Bridge Gardens Bloom With Musical Talent

Around six o’clock on warm summer nights, the light in Bridge Gardens is just right and there is almost always a light breeze.

Historically, the only problem for garden manager Rick Bogusch—who lives on the 5-acre property in Bridgehampton—was that he was the only one enjoying that particular special time at Bridge, he said. That is, until two years ago when the “Fridays At Six” musical series was born.

“It just seemed like I should open it and let everybody experience that,” he said during a tour of the gardens last week. “And music seemed like a natural draw.”

Beginning July 1, the Peconic Land Trust, the steward of Bridge Gardens, and Mr. Bogusch will keep the lawns open until dusk every Friday night, through September 2, for families to picnic in the gardens to the musical stylings of local artists, including the Charles Certain Duo, the Bridgehampton School Marimba Band, Alfredo Merat, and the Southampton String Ensemble.

The bands have mostly the same type of vibe as the music that was presented last year and the year before that, with one notable change.

“There’s one big difference this year, and that’s the last concert: Joe Hampton and the Kingpins,” Mr. Bogusch said. “I think that will be a bit more energetic than what we’ve had before. It’ll be an interesting change and it’s the close of things, not for the gardens, but for the big Hamptons season.”

Yvette DeBow-Salsedo, the Peconic Land Trust’s director of marketing and communications, reported that each concert drew about 25 people last summer. She said that she expects more this season.

“It’s typical with any program,” she said. “It’s really the third year where anything hits.”

But Mr. Bogusch said that there are some that are just fine with “Fridays at Six” being a secret of sorts.

“Our regulars kept saying, ‘Well, gee, we hope it doesn’t get any bigger,’” Mr. Bogusch added. “But we would like it to be a little bigger, not too much because this is a small, intimate place.”

The musical evenings have a comfortable, informal feel, Mr. Bogusch explained. As families munch on picnic snacks and perhaps enjoy a bottle of wine on the lawn, which Mr. Bogusch calls “The Oval,” the musicians play in front of a pool sprinkled with blooming water lilies.

“The Oval” is bordered by a mixed garden. It features perennials, such as Japanese iris and day lilies, as well as annuals and tropical plants. Spanish foxglove and Japanese sunflowers will be major features once they reach their full height and fill out, Mr. Bogusch explained.

The music carries down the lawn to the herb garden, which is planted with culinary and medicinal herbs like basil, sage, foxglove and poppy, according to Mr. Bogusch. New to the gardens this year is a vegetable bed featuring broccoli, beets, carrots, beans and cabbage.

“There’s artichokes in there, too, as a little experiment,” he said. “Not so much for food, but more for interest and educational purposes.”

Mr. Bogusch said that Bridge Gardens and the Peconic Land Trust try to support education and the community whenever possible, and so booking the Bridgehampton School Marimba Band for the music series was a natural fit.

“Especially because they’re so good. They really are,” he said. “Everyone enjoys them, there’s just something very happy about their music.”

The marimba band kicked off at the school three years ago, said director David Elliott during a telephone interview last week. It began as part of the middle school’s general music program, but now even high school students can take it as an elective.

Currently, the group has 14 members, ranging from seventh to eleventh grade. Usually Mr. Elliott brings about 10 students with him to perform at Bridge Gardens, where the group debuted at “Fridays at Six” last year.

“The kids love it and they get a good response from the crowd,” Mr. Elliott said. “It’s really feel-good music. A lot of the time I hear, ‘I don’t know what this is, but I like it.’”

The band mostly plays arrangements of traditional Zimbabwean marimba music, he said, which appeals to crowds of all ages.

“We did a senior citizen luncheon a couple weeks ago, and by the time we got to the third song, it was nice to see these people in their 70s and 80s up and dancing to it,” he said. “It’s a little islandy feeling and it’s great outside. The sound just travels.”

Jazz musician Charles Certain is no stranger to Bridge Gardens, he said during a telephone interview last week. He’s been playing his saxophone for the series since its inception.

“I think it’s a nice, interesting place to bring a picnic basket and a bottle of wine, and listen to some good music,” he said. “It’s just a great environment, very soothing.”

Bridge Gardens will host the musical series “Fridays at Six” every Friday night from July 1 through September 2. The concerts will begin at 6 p.m. and finish at dusk. Garden admission is $10 for adults, or $20 for families up to four. For more information, call 537-7440 or visit peconiclandtrust.org.