Gardens of the Garden State

Meet Nancy Berner and Susan Lowry, authors of the beautiful new book, “Gardens of the Garden State,” at Bernardsville Public Library on Sunday, November 16 at 2:00 pm. Their book takes readers on a glorious photographic tour of 28 public and private gardens of New Jersey–from historic formal gardens of estates, to suburban gardens, horticulturists’ havens, and fresh takes on front yards. Representing gardens in Ringwood in the north to Cape May in the south, the book gives an intimate, inside look at gardens that range from understated to elegant, to bold and brassy— illustrating the ways in which New Jersey’s long garden traditions are upheld to this day. The authors will give an illustrated talk followed by a question and answer session.

New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation, one of the original thirteen, home to the largest public iris garden in the country, and the glacier-swept endpoint of the last Ice Age.  For the authors, who look to gardens as an entry to the history and culture of a region, our state presents an array of surprising diversity. Its temperate climate makes it possible to grow a wide range of plants, while its complex topography—ranging from mountains to rolling hills and flat basins, the scrubby Pine Barrens and the rich Coastal Plain—demands innovative approaches to design.

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.

Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event which is sponsored with The Bookworm of Bernardsville. There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.