Garden Talks Go On In December

Garden books, evergreens and birds are topics in store this month for the Horticultural Alliance of the Hamptons.

First in the lineup will be the garden book group’s meeting on Saturday, December 6, at 11 a.m. to discuss “The Gardens of the British Working Class” by Margaret Willes and “A Weaver’s Memoir” by Jack Lenor Larsen. Carolyn Gemake will moderate the discussion, which will take place in the horticultural library on the ground floor of the Bridgehampton Community House. Admission is free.

The following Saturday, December 13, will bring an informal study and discussion of broadleaf evergreens. To be moderated by Pamela Harwood, this garden topic was rescheduled from the previous month’s roundtable meeting. The discussion will start at 10 a.m., again in the horticultural library. Admission is free for this talk, too.

The next day, December 14, is the date for a lecture called “Gardening for Birds: Food, Shelter, Nesting Sites and a Source of Water.” Nancy Gilbert will illustrate her talk with photographs of 14 distinctly different gardens on her family’s 17th century property in Jamesport. A graduate of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s master birding and master gardening programs, she will focus on how to attract birds to the garden based on plantings, gardening practices and the environmental attributes of the specific area.

Ms. Gilbert’s talk starts at 2 p.m. When it ends, the Horticultural Alliance will have its holiday party in the main auditorium of the Community House. Admission to both the lecture and party costs $10; alliance members can attend for free but have been asked to contribute finger food.

Further details are available by calling (631) 537-2223, or by visiting www.hahgarden.org.