Wainscott - The Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, Inc. (ARF) will hold its 25th Annual Garden Tour on Saturday, June 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. One of the longest running garden tours on Long Island, the ARF Garden Tour will feature six magnificent gardens in Bridgehampton and Sagaponack.

This year's garden tour will honor the memory of Howard Purcell, "a gentle genius when it came to gardens" says ARF Executive Director Sara Davison. Howard conceived of the ARF Garden Tour and worked every year up until his death to help make it a success. He discovered some of the greatest gardens in the Hamptons (his own being one) and persuaded the proud owners to allow the ARF tour to feature it. Howard served on the board of directors of ARF for over a decade and the organization is proud to dedicate the 25th Anniversary of the tour to his memory.

One of the gardens featured on the tour this year is owned by Susan and Stan Reifer. Inspired by Stan Reifer's childhood love for Chinese art and design, the expansive gardens reflect a lifetime spent in pursuit of his boyhood love. The meticulous layout, designed by the renowned Chinese artist Jian Guo Xu, was conceived as a painting in three dimensions, which marries the traditions of Eastern and Western design. Also on the tour is the garden of Karen and Herb Friedman, designed by Jack deLashmet & Associates. The house faces the back of the property which is a naturalistic park-like landscape. The native plantings, steep grade changes, and retaining walls make the property seem much more expansive. Also included is the Oehme Van Sweden designed garden of Cynthia and Edwin Hamowy. The American "ranch" house features three wide steps that lead up to the front porch with a large lily pool. At 20' x 40' - its as big as most American swimming pools. The garden at the rear of the house is divided into a series of garden rooms, all with a distinct carpet of brick and stone.

The 25th Anniversary Garden Tour also showcases the gardens of Diane and Craig Solomon, Jody and Larry Carlson, and Domna Stanton. The tour is self-guided and ticket holders can view the gardens in any order. A cocktail reception immediately follows at the East Hampton home of Joanne and Henry Breyer. This year's event is chaired by Barbara Slifka and Mark Fichandler.

All proceeds from the tour benefit the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, Inc. (ARF), the leading no-kill animal shelter on eastern Long Island.