Dear Readers,

Welcome to your Spring issue of Princeton Magazine. Our cover story by Ilene Dube celebrates the 50th anniversary of Terhune Orchards, owned and operated by the Mount family since 1975. Pam and Gary Mount met and started dating at Princeton High School, and they were in the Peace Corps for three years before purchasing Terhune. They and their family have expanded and modernized the popular farm extensively over the years, and it now features a vineyard as well.

Continuing with anniversaries, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby turns 100 this spring. Donald H. Sanborn III traces the story from its roots at Princeton University to renewed attention including two musicals, one on Broadway. In his Book Scene focusing on cover art with Princeton connections, Stuart Mitchner points out that this publication became renowned due in large part to its cover design by Francis Cugat. Celestial Eyes features a woman’s image with despairing eyes that evoke Daisy Faye Buchanan, Gatsby’s love and his doom. One might come to believe that the cover is a reason that the novel is still popular after all these years.

Stuart also covers the graphic work of Frank Stella, Princeton Class of 1958, who upon graduation established a whole new abstract art form of very carefully drafted lines. Over the years his art developed more color and abstraction, and one of his paintings sold in 2024 for $6,100,000.

Also in the area of the arts, you will enjoy Anne Levin’s article “Milestones for Milanov” about Rossen Milanov, the music director of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, who is celebrating his 60th birthday along with his 15th year leading the PSO. You will find the story on how he finally was convinced to join the orchestra very intriguing.

Of course, the origin of the visual arts starts in a studio, and what could be more exciting than a collection of artists’ studios in one place? Our Editor-in-Chief Laurie Pellichero writes about the Princeton Makes artist cooperative, founded nearly four years ago by Jim Levine. Located in the Princeton Shopping Center, it now has 40 member artists, a retail store, and is a haven for creativity and community.

With spring upon us, our attention goes to flowers and their amazing impact on our attitude. Wendy Greenberg writes about this as she describes several day trips to experience the blooming of different flowers each month.

As some of you may know, I spent much of my teenage years clerking in The Flower Basket, one of my mother’s three shops. Each customer came in with a need for flowers: an anniversary, a birth, a death, a graduation, or a prom. That is where I personally discovered the true power of the flower, and also learned how to read and satisfy each customer’s need. That was great training for my eventual career in architecture.

Mary Abitanto brings us wonderful recipes for simple and easy spring entertaining with a “French flair,” both inside and out. Mary also provides photos of her works of art and flavor. Enjoy!

My new “zero carbon” house is right on the shores of Lake Carnegie, and it is a thrill to see the rowing shells flow by, literally, as a work of art. One of my favorite books and an amazing movie is The Boys in the Boat. I mention this to prepare you for Bill Alden’s story about Princeton University’s Lori Dauphiny and her amazing career coaching women’s open crew, including several rowers who have excelled in Olympic competition. I found it to be a healthy commentary on how just the right amount of self-doubt enables you to excel.

In this issue you will also find two pages of A Well-Designed Life featuring products selected by Sarah Teo for different budgets, each beautifully composed. And speaking of beautiful pages, please note the graphics accompanying each story, the result of the efforts of our Art Director, Jeff Tryon.

Though the days are getting longer, the nights are still there with their spectacular array of stars and galaxies, punctuated now and then by a streaking meteor! Taylor Smith engages us in following 17th-century astronomer Galileo Galilei and using a telescope to explore the nighttime sky from our own backyards. Taylor also helps us understand the difference in quality and scope of different binoculars and telescopes. One does come away from these sessions wondering if there is other human life out there, somewhere.

On that note, all of us at Princeton Magazine hope that you enjoy this Spring issue. Also, I encourage you to “Shop Local,” especially with our advertisers.

Respectfully yours,

J. Robert Hillier, Lh,D., FAIA
Publisher