LUNENBURG — Jana Milbocker, a well-known garden designer, speaker, and author, has a passion to combine gardening and art to educate, inspire and add color to the lives of both new and seasoned gardeners.
The Lunenburg Public Library will host Milbocker as she presents “Gardens of the Gilded Era” – bringing some color to your winter evening – via Zoom at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29.
The Gilded Age is famous for its ornate mansions and grand gardens built by the Roosevelts, Vanderbilts, and Carnegies.
Transport yourself to the Gilded Age with an armchair tour of the gardens at the Newport Mansions, Kykuit, Vanderbilt Estate, Vizcaya, Untermyer Gardens, Nemours, and others.
“The Gilded Age was a time when many of our renowned historic gardens were established,” Milbocker explains. “Inspired by the classical gardens of Italy, France and England, these estates featured grand fountains, formal gardens, and exotic plants collected from abroad.
This talk will introduce you to the founders of these gardens and give you a glimpse into this era popularized by HBO’s popular series “The Gilded Age.”
Milbocker says she loves to visit gardens and historic sites in the United States and abroad and is thrilled to share her trips through such beautifully illustrated lectures at libraries, along with flower shows, horticultural societies, and garden clubs in New England.
“I began visiting gardens as a way to learn about garden design, growing techniques and the plant varieties that grow well locally,” Milbocker said. “Visiting public gardens is both educational and inspiring, and you can bring many of the ideas that you see back to your own home garden.”
Living on a two-acre property in Holliston’s historic district for 30 years, the garden surrounding Milbocker’s Victorian home features more than 140 varieties of trees and shrubs, perennial gardens, peony and rose beds, water features and shady retreats.
Milbocker has published several books including “The Garden Tourist: 120 Destination Gardens,” “Nurseries in the Northeast,” “The Garden Tourist’s New England,” and “The Garden Tourist’s Florida.”
She has lectured at flower shows, horticultural societies, garden clubs, and libraries all over the Northeast.
Milbocker also keeps busy as the owner of Enchanted Gardens, a boutique landscape-design company in Metrowest Boston.
Her website enchantedgardensdesign.com offers stories of interesting people and places, a list of events and beautiful gardens to visit, and a blog that will talk about everything from winter pruning tips to healing gardens and much more.
“Gardens are places of beauty, creativity and tranquility,” said Milbocker. “Whether you are a hands-on gardener or just a lover of flowers, you will be inspired by this virtual tour of these amazing historic gardens.”
For more information on this presentation, or to register, call 978-582-4140 or visit lunenburglibrary.org. For more information on Jana Milbocker, visit enchantedgardensdesign.com.
