Sixty-Something: It’s Time To Smell The Flowers In The Hamptons

It’s Time to Smell the Flowers in the Hamptons.

They are everywhere dancing in the summer breezes and soaking up the sunlight. When God created flowers he did so to bloom in high feather in mid summer. On the east end in the summer flowers add to an already beautiful place. Many believe the Hamptons actually are beautiful all year round I understand that too.

What is so interesting is that the gardens on the east end are usually a signature of the home owners. Some folks love roses, some love shrubs such as the very popular choice of Hydrangeas. My wife loves Black Eyed Susan’s and Daisies ! Choosing flowers for the home is a very personal thing.

I believe when you arrive at a home with a meticulous garden it says something immediately about the occupants of a home. Over the years I have always noticed the difference between a rental home and year round occupants but just looking at the shrubs and garden. You can see the love.

Years ago I was on assignment to cover some homes participating in a “Garden Tour,” sponsored by the Jewish Center of the Hamptons. I went to some phenomenal south of the highway homes and was given personal tours of some very original gardens. One of those homes had a fine women who claimed she spent well over a million dollars (2007 money) bringing in the numerous types of various trees that gracefully defined her gardens and property. She had a story about each tree as if it was a longtime member of the family. She then explained the importance of selecting the flowers.

She said, “I can’t paint or do sculpture, but as a little girl growing up in Denver, I realized I had a connection with flowers and trees. I have been blessed with a husband who understands this connection I have, and enthusiastically supports it! The garden keeps me feeling young and alive.”

Of course she requested I not use her name and I understood her need to not have every type of horticultural salespersons harassing her. However while covering an opening night show at Bay Street Theater, some 15 years later, I saw her upfront in a wheelchair and I went over and introduced myself and my wife. She said she remembered the article and then said, “You must come and see how all the trees have grown older with me except they have grown taller, fuller and oh so much more beautiful!” She was glowing, I actually teared up.

I love watching my wife put her signature on our garden. It’s all part of expressing a love of home and the beauty of life itself.