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Community Corner

#92 - Visit the Bridge Gardens and Admire the Scenery

The Peconic Land Trust's gardens are open for for visitors.

Tucked away on Mitchell Lane in Bridgehampton, is a Peconic Land Trust property open to the public for a small admission fee — and on May 6, National Public Gardens Day, admission will be free.

The gardens were donated to the Trust in the fall of 2008 by founders and gardeners Jim Kilpatric and Harry Neyens. They began designing and installing the gardens in 1988, and over the course of 20 years it grew to cover 5 acres, according to the Trust’s website.

Garden manager Rick Bogusch looks after the many specimens of trees, hedgerow, flowers and herbs. He said Friday that he’s surprised how many people still don’t know the gardens are there and open to the public.

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The gardens include topiary, a rose garden, lavender garden, herb garden, maze and much more. In April, only a few species are in bloom, but as the temperature gets warmer and the gardens go into full bloom, it a quite a sight to see.

In the colder months, Peconic Land Trust-sponsored classes and lectures are offered indoors, and one it gets warm events are offered outdoors.

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On the first Saturday of the month from May through August, Bogusch will lead a guided walk at 10 a.m., and on May 21, he’ll give a lecture titled "Rose Care 101" at 10 a.m.

Other classes planned for summer 2011 include cooking with herbs and vegetable gardening for summer harvest.

On June 8, a summer-long garden sculpture exhibition, “Uncommon Ground II,” will open.

On July 1, “Fridays at Six Music in the Garden” begins, with weekly acts including the Bridgehampton School Marimba Band, the Charles Certain Duo, the Southampton String Ensemble and Alfredo Merat.

From mid-April through mid-October, the gardens are open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the gardens are open Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m. and Fridays from noon to dusk.

Daily admission is $10 per adult or $20 per family, up to four individuals.

A family membership, for $75, entitles the cardholder to unlimited access for up to four people a day through October 31. An individual membership is $50.

Stay tuned for #91 next Friday. And if you missed #93.

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