These Are Some of the Most Beautiful Private Gardens in the Hamptons
This past weekend, East Hampton’s Guild Hall celebrated its 90th anniversary by bringing back its Garden as Art event (which was on a hiatus for a few years), allowing visitors to tour numerous private and public gardens in the Hamptons. This year, five artists, landscape architects, and interior designers opened up their (garden) doors for the day-long occasion, making for the most picturesque excursion for all who partook in the event. Couldn't make it? Fear not; we're bringing you the next best thing: a virtual tour. Below, we explore each of the five properties, in addition to the grand residence that served as the site of the event’s cocktail party.
Ingrao/Kemper Residence
There's no shortage of Egyptian influences at the Hamptons home of interior design duo Tony Ingrao and Randy Kemper, including trellis-style obelisks and perfectly manicured trees that are also shaped liked obelisks, as well as statues of Sphinxes and cats. There’s also a gunite pool surrounded by meticulously landscaped circular topiary plants, towering trees, and luxuriant bushes.
The Folly Tree Arboretum by Tucker Marder
At the Folly Tree Arboretum in East Hampton Springs, artist Tucker Marder showcases his passion for environmentalism and historic plants. On a tour, Marder himself divulged the fascinating origins of some of the trees seen throughout this expansive property, including a seedling from the last known living tree planted by famed gardener Johnny Appleseed. Other notable trees include a Ginkgo from a seedling of a tree that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan in 1945; a tree that descends from the tree under which Hippocrates was allegedly sitting when he founded modern medicine, in Kos, Greece; and a grafted clone of the tree that is said to have led Isaac Newton to discover gravity (thanks to an apple that fell from it), in Kent, England. Best of all, the Arboretum is now open for tours—so you can see these plants for yourself!
Cookson Residence
If you’re a lover of vibrant colors and lush landscaping, artist Lucy Cookson’s backyard is sure to leave you feeling sublime, given the many yellow daffodils and blue and pink hydrangeas that line the staircase leading up to an expansive infinity pool. Needless to say, this garden is a quintessential Hamptons dream, and it would certainly be our ideal spot for a summer dinner party!
Bleckner Residence
In artist Ross Bleckner’s modern oasis, minimalism is key. Guests of the Garden as Art event were treated to a walkthrough of his art studio—which is part of his single-story contemporary home—and a walk of the grounds, including a rectangular lap pool and wooden deck. As for the landscaping, towering trees are spaced out across the property, including two that are connected by a hammock that’s perfect for relaxing during a summer evening.
Landscape Details
As part of Guild Hall’s Garden as Art event, artist Lois Bender painted countless watercolor illustrations all day at Landscape Details, a landscaping company owned by landscape architect Michael Derrig. Here, an easily walkable garden can be found, complete with a picnic table and outdoor furniture that’s ideal for lunch on a warm day, when you’re in need of some (very scenic) shade.
Woody House
The grand finale of the event was a cocktail party at Kathy Rayner’s magnificent oceanfront estate in East Hampton, whose grounds include a beautifully landscaped pool area that boasts Versailles-esque grass and pebble designs, and a charming enclave composed entirely of seashells. The latter area is complete with chairs that boast seashell-shaped backs and a stone table with numerous seashells around its perimeter.
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