Southampton - John v.H. Halsey, President of the Peconic Land Trust, and Rick Bogusch, Garden Manager, announced the opening of Bridge Gardens for the 2011 Season on April 16. Bridge Gardens, a horticultural oasis in the hamlet of Bridgehampton (36 Mitchell Lane), was donated to the Peconic Land Trust in 2008 by Jim Kilpatric and Harry Neyens.

The gardens will offer free admission opening weekend (April 16 and April 17) as well as the weekend of May 6 to May 8 in celebration of National Public Gardens Day. (Please note that Friday, May 6 is a special open day in honor of National Public Gardens Day). The Gardens will also be open on Friday, April 22 in recognition of Earth Day.

New this season, Garden Manager Bogusch will host tours of the gardens on the first Saturday of each month, beginning May 7 at 11 a.m. The guided walk will give visitors the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the Gardens' evolution and future plans.

Sculpture In The Garden: Uncommon Ground II

The Gardens will once again host an outdoor sculpture exhibition, curated by Cheryl Sokolow of C Fine Art, Inc. titled "Uncommon Ground II." The exhibition is slated to open on June 8, with a "meet the artists'" reception on Saturday, July 23.

Benefit: An Evening Of Wine and Roses

On Saturday, June 18 the Trust will celebrate its third anniversary at Bridge Gardens with a benefit, "An Evening of Wine and Roses," with special guest B. Smith. The evening will feature live music with Jim Turner and a silent auction. Tickets are $125/person. Corporate sponsors of the event include BNY Mellon Wealth Management and Hildreth's Home Goods.

Fridays At Six Music In The Gardens

Beginning July 1, Friday night music evenings will kick off for a third season. This family friendly evening has grown in popularity, and features a wide array of local musical talent. Scheduled to perform this year are:

 • Charles Certain Duo: July 1 and August 5
 • Bridgehampton School Marimba Band: July 8, July 15, and July 22
 • Alfredo Merat: July 29 and August 12
 • Southampton String Ensemble: August 19 and August 26
 • Joe Hampton & the Kingpins: September 2

Education In The Gardens

In addition to Rick's monthly tours, other educational programs scheduled this season include:

 • April 16: Vegetable Gardening 101 with Bogusch
 • May 21: Rose Care 101 with Bogusch
 • June 25: Vegetable Gardening for Summer Harvest with Bogusch
 • July 16: Entomologist Talk with Rebeckah Schultz of Ray Smith & Associates
 • August 20: Cooking with Herbs with noted chef and cookbook author Sylvia Lehrer.

"We hope to see many new faces at Bridge Gardens this Spring, Summer and Fall. This is a wonderful place to explore and enjoy," said Bogusch.

The Gardens will open on weekends from April 16 through the end of October. Beginning Memorial Day, through Labor Day, the Gardens will expand its open days to include Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Hours Of Operations

Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sundays: 12 noon to 4 p.m.
Wednesdays and Thursdays (beginning May 25): 12 noon to 5 p.m.
Fridays (beginning May 27): 12 noon to dusk.

Admission: $10/adults; $20/family.
Seasonal memberships: $50/individuals; $75/family.
(Family admission/membership covers four individuals).
Corporate memberships are also available.

The Gardens are also available for group tours as well as for private events and commercial photo shoots. For more information, contact Rick Bogusch at 631-537-7440 or Justina Fargiano at the Trust's office at 631-283-3195 or email BridgeGardens@PeconicLandTrust.org.

For more information go to www.PeconicLandTrust.org.