Charlotte Moss, Frances Schultz, and Alejandro Saralegui

The Madoo Conservancy hosted its fifth annual Much Ado About Madoo: A Secret in the Garden, and its first Talk in the Garden, on June 20th, to the delight of over sixty guests. Leading interior designer, and author Charlotte Moss and author Frances Schultz were the invited speakers. The discussion between these two prominent tastemakers centered around their shared Southern upbringing, the importance of family life and the healing and inspirational power of gardens. Alejandro Saralegui, the Director of the Madoo Conservancy, moderated the discussion.

Anastasia Casale of Sag Harbor Florist designed the flowers in varied containers which Charlotte lent for the event. Frances read from the first chapter of her book and shared her heartfelt inspiration for writing it. 

Located in Sagaponack, the Madoo Conservancy was established in 1967 by artist, gardener, and writer Robert Dash. A unique living tribute to its founder, Madoo continues to educate and inspire visitors with its ever-changing, entirely organic environment. Charlotte Moss is the author of Garden Inspirations (Rizzoli, 2015), the book now in it’s second printing and explores the myriad ways the garden provides inspiration every day—indoors and outdoors. Focusing on her own gardens, the book offers insights on how to bring the garden into home life—including flower arrangements from the garden and the table settings and menus they inspire, garden seating for entertaining and relaxing, interior color schemes drawn from nature. Throughout, Moss includes sections on gardens she has visited throughout the world including Madoo.

Dwyer Derrig and Fran Samet

A Bee Cottage Story: How I Made a Muddle of Things and Decorated My Way Back to Happiness (Skyhorse Publishing, 2015), written by Frances Schultz debuted at A Talk in the Garden. The book, inspired by Shultz’s popular East Hampton renovation column in House Beautiful, is part memoire, part home decorating guide and joyfully humorous. The makeover lessons she learned in the house came to parallel those of her personal life which she shares in the book.

Hamptons Aristocrat prepared the luncheon of local delights. 

Luncheon guests included: Madeline Weinrib, Richard Keith Langham, Alvin Chereskin, Tom Samet, Alexandra Munroe, Marianne Howatson, Kendell Cronstrom, Janice Parker, Georgia Oetker, Besty Pinnover Schiff and Deborah Loeffler, and Chesie Breen.

A Talk in the Garden was sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens, Wölffer Estate Vineyard, Source Water, RGB cosmetics and HC&G, exclusive media sponsor for the weekend and proceeds from the event benefited the Madoo Conservancy, which administers the gardens, structures and programs at Madoo. The Madoo Conservancy is an independent, not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. THE MADOO CONSERVANCY is located at: 618 Sagg Main Street, PO Box 362, Sagaponack, NY 11962 www.madoo.org

* All photos in this feature by Kelli Delaney