Almost 50 years after Nathaniel Hawthorne left his home in Lenox (now part of Tanglewood), another writer found inspiration in the Berkshires. Edith Wharton (1862–1937) came to Lenox in 1899 and proceeded to build her palatial estate, The Mount. When not writing, she would entertain literary friends here, including Henry James.
Besides such novels as The Age of Innocence , Wharton penned The Decoration of Houses , which helped legitimize interior decoration as a profession in the USA. Wharton was also a keen horticulturist and many visitors come here just to wander the magnificent formal gardens. Thanks to a $3 million restoration effort, the gardens have regained much of their original grandeur. And you needn't worry about pesticides and other nasty sprays – as was the case in Edith's day, the gardens are once again maintained using organic practices.
The Mount is on the southern outskirts of Lenox at US 7 and Plunkett St.
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