Available in June 2026
Gardens of the Gilded Age
Lavish Landscapes from America’s Golden Era
Step into the era when American wealth created landscapes that rivaled those of European royalty and discover the magnificent gardens that still captivate visitors today.
During the Gilded Age in America (1870-1920), wealthy industrialists such as the Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, and du Ponts, built extravagant homes and gardens that rivaled the palaces and villas of Europe. Fueled by competition, world travel, plant hunting expeditions, technological advances, and passions for nature and art, the Gilded Age gave rise to landscapes of astonishing beauty and horticulture. Gardens of the Gilded Age showcases a selection of estates on the East Coast, diving into their histories and the elements that make them striking and unique. Each garden profile includes enticing information about the estate's owners, history, and the evolution of the garden, including significant plants and architectural features. With lush photography and informative text, Gardens of the Gilded Age is a delight for the senses and a fascinating view of the era.
Hardcover, 288 pages, 8” x 10”, 340 color photographs
“Garden making among the rich also became a popular arena for the display of their new prosperity. A beautifully designed landscape enhanced the natural beauty of the site and offered opportunities for the owners to express their personal tastes and interests.”
““The great country house as it is now understood is a new type of dwelling, a sumptuous house, built at large expense, often palatial in its dimensions, furnished in the richest manner and placed on an estate, perhaps large enough to admit of independent farming operations, and in most cases with a garden which is an integral part of the architectural scheme.””
“In Gilded Age estates, the visual presentation of mansion and gardens was of prime importance. Due to the grand scale of these properties and the fame of their owners, the gardens were subjects of national interest. Both regional and national newspapers described each season’s grand parties in detail, including the appearance of the gardens and the floral displays inside the mansions. ”
“During the Gilded Age gardens were not just for beauty—they were integral to social entertaining among the upper class. Gardens became living stages for parties, cultural performances, and the leisurely rituals of high society.”
“These gardens were often statements of power, wealth, culture and refinement, modeled after European manors and palaces. But they were also expressions of beauty and passion for the natural world in all of its endless variety.”
