The Madoo Conservancy is pleased to announce that Much Ado About Madoo, the 7th annual garden cocktail and market benefit held on the grounds of the Madoo Conservancy will be honoring the 50th anniversary of the garden and completion of the $1.1 million historic restoration of the Summer house and studio. In 1967 artist, writer and gardener Robert Dash moved from New York City to Sagaponack and founded Madoo, the internationally renowned garden known for its bold planting style, horticultural diversity and brightly colored hardscaping.

The Much Ado About Madoo Sunset Garden Party and Market Preview is on Friday, June 16 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Past guests have included Charlotte Moss, Simon Doonan & Jonathan Adler, Ala Isham, Frances Schultz, Jay Johnson, Fred Schneider, Fernanda W. Niven, Christina Cuomo, Eugenie Niven Goodman, Diana & Fred Elghanayan, Beatrice Stern, Judy Auchincloss, Anne van Rennesselaer, and Whitney Fairchild. The live auction will be presented by Jamie Niven.

Among the lots for sale are Kim’s Boat, an acrylic on paper pochoir painting by the late Robert Dash, A pair of antique Directoire garden chairs donated by Charlotte Moss and the most hotly contested lot: eight sacks of chicken manure. The cocktail party also serves as a preview of the Garden Market featuring over 25 distinguished dealers in rare plants, garden antiques, home accessories and antiques, fragrance and skincare, and men’s and women’s fashion. The vendors include: Ala von Auersperg, Pointed Leaf Press, Sag Harbor Florist, Orchard Jewelry by J. Mavec, Pennoyer Newman, Madison James, Withington and Company, Mad et Len, Omorovicza, Sasha Bikoff Interiors, and Panier Home.

On Saturday, June 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m the Garden Market continues. A Talk in the Studio at 9:30 in the morning will be a lively discussion with Betsy Pinover Schiff, a noted garden photographer who recently published Sidewalk Gardens of New York, and Barbara McLaughlin, President, Fund for Park Avenue moderated by writer Wendy Moonan. The dialogue will take place in the newly renovated studio at Madoo. A book signing and breakfast reception to follow. For children from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Once Upon A Time At Madoo is our family program highlighting the magical art and horticulture of the Madoo Conservancy in our newly renovated studio. Join us for an afternoon full of potting plants, floral face painting, and DIY Bob Dash prints! Fun for the whole family.

The Madoo Conservancy is dedicated to the study, preservation and enhancement of Madoo, the ever-changing, horticulturally diverse garden with historic structures established in 1967 by artist, gardener and writer Robert Dash, in the Village of Sagaponack, New York. At Madoo, the unique living tribute to the artistic imagination of its founder, we seek to continually engage, educate and inspire our visitors in this entirely organic environment. The Madoo Conservancy is a private operating foundation organized under IRC 501© (3). Sponsors of Much Ado About Madoo include: The Corcoran Group, Wölffer Estate Vineyard, Montauk Beer Co., Sag Harbor Florist, La Mere Poulard & Belvoir Fruit Farms.

Photographer is Inga Howe.