Horticultural Alliance of the Hamptons Hosts December 2 Roundtable on Berry-Bearing Shrubs

The Horticultural Alliance of the Hamptons’ December roundtable will focus on hollies and other berry-bearing shrubs and trees that serve wildlife and provide winter interest. Rick Bogusch, the garden manager at Bridge Gardens, operated by the Peconic Land Trust, will join the conversation.

From 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, December 2, the roundtable will take place in the HAH John LoGerfo Library on the ground floor of the Bridgehampton Community House at 2357 Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton.

“From spring through fall many of us enjoy the beauty of the flowers that grow in our gardens as well as watching the many birds that call it home,” HAH states. “But come December, the flowers have faded and it’s wonderful to have something new, nature’s next progression, to sustain beneficial wildlife and provide a beautiful landscape.”

The discussion will include a number of native options as well as cultivars and imports. Among the plants on the agenda that provide attractive berries, which are a food source for birds, are Ilex x meserveae, or blue holly; Ilex opaca, or Christmas holly; Ilex verticillata, or winterberry; Ilex glabra, or inkberry; and Ilex crenata, or Japanese holly.

HAH board member Pamela Harwood will moderate. Admission is open to non-HAH members at no charge.

Then on Sunday, December 10, at 2 p.m. at the Bridgehampton Community House, farmer and author Scott Chaskey will discuss his book “Soil & Spirit:” Cultivation and Kinship in the Web of Life,” a collection of essays that explore the evolution of his perspective as a farmer and as a poet.

Sag Harbor’s Chaskey is a leader in the community supported agriculture movement who promotes organic farming and paying attention to microbial life and diversity of species to build healthy human communities.

HAH lectures are $10 for non-members and free for HAH members.