Garden Walk 2022

The Historical Society of Islip Hamlet hosted its "Garden Walk & Gift Basket Raffle" on Saturday, July 9th, a sunny and pleasant day.

The Berger Garden made its 10th anniversary appearance. There were several changes as 2012's Superstorm Sandy and, a few years later, flood damages, destroyed several trees. The property is a mix of rustic, natural environment and wetlands marsh. It is also a Certified Natural Wildlife Habitat. Garden favorites such as roses, azaleas, peonies, bleeding hearts, hydrangeas and hostas are all around. There is also a private duck sanctuary for injured and rescued ducks.

The Chinkel/Hyams Garden has a row of yew bushes in front that have grown into impressive trees. When the owners purchased the house several years ago, many trees/bushes had to be cut back and/or removed. Native specimens, including pollinators, were brought in to feed and shelter birds, bees and butterflies. The yard is part of the Cornell Feeder Watch program. There are clusters of serviceberry trees to produce berries for the birds, black-eyed Susans' St. John's wort, woodland phlox and much more.

The Wallace Garden, has a mixture of annuals and perennials lining the path along the stepping stones that lead to the front porch. They added a pool in the backyard and the garden beds are filled with plants in both pink and purple hues, the homeowner's favorite color. Hydrangeas, bearded iris and an array of hanging baskets, bird houses and feeders create a peaceful sanctuary. A screened gazebo provides some respite from the summer sun. In honor of their sons' August birthdays, two Crepe Myrtle trees were planted.

The O'Hehir Garden contains many hydrangea in different shades. Japanese Willows, climbing roses, and a Butterfly bush are mixed in with many perennials. By the deck is a pink Crepe Myrtle, surrounded by Salvia, Yarrow, Echinacea and Agastache. Inherited with the house are a Hinoki Cyprus, Wisteria and Trumpet vine. The Koi pond is surrounded by some plants that will keep the raccoons from going after the fish. The front porch of the home is bordered by an Ink Berry hedge and some of the flowers are Coral Bells, Cone Flowers, Veronica and Knockout roses.

The Camera Garden has a large Holly tree in the front yard as well as on the other side of the fence. The porch was rebuilt into a 3-season room and a pool was added. During Covid, the homeowners did all their landscaping; a grape arbor was built for the grape vines, variegated hostas came from Mrs. Camera's parents home, and there are two fig trees and a potted lemon tree. Many of the perennial plants in the yard were given to the family as small pieces that have flourished over the years.

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, volunteers from the Islip Public Schools, Maya Herring (Magic Flower Designs), Bill O'Hern (O'Honey Bee Farm), Sue Avery (Seatuck's Head Gardener), guitarist Mike McGarry (entertainment), all the businesses that donated to our raffle table and our ticketholders for making this walk so successful.