As I sit here in my garden writing, I cannot believe that this is my last column of summer. My garden shows no signs of winding down. It is still lush and full of singing birds, buzzing bees and butterflies gliding on the warm drifts of summer breezes. In fact, I can hardly walk along my garden paths without a butterfly alighting on me. They’re all here—monarchs, painted ladies, eastern tiger swallowtails, skippers, black swallowtails, cabbage whites, spicebush swallowtails and one beautiful pale yellow monarch-size butterfly that I have yet to identify.
But on the bright side, there are two great “end of summer” events coming up. The first takes place this Friday, August 31, at 6 p.m., at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy a sunset celebration in the Nature Center at the “Once in a Blue Moon Potluck.” Bring an appetizer to share. Wine and beer, as well as non-alcoholic beverages, will be provided by the refuge. Reservations are required and tickets cost $25 each. For reservations, call 631-653-4771.
And the second fantastic happening is our very own East Quogue Chamber of Commerce’s “End of Season Bash” that will be held this year on Friday, September 7, at 7 p.m., at Dockers Waterside Restaurant and Marina on Dune Road. This marvelous get-together is always filled with dear friends, amazing food, marvelous auction prizes, a 50/50 raffle and toe-tappin’ music—this year by the Mean Machine! Tickets cost $50 and all proceeds will benefit the chamber’s Westhampton Beach High School scholarship fund. For more information, shoot an email to donna.lanzetta@yahoo.com.
And, on the scholastic front, Bob and Pat Despres are very proud parents these days. Their son, Gary, graduated from the Saint Augustine University of Health Sciences with a doctorate of physical therapy. Congratulations from Karissa, too!
Saturday, September 1, and Sunday, September 2: Fourth annual Westhampton Festival of the Arts on the Great Lawn in Westhampton Beach, across from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Festival runs from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, and from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Thursday, September 6: Center for Creative Retirement, an organization of retired persons that meets under the auspices of Long Island University, will host an open house, starting at 10, at Suffolk County Community College’s eastern campus in Northampton. Call 631-287-8010.
Saturday, September 8: “Wild for Wildlife in the Garden!” at my garden in East Quogue, starting at 10 a.m. Marisa Nelson, the program director of the Quogue Wildlife Refuge, Suzanne Ruggles, The Barefoot Gardener, and yours truly will discuss creating backyard wildlife habitats in beautiful garden settings. For reservations, call 631-653-4771.
Sunday, September 9: After-Summer East End Community Picnic, sponsored by the Southampton Town Anti-Bias Task Force, 1 to 6 p.m., at Red Creek Park in Hampton Bays. Call 631-728-5558 or send an email to Corazondemaria2@gmail.com for details.
Saturday, September 15: Third annual benefit for the Southampton Animal Shelter at the Boardy Barn on Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays, from 6 to 10 p.m. Dinner, drinks (cash bar), live music, auctions and raffles. Tickets cost $25 each. For information and reservations, visit www.southamptonanimalshelter.com.
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