For thirty years, Upstate Gardeners’ Journal has been a trusted source in the greater Rochester area for all things gardening. This year, UGJ is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary. The magazine was founded in 1995 by Jane Milliman, who is still the current publisher.
“I thought I could start a gardening magazine, and there was definitely a need for one,” Milliman says. “I started in the backroom of my former husband’s grandmother’s newspaper . . . and I had a photo background and was taking horticulture classes.”
Milliman has leaned on the support and advice of numerous people over the years, from the beginning of UGJ to today.
“Roger Powers and the late John deVisser were big, early supporters. Bristol’s Garden Center and Sarah’s Garden Center have been wonderful friends and advertisers since the beginning. Ted Collins, who has since passed, was a dear friend and teacher—we used to go to lunch (always with wine) and he’d try to stump me with plant samples.”
Since UGJ was started in 1995, Milliman has grown the company, purchasing (585) magazine in 2019 and (585) Kids in 2020.
“In the beginning, I would print out labels and stick them on the magazines and bring them to the post office myself. I mean, I did everything. As it grew, I got a little help with circulation and stuff like that. I first hired Debbie Eckerson to help with circulation, and In 2012 Cathy Monrad came on board to help with layouts. Cathy now works on all three of the publications.” As Upstate Gardeners’ Journal celebrates its thirtieth anniversary, its legacy continues to bloom. From its humble beginnings to today, the magazine has grown alongside its readers, fostering a shared passion for the beauty of the outdoors.
Lucy Crounse is a journalism and broadcasting major at SUNY Brockport.
This article originally appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.
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