KDH happily kicked off the holiday season at Marders 39th Annual Open House last weekend toasting hot apple cider and sampling various homemade sprinkly cookies. You won’t find any Charlie Brown Christmas trees here folks~ Charlie Marder’s team puts together a couture Christmas extravaganza that is simply breathtaking!

From pink flamingo themed Christmas trees, to topiary mannequins festooned with floral headdresses, every inch of Marders garden center inspires “oohs & ahhs”. My girlfriends, Melanie Brandman and Kathy Reilly, plotted design schemes for each of our trees [both girls are going for a chic all-white theme, mine more ornate], and we scoped out some great Christmas gift ideas as well. Now that I live on the East End year round, I’m all about creating new traditions. I had heard from lots of friends that Marders annual open house was a special treat~ one that is now officially part of my personal Hamptons holiday season!

Nick Marzano from the Wildlife Rescue Center of the Hamptons was on site with a selection of animals including hawks and owls they have rescued, and Gunter Hauk, of the Spikenard Farm Honeybee Sanctuary gave a honeybee demonstration and spoke about their importance to our ecosystem. After taking in the splendid seasonal decor in the garden center, guests headed out back to the Holiday Reception at the Silas Marder Gallery.

Location: 120 Snake Hollow Road, Bridgehampton; (631)537-3700

Go get in the holiday spirit!!