While snow still blankets parts of Bridge Gardens, we are busy getting ready for the upcoming season and have plans -- both short and long term.

In the early Spring, our bulb planting last fall should begin to show its color -- first with daffodils, like Tete-a-Tete, followed in a week or so by Ice Follies, Camelot and May-bloomers like Derringer, Thalia and Poet's Narcissus. 

Other early bloomers to watch out for include tulips (Menton), Snowdrops (Galanthus), witch hazels (Hamamelis),  Lenten roses (Helleborus), winter hazel (Corylopsis spicata), and Siberian squill (Scilla sibirica). 

Also, in April, we will be joined by a summer intern: Irene Berkowitz. Irene is familiar with the Trust, last season being part of Quail Hill Farm's apprenticeship program. Irene is excited to join us at the gardens this summer, and will add some youth to our crew, which includes myself, Steve McCafferty, a retired schoolteacher who's been with us for the past 4 seasons -- and Bill Conklin, an experienced gardener and East End native (his family heritage goes back to the 1600s!).

We hope to see you often at the gardens this season -- the Herb Garden, always a favorite with visitors, will have plants and flowers blooming from early Spring through late Fall; we have plans for a small expansion of the vegetable garden, so we can grow more produce for local food pantries; and continue to make improvements in the rose garden and the large, flowing meadow-like beds that lead you through the Inner Garden.

Over the course of the season, I will keep you informed with developments and new additions -- and look forward to meeting you and discussing all things gardening.

The gardens will officially open the weekend of April 5th -- but we have a few exciting programs to bring you for a visit before, including our 4th annual "Conversations with..." lecture series which begins this Saturday, March 2 and Lois Bender's watercolor classes (see below for details). I hope that you will be able to join us at one or more programs.

This is also a great time of year to renew your membership to Bridge Gardens! Membership support of the gardens is critical to keep us growing. To renew today, call Thomas Hobson at 631.283.3195 ext. 20.

Here's looking towards an early Spring and spectacular season.

-- Rick Bogusch, Garden Manager


Upcoming Programs 

Although the weather has been cold and snowy, we are looking forward to the spring and summer.  The thought of watching the plants, shrubs, and flowers waking up from their dormancy warms us up!