For avid Hamptons gardeners, the winter doldrums will once again be alleviated by the much anticipated Madoo Talks/Winter Lectures, presented on three Sundays in March. This long-time tradition takes place in the historic summer studio, bringing leading lights of the garden world to the Madoo Conservancy in Sagaponack.

The series leads off on March 6th with fragrance industry leader Paul Austin speaking on “From Seed to Scent.” On March 13, design writer and novelist Caroline Seebohm discusses her new book: Rescuing Eden: Preserving America’s Historic Gardens. The final talk on March 20 is by landscape architect Susan Cohen who addresses imagination and invention as described in her new book, The Inspired Landscape: Twenty-one leading landscape architects explore the creative process.  Presentations are followed by a reception in the red living room.

March 6th: Paul Austin, “From Seed to Scent”. Mr. Austin is a fragrance expert, film maker and CEO whose work focuses on the intersection of storytelling and the senses.  After 18 years of working as a senior executive for the world’s largest fragrance creation companies – in London, Amsterdam, Paris and New York – and having participated in the development of literally hundreds of new perfumes, Paul undertook a six-month research project in India aimed at connecting to the origins of the perfume world.  His research took place all over the country – from the fields of Tuberose and Jasmine in Tamil Nadu, spices in Kerela and to the Attar factories of Kannauj,  inspiring Paul to found his company Austin Advisory Group in 2010.

Paul and his team of award-winning documentarians created a series of short cinematic films revealing the journey of a fragrance: From Seed to Scent. The films, shot in growing communities and flower fields across the world, reveal the craft, characters, and untold stories of a subject steeped in history and untapped potential. Today, Paul’s creative agency focuses on “Source Stories”, which aim to discover, distill and reveal the authentic story of some of the world’s most iconic brands, including: Rolls Royce, Sotheby’s, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Gem Palace of Jaipur, ABC Carpet & Home, Campbell Gray Hotels, Donna Karan and Estee Lauder.  Paul is an Australian by birth, lives in Greenwich Village with his partner, Carl Adams and spends weekends on Shelter Island.

March 13th Caroline Seebohm, “Rescuing Eden: Preserving America’s Historic Gardens”.  The book profiles 30 American gardens with historic and horticultural importance that have been “rescued from the wrecker’s ball,” as the author says. The design writer, biographer and novelist chose gardens ranging from Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay to Peckerwood Garden outside Houston— including Madoo! These once-endangered landscapes – many with dramatic beginnings— have been saved thanks to local citizen groups, conservationists and generous private donors.

Today, fortunately, that trend has been reversed, and a large number of once endangered landscapes are now accessible to the public. Thirty are described in the book, selected for the drama of their original creation and rescue and for their historical and horticultural importance. Ranging from wonderful to woebegone, from grand estates to suburban plots, they can be found in Kentucky and Oregon, Texas and New Hampshire, from Detroit to Los Angeles. Featured are the gardens at Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay, California; Middleton Place near Charlestown, South Carolina; Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish, New Hampshire; and our own Madoo Conservancy.

March 20th:  Susan Cohen, “The Inspired Landscape: Twenty-one leading landscape architects explore the creative process”.  In her new book Susan Cohen highlights an initial spark of creativity and traces it through the stunningly innovative landscape designs that resulted. Lushly illustrated with original sketches, plans, and photographs, this invaluable resource will embolden designers to summon the unique sources that can fuel their own creative process.  “Landscape architects are artists,” says Susan Cohen, “they invoke their muses to create a singular landscape that is also a work of art.” For The Inspired Landscape she interviewed 21 landscape architects from around the world to uncover the creative spark that inspired their projects. Sometimes this was a childhood memory; sometimes a work of art; sometimes a centuries-old garden in another country. Ms. Cohen traces the evolution of these gardens from the “aha” moment of creativity to their stunning completion.

Location: THE MADOO CONSERVANCY, 618 Sagg Main Street, Sagaponack, NY 11962. Tickets $25 members, $30 non-members. All lectures in the summer house studio at 12pm. A reception will follow. RSVP info@madoo.org or 631 537-0082 or on the web site: www.madoo.org; Contact:alejandro@madoo.org