Hampton Bays Beautification Association Adds New Sculpture to Pollinator Garden

The Hampton Bays Beautification Association has added a new sculpture to the organization’s pollinator garden on Montauk Highway

The sculpture, called “Sail Away,” depicts a sailboat on a pedestal. It is the latest addition to the association’s pollinator garden, which was dedicated this past September.

The garden is located at 140 W. Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays, where the Hampton Bays Chamber of Commerce building used to be located — across from the Regal UA movie theater and shopping center. The small parcel features numerous types of perennial flowers, including agastache “Purple Haze,” wild indigo and calamint “Montrose White.”

The sculpture is a donation from the Muriel F. Siebert Foundation, a New York City-based group named for the late businesswoman who was the first woman to have a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.

The foundation’s president, Patricia L. Francy, is a resident of Southampton and has collaborated with the Beautification Association on previous projects, such as a rain garden outside of the Hampton Bays Post Office, which was installed in 2018. The foundation’s vice president and treasurer, Jane Macon, also has been involved in these projects.

Francy said that she was impressed with how Susan von Freddi Gassman, the president of the Beautification Association, managed the post office project, and was more than willing to work with her again when von Freddi Gassman reached out about the pollinator garden.

Soon, they found the “Sail Away” sculpture, and both believed that it would make a great addition to the pollinator garden.

“I came across the ‘Sail Away’ sculpture and called Ms. Francy,” said von Freddi Gassman. “We instantly thought it would be a beautiful addition to the new garden on Main Street and a reflection of the longtime maritime history of our community.”

“We went to look at the sailing statue because, in a lot of people’s hearts here, it’s a beach community and a sailing community, and we liked the fresh air sailing design,” Francy added.

In addition to the sculpture, Darren Poles, the owner of Coastal Landscapes and Design, gave the association a magnolia tree and eight ilex shrubs to add to the garden. Poles previously helped in the design and donated plantings to the pollinator garden and rain garden.

The pollinator garden, including the sculpture, is one of many projects that the association has taken on in the past year. The other projects included placing public art at the Shinnecock Canal, installing new hanging planters on Montauk Highway and maintaining all the existing plantings and trees it has placed in the town.

The association was founded in 1985 and has been heavily involved in improving the physical aesthetic of Hampton Bays for its residents — and to attract new ones.

“For over 30 years, HBBA, through its volunteers, working with government, other community organizations and businesses, shares the common purpose of beautifying the physical surroundings of Hampton Bays,” according to a pamphlet produced by the association. “The value of beautification is clearly recognized as a major factor in attracting new residents, elevating tourism and sustaining the economy.”

The association hosts meetings on the first Monday of each month at the Hampton Bays Public Library at 7 p.m. The meetings are open to the public and new members are encouraged to join.

For more information about the association, email president@hbba.com or visit hbba.net.