Bridge Gardens Celebrates 30 Years!

The lush and contemplative landscape of Bridge Gardens is a special gift to the community. In 2008, we were honored to accept the Gardens as a donation from Jim Kilpatric and Harry Neyens, who had lovingly designed and installed its many elements. This year we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Bridge Gardens as well as Jim and Harry for their vision to create a public garden on the East End. It would not exist but for their passion for gardening and their hope that Bridge Gardens would bring joy to the community at large for many years to come. Next year we will have been the stewards of this hidden gem for a decade.  From a simple plan to just grow more, Jim and Harry created a five-acre oasis in the heart of Bridgehampton — sharing it with friends and opening the Gardens many rooms to the public over the next 21 years. 

Today, under the stewardship of Trust’s Rick Bogusch, the lush garden beds planted and sown by Jim and Harry continue to flourish, but, as with all living things, they have evolved, with new plantings and purpose. The Gardens’ mission to serve as a demonstration garden and outdoor classroom closely matches the goals Jim and Harry set out many years ago: to make Bridge Gardens a place that inspires others. Today, community garden plots, a large demonstration vegetable garden and an expanded herb garden sit among the acres of sustainably managed lawns, trees and shrubs, as well as interesting and varied annual and perennial plants. 

The Gardens truly come alive in the summer and fall seasons … make it a point to visit this year and take in its charm.  As we celebrate Bridge Gardens’ 30th Anniversary, let’s give thanks to Jim and Harry for their vision. Join us as its future unfolds through the seasons. To learn more about the garden house, click here.  To become a member and support the gardens development, please call Stephanie Konarski at 631.283.3195 or visit our website.