Scents and Sensibility at Madoo
“Madoo Talks,” a series of three horticulture-related lectures, will kick off Sunday at noon at the Madoo Conservancy, the two-acre garden established in 1967 in Sagaponack by the late artist, gardener, and writer Robert Dash.
“From Seed to Scent,” a talk by Paul Austin, a fragrance-industry leader who helped create the “seed to scent” program for Robertet, a French fragrance and flavor company, will open the series on Sunday. Mr. Austin’s early work took him to the sources of the scent world and led to his creation of a series of short films shot in communities and flower fields across the globe that trace natural ingredients such as jasmine, damask rose, and spices.
On March 13, Caroline Seebohm, a design writer, novelist, and biographer, will discuss her book “Rescuing Eden,” which profiles 30 American gardens with historic and horticultural importance that “have been rescued from the wrecker’s ball,” as she says. The book includes such varied locations as Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay, Peckerwood Garden outside Houston, and Madoo, all of which have been saved by citizens groups, conservationists, and private donors.
The final talk, on March 20, will feature Susan Cohen, a landscape architect whose book “The Inspired Landscape” includes interviews with 21 landscape designers from around the world who focus on their sources of inspiration. Ms. Cohen will discuss the evolution of specific gardens, from the creative spark that inspired them to their completion.
Each talk will take place in the summer studio at noon and be followed by a reception. Both Ms. Seebohm and Ms. Cohen will sign copies of their books. Tickets are $30, $25 for members; advance reservations can be made at madoo.org.
Looking ahead, Madoo in Manhattan will present a lecture by Fernando Caruncho, a Spanish landscape architect known for his minimalist landscapes that explore the ground between formal gardens and agriculture, on April 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cosmopolitan Club. Tickets are $150, $125 for members. Advance reservations, which are required, can be made by emailing [email protected].