The Historical Society of Islip Hamlet hosted its 5th "Secret Gardens of Islip" - Garden Walk on Saturday, July 15th, a sunny, warm day - perfect for viewing this year's gardens.

The Shlimbaum Garden had an all-white flower theme. Myrtle, crytomeria, fringe trees, Japanese maple, white spruce and yews survived the 2012 assault of Hurricane Sandy.  Cypress have quickly filled in gaps and sturdy hollies are new additions.  The large flower bed in the front yard continues to evolve, with different colored plants being added and removed each year.

The Miller Garden has a fenced in backyard which helps keep the deer at bay, as they have grazed on the flowers in front of the house.  Hickory trees already planted pre-determined that the garden would be a shade garden; color is secondary.  The yard also includes Hellebores, alliums, May apple, tulips, numerous ferns and various hostas.

The Ruggirello Garden has almost 250 feet of privet hedge.  The garden contains many azaleas, daffodils, Montauk daisies, a rose of Sharon and a Japanese red maple.  The property backs into the Lower Winganhauppauge Lake, home to fish such as sunnies, blue gills, carp and largemouth bass, snapping turtles and painted turtles.  Following the trail on the north side of the property you'll find a small waterfall and a newly constructed dam.

The Sapia Garden The Sapia Garden had a waterfall built on an embankment behind the pool.  The garden included English lavender, lilies, daylilies, azaleas, dwarf and large purple iris, Mexican heather and purple geraniums.  Large older oaks, hollies and pines dot the perimeter of the property.  Hydrangeas surround the house, and a large cherry tree creates a gorgeous flowering each spring.

The Wexler Garden contains plant selections and color choices to commemorate family and friends who have passed away.  The plantings in the front yard are drought and deer resistant.  The backyard is home to ancient, large maple shading ferns, hostas, a large bed of lily of the valley, hydrangea bushes, black-eyed Susan, lupine and loosestrife.

Suffolk County Environment Center/Seatuck Environmental Association is a 1917 Normandy-style Chateau built for Louisine Peters-Weekes; designed by renowned architect Grosvenor Atterbury.  Her daughter, Happy Scully, bequeathed the 70-acre estate to be a nature preserve.  The property is a diverse mix of habitats, including extensive salt marsh, freshwater wetlands and mature upland forest as well as plants that provide a natural shoreline ecosystem. 


The society would like to thank the homeowners, Garden Walk guides, Carolines Flower Shoppe, Project Bloom, "Carols for Causes" Singers and our ticket holders for making this walk a success.
The Gardens
 
Susan Hantz-West
Est. 1992 Historical Society of Islip Hamlet