Garden tours, once a regular occurrence on the South Fork, are few and far between these days. But Guild Hall, which suspended its annual Garden as Art tour a few years ago, is back this year with an appealing blend of outdoor spaces designed by artists or inspired by art.
The tour is part of the cultural institution's celebration of its 90th anniversary.
On Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., those taking the tour will visit the properties of Ross Bleckner, Lucy Cookson, the Folly Tree Arboretum of Tucker Marder, the estate of Tony Ingrao and Randy Kemper, and Landscape Details.
Tickets begin at $150, which includes a streamed panel discussion, "The Living Medium -- Garden as a Personal Art Form," moderated by Edwina von Gal, whose approach to landscaping relies on sustainability.
Participants in the dialogue will be Mr. Marder, Ms. Cookson, and Eric Freeman, an abstract painter. They will describe how they conceived the designs for their properties and address the challenges of climate change on a micro level through the evolution of their gardens.
For $500, ticket holders will be able to attend the panel discussion in person at Guild Hall's rear garden and a cocktail party in the garden of Kathy Rayner later in the afternoon. Set between Georgica Pond and the Atlantic Ocean, the Rayner garden's interconnected outdoor "rooms" are the result of her work with designers, artisans, and John Hill, a master gardener, and his team. They are inspired by the visual culture of India and Europe.
Bringing fine art to the Garden as Art format is Mr. Bleckner, whose property tour features a walk through his studio with several massive works in progress on display. At the same time, the property demonstrates his wholistic approach to earth, nature, living, and creativity.
Ms. Cookson's property features a terraced flower garden, among other multilevel constructs.
From the Marder family of gardeners and creative minds, Mr. Marder's project, the Folly Tree Arboretum, draws on the moon, gravity, Hiroshima, and Johnny Appleseed as its design inspirations.
Mr. Ingrao and Mr. Kemper, who are interior designers, worked with Mr. Marder's father, Charlie Marder, to realize their garden's potential. The property boasts a collection of Japanese maple and sheared European beech trees.
The grounds of Landscape Details have a garden designed by its owner, Michael Derrig. Attendees will also be able to watch Lois Bender paint watercolors of the property.
Tickets are available at Guild Hall's website. Benefactor tickets are limited because of capacity constraints for the cocktail party.
