Janet Mavec’s 30-Year Journey Restoring a Historic New Jersey Garden
When jewelry designer Janet Mavec first set foot in Bird Haven Farm, a historic garden in Pottersville, New Jersey, she never imagined it would become a decades-long labor of love. Yet, since 1996, Mavec has co-stewarded this 100-acre property alongside her husband, finance executive Wayne Nordberg, transforming it into a modern garden marvel while honoring its rich history.
In her new book, Bird Haven Farm: The Story of an Original American Garden (Rizzoli, September 2), Mavec chronicles this journey, offering readers a rare glimpse into the personal, spiritual, and aesthetic rewards of restoring a historic American garden.
A Garden with Historic Roots
Bird Haven Farm was originally created by Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, famed publisher and author behind the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series. Adams, who lived on the property from 1892 to 1982, built expansive vegetable and flower gardens, a greenhouse, and even maintained 300 chickens. Her vision of a self-sustaining garden estate laid the foundation for what Mavec would later transform into a modern, living landscape.
Mavec explains, “We didn’t waste a lot of time figuring out what direction to go in. It was nice because we were able to hit the ground running.” The combination of Adams’ historic design sensibilities and Mavec’s passion for beauty and nature created a fertile environment for innovation.
From Jewelry to Gardens: Mavec’s Artistic Eye
Before Bird Haven Farm became a centerpiece of Mavec’s life, she honed her eye for natural aesthetics through her work as a jewelry designer. In the 1980s, she opened an antique jewelry store on Madison Avenue, specializing in 19th-century gems shaped like flowers, birds, and fruits. She later launched Janet Mavec Jewelry, a line inspired by nature’s elegance.
This artistic sensibility translated seamlessly into her work on Bird Haven. “I’ve always had a connection with the natural world,” Mavec says. “Restoring and expanding the garden was a way to express that, beyond what jewelry could accomplish.”
Partnering with a Landscape Visionary
Mavec’s journey to restore Bird Haven truly accelerated when she discovered Fernando Caruncho’s Mirrors of Paradise (2000). The Spanish landscape architect, based in Madrid, blends classical structure with contemporary simplicity, creating gardens that emphasize geometry, light, and balance.
In 2003, Mavec reached out to Caruncho for guidance, marking one of his first U.S. projects. “It was really about editing the garden as opposed to adding to it,” she recalls. Caruncho envisioned Bird Haven as a series of concentric circles, anchored by a minimalist fountain at the center, flanked by buildings including the historic 1816 stone house.
An old apple orchard was rejuvenated with younger trees planted in a loose grid, while a boxwood slope became the site of a spiritual art installation—an oval clearing with tree stumps arranged in an infinity symbol encircling a totem decorated with deer antlers.
Design Meets Functionality: Paths, Fields, and Trails
The garden’s design balances structured elegance with natural spontaneity. Caruncho trimmed surrounding trees to transform an overgrown area into a large, oval wildflower field. Radiating trails invite visitors to explore the property on foot or horseback—a nod to Pottersville’s historic equestrian culture, once frequented by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Mavec also integrated functional spaces such as the “Party Barn,” which hosts seasonal dinners, weddings, and other celebrations. From this vantage, visitors can see the Monastery Garden, where irises bloom in a precise geometric layout, reflecting Caruncho’s signature mathematical precision.
Balancing Wildness and Order
Not every part of Bird Haven is meticulously structured. The fruit and vegetable gardens celebrate wildness, with flowers intermingling among beans, cherries, melons, tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes. Mavec often starts seeds in the greenhouse before transplanting them outdoors, blending practicality with artistry.
“This garden is a living, breathing entity,” she says. “It’s constantly evolving—growing, shifting, surprising. That sense of discovery is what sustains me.”
A Multi-Sensory Experience
Bird Haven is not only visually stunning but also immersive in every sense. The swimming pond, dating back to Adams’ era, serves as a serene spot to watch frogs, turtles, and fish. A cabana designed by Manuel Fernandez-Casteleiro provides shade, while in summer, grandchildren swim in the pond, linking the garden’s past and present.
The sensory experience is also auditory. Birdsong, wind through the trees, and the soft ripple of fountains contribute to the garden’s tranquil atmosphere, which Mavec highlights in her book.
The Book: A Celebration of Nature, Design, and Spirituality
Mavec’s book, Bird Haven Farm, features photography by Ngoc Minh Ngo and recipes by Gail Monaghan, offering a comprehensive view of the property’s beauty and functionality. It emphasizes the personal and spiritual rewards of cultivating a historic garden, revealing the discipline, creativity, and patience required to sustain such a complex ecosystem.
The book explores not only design techniques but also the philosophy behind Mavec’s choices. Her collaboration with Caruncho and the integration of historic and modern elements provide readers with a blueprint for harmonious garden restoration.
Restoration Lessons from Bird Haven
Several key lessons emerge from Mavec’s three-decade journey:
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Respect the history: Adams’ original design principles informed every new intervention.
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Blend old and new: Mavec combined antique features with modern minimalist designs for balance.
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Prioritize sustainability: The vegetable gardens, greenhouse, and orchard ensure the property continues to provide both aesthetic and practical value.
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Consider the spiritual: Installations like the infinity tree stumps foster stillness and reflection.
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Embrace evolution: A garden is never static; ongoing care, experimentation, and observation are essential.
Bird Haven as a Model for American Garden Restoration
Bird Haven Farm exemplifies how historic American gardens can be both preserved and modernized. It balances decorative arts, horticulture, and functional landscaping in ways that remain relevant to today’s garden designers and enthusiasts.
By integrating Caruncho’s minimalist principles with her own artistic eye, Mavec created a space that is both timeless and contemporary, proving that historical gardens can evolve without losing their essence.
Public Engagement and Community Impact
Though Bird Haven remains a private residence, Mavec has opened parts of the garden for seasonal events, educational tours, and community gatherings, fostering appreciation for landscape design and gardening heritage. This accessibility reflects her belief in sharing knowledge and inspiration, extending the garden’s impact beyond the property’s boundaries.
Conclusion: A Legacy in Bloom
For Janet Mavec, Bird Haven Farm is more than a garden; it is a lifelong project, a canvas, and a sanctuary. From its origins with Harriet Stratemeyer Adams to its modern reinvention under Mavec and Caruncho, the property embodies over a century of American design, horticulture, and personal dedication.
Her story reminds readers that restoring and curating gardens requires vision, patience, and collaboration. Whether you are a designer, gardener, or simply a lover of nature, Bird Haven Farm offers an inspiring blueprint for combining history, artistry, and sustainability.
