovation, and artistic ambition, when wealthy industrialists, such as the Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, and du Ponts, built extravagant homes and gardens that rivaled the palaces and villas of Europe.

Gardens of the Gilded Age showcases a selection of estates on the East Coast, delving into their histories and the elements that make them striking and unique. Stunning color photographs illustrate the landscape features, architecture and significant plants. Readers learn about garden design, garden history, cultural influences, international trends, and the lifestyle of this era. This is a journey through time — a celebration of America’s golden age of landscape design and its lasting influence on today’s gardens.

This event will begin at 11am with a specialty tour of our Upper Landscape which includes the Rose Garden and the Greenhouse structure! View our own Gilded Age landscape that is highlighted in the book, and then adjourn to the Welcome Center to hear more about the Gilded Age gardens featured in the book. Light refreshments will be included!

Important Information, Please Read:

• A limited number of tickets are available for each event, and events do sell out. 


• This ticket does not include access to the mansion.


• Please arrive 15 minutes before the entry time on your ticket. If you are late, we will do our best to accommodate you, but we cannot guarantee it.


• Check-in at the Welcome Center.


• All ticket purchases are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.


• A Grounds Pass is not needed if you already have a Tour or Event Ticket. 


• Not recommended for children under 12 years of age. 


• To best accommodate groups, including special needs, please contact us in advance to make reservations at 914-303-6844. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jana Milbocker is a garden designer, lecturer, tour operator, and author of four garden travel guides which profile 310 gardens on the East Coast. Her previous books are self-published and have sold more than 25,700 copies since 2018. Milbocker lives in the Boston area, and worked as a graphic designer and marketing specialist for 30 years before launching her garden design business in 2010.