"Gardens of the Garden State"

Book review by Carlo Balistrieri, Vice President of Preservation

The great state of New Jersey—often derided, known chiefly for being the most densely populated state in the nation, and hardly thought of as a garden spot (despite recently celebrating its sixtieth year as “the garden state”)—is being celebrated for its green oases in Nancy Berner and Susan Lowry's new book, Gardens of the Garden State (Monacelli Press, October 2014). Next to plants, gardeners love books best and are always on the lookout for new grist for their thought mills. This one just may change your opinion of the state you thought you knew.

Buying into the stereotypical notions of New Jersey shortchanges nearly nine million people sure to have their share of outstanding gardeners, and gardens, amongst them. Brenner and Lowry feature a wonderful array of twenty-nine gardens, public and private, almost all known less than they should be. The book presents them from north to south. From New Jersey State Botanical Garden at Skylands in Ringwood, just across the border from New York, to Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in North Wildwood near Cape May on the southern tip of the state, the book gives an intimate, inside look at gardens that range from understated and elegant, to bold and brassy.

Berner and Lowry make the point that geography matters in New Jersey, despite its small size. Much like the Carolinas, it is a state of geographical regions, from Coastal Plain to Piedmont to Highlands. This, along with the influence of the Atlantic—and the not infrequent storms that sweep in from it—create a varied climate that spawns a tremendous diversity of gardens.

More than a few of the featured gardens are either Garden Conservancy Preservation partners or participants in our Open Days program, holding out the promise that visits of your own can be made to these special spots.

Photographs by Gemma and Andrew Ingalls illuminate the text in the manner of the best garden books, and the balance between image and word is pleasing for either a flip through, or a deep dive.

You might have thought having Great Houses and Gardens of New Jersey, the eleven-year-old survey by Caroline Seebohm, on your shelf covered you. Guess again. There is no overlap. Even better, the two combined are nowhere near an inclusive survey of what New Jersey has to offer.

Though many New Jerseyans would prefer their secrets kept close, the kimono is open now. The “Garden State” is truly as verdant as its nickname.

Authors Nancy Berner and Susan Lowry are an accomplished writing team whose previous book collaborations include the Garden Guide to New York City and Gardens of the Hudson Valley. Susan Lowry is a member of the board of directors of the Garden Conservancy as well as of Greenwood Gardens.