Bridgehampton - Whether it is 100 degrees Fahrenheit or pouring cats and dogs, the Bridge Gardens are quite a sensational sight to behold. Hidden behind a dense copse of trees in the heart of Bridgehampton, the gardens sprawl across five acres seemingly overflowing with plants, flowers, trees and sculptures. Founders and gardeners Jim Kilpatric and Harry Neyens donated it to the Peconic Land Trust in the fall of 2008. They began designing and planting the gardens in 1988, and it has taken over 20 years for the gardens to reach their present remarkable beauty.

A beautiful, sunny day at the gardens.

Bridge Gardens are comprised of two separate garden districts, quite aptly known as the Inner Garden and the Outer Garden. The Inner Garden hosts the Garden House, which functions as the Gardener's Residence and Educational Center. This house currently stands on the footprint of an old potato barn. It overlooks a Spanish-styled knot garden, a miniature Japanese maple, large Perennial Borders, an Ivy Maze and Ivy Walk and Double Hedgerows.

The hedges mark the boundary between the Inner and Outer Garden - and they actually undulate like miniature waves. The Outer Garden boasts the main attractions of the garden - the rose garden (a collection of 800 antique and modern roses) and the lavender garden (comprised of eight lavender beds). Part of the rose garden encircles a fountain, but the climbing roses entwine around beautiful white trellis and attract bees and butterflies to that section of the garden. The lavender garden offers a striking contrast from the surrounding green grass. There is also a collection of topiary yews and at the moment, many sculptures from the Uncommon Ground Exhibition.

The Uncommon Ground Exhibition is a sculpture exhibition that runs until September 12. It features the work of nine artists - John Van Alstine, Kevin Barrett, Jim Henderson, Win Knowlton, Joel Perlman, Carol Ross, John Ruppert, Isobel Folb Sokolow, and Naomi Teppich. The exhibition explores the relationship between nature and art. For more information on the Uncommon Ground Exhibition, go to www.peconiclandtrust.org/BG_UC.

So garden-lover or not, if you haven't visited the gardens yet, make sure you do, for they're really quite something at this time of the year. And don't let the heat deter you - many parts of the garden are covered by treetops or shaded by the undulating hedges.

For more information on the Bridge Gardens and upcoming events, go to www.peconiclandtrust.org/bridge_gardens.

About The Peconic Land Trust
Peconic Land Trust conserves Long Island's working farms, natural lands, and heritage for our communities now and in the future. For more information on the Peconic Land Trust go to www.peconiclandtrust.org

The lavender beds.