Hamptons-Based Public Gardens Presenting Complimentary Tours As Part Of Annual Celebration

We’re lucky enough to live in a place where public gardens are both plentiful and jaw-droppingly beautiful, so on Friday, May 17 marvel at the magic of Mother Nature and our local blooms with National Public Gardens Day programming at lovely locales.

First, LongHouse Reserve (133 Hands Creek Road, East Hampton, www.longhouse.org) and the Madoo Conservancy (618 Sagg Lake Lane off Sagg Main, Sagaponack, www.madoo.org) have teamed up to present a duo of free, one-hour guided tours of their grounds.

The scenic exploration commences at Madoo, a two-acre horticulturally diverse garden established by artist, gardener, and writer Robert Dash, at 11 a.m. and the final tour will take place at LongHouse, a 16-acre reserve and sculpture garden created by internationally known textile designer, author, and collector Jack Lenor Larsen, at 2 p.m.

At LongHouse, their new horticulturist, Holger Winenga, will lead the group exploration. “LongHouse is a magical place, unlike any other I know, where Gardens and Sculptures become one. It is a place that truly touches your heart,” Winenga reflected.

There will also be a full day of activities at LongHouse.

Peconic Land Trust’s Bridge Gardens (36 Mitchell Lane, Bridgehampton, peconiclandtrust.org), a five-acre public and demonstration garden, will host a Spring Flower Tour on Saturday, May 18 at 10 a.m.

“National Public Gardens Week is a great opportunity to recognize the importance of public gardens that serve as a community resource, showcasing low impact horticulture practices for all gardeners,” Kathy Kennedy, Peconic Land Trust Senior Outreach Manager, noted. “We’ve scheduled a guided walk at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, that will be led by Master Gardener Nancy Gilbert of Jamesport along with Garden Manager Rick Bogusch, both of whom will share their immense plant knowledge and gardening tips during the walk. For those who have never been to Bridge Gardens, this hidden gem will be a real treat.”

Tour-goers will explore Bridge Gardens’ four-quadrant herb garden, vegetable garden, rose roundel, water garden, community garden plots, and more. Bogusch and Gilbert will touch upon everything from growing native plants, choosing “well-behaved” perennials, applying low-impact practices to safeguard drinking water, and tips to extend your vegetable garden season through autumn.

American Public Gardens Association, with then partners Rain Bird, founded National Public Gardens Day in 2009 as a way to “drive local and national exposure to the importance of building vibrant, relevant gardens committed to community enrichment and environmental responsibility through community engagement, sustainable practices and conversation.”

Reservations are required for the tours.