Madoo’s 20th Birthday

    The Madoo Conservancy is celebrating its 20th birthday with a two-day gardening event that will combine socializing, shopping, and education all in the verdant and captivating environment of Robert Dash’s home and public garden in Sagaponack.

    The event kicks off with a cocktail party tomorrow from 6 to 9 p.m. on the back lawn overlooking the Foster family’s farm fields. It will offer Wolffer Estate wines, special “Madoo cocktails” made with Hendrick’s gin, and hors d’oeuvres by Gorgen Tiden, an award-winning Swedish chef. A silent auction and a live one conducted by Jamie Niven will feature garden-related objects of desire, from the prized chicken manure fiercely fought over every year to a pair of trips to Sweden.

    On Saturday, a garden market will have rare and unusual plants and garden tools and accessories. Vendors include Seibert & Rice, Hunter Boot U.S.A., Haven’s Kitchen, Joy Newton, the New General Store, and Madison James. They will donate 10 percent of their sales that day to Madoo. There will be activities for children throughout the day as well.

    During the day there will be classes and workshops on flower arranging, rose cultivation, tree management, cooking, and, much in the spirit of Madoo, mixology from the garden. A lunchtime lecture and book signing with Mac Griswold at noon will focus on the history of Sylvester Manor on Shelter Island, the topic of her forthcoming book, “The Manor: Three Centuries at a Slave Plantation on Long Island.”

    A full schedule and information about reservations are available at Madoo.org. Space is limited and advance purchase has been recommended.