Event and garden design guru Ron Wendt is one of our favorite people in the Hamptons. Ron is not only inspirational when it comes to giving sage garden advice and fabulous party planning tips, he’s also one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Ron was recently selected as a Finalist and Runner Up in the HC&G Innovation In Design Awards held on August 7th at Guild Hall. To celebrate the honor, Wendt and his partner Philip McGregor hosted a glam garden party at their beautiful Bridgehampton home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: How long have you been curating the gardens at your home?

Ron Wendt: Over the last 10 years, but the pavilion and perennial garden are only a year and three months old!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: Where do you acquire most of your beautiful boxwoods? What are your key tips to getting them to grow so lush and full?

Ron: Many have come from Marders in Bridgehampton. We use a combination of drip and flood irrigation. Boxwoods should never have their foliage sprayed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: With your booming international event planning business, you must have some extra help at home. Who helps you with your garden?

Ron: Jason Dacuk of Blue Moon Landscape handles the garden’s maintenance. We work very closely together to nurture the garden and deal with any issues that arise.

 

 

 

KDHamptons: What percentage of your garden is annual / perennial?

Ron: The garden is 90% perennial. Annuals with their extended blooming season offer often the best solution for any “holes” in the color palette to be repaired.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: What inspired the color palette in your gardens? Is there a color you would NEVER have in your personal gardens?

Ron: Because the garden is in four quadrants, I decided this garden would reflect the color wheel. I started with greys and whites, blending to soft then stronger yellows to rusty oranges which jump over to and into reds which evolve down into pinks and magentas melting into purples and pale lavenders and back to whites but all have grey foliage in common for cohesion. I made certain that at each walkway opening or view out, that the color appearing on the left also appeared on right of the viewer to give a since of harmony.

I think there is a right place for all color in the garden, it depends on the context. I am a huge fan of the late Christopher Lloyd and his house and garden, Great Dixter in East Sussex, England. He never met a color he didn’t like and would create wild and bold color combinations and great contrast in foliage and flower textures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: Has any garden crisis arose this summer? Deer or beetle problems?

Ron: Of course! I love being so near farm fields but when the potato crops are in bloom, they draw potato beetles which also are keen on rose blooms. They can destroy an open rose flower in no time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: Please tell us about your beautiful new pavillion. What inspired the design?

Ron: I love architecture in the garden. You need a destination point in the garden to aspire to when you are indoors looking out, not just an entirely soft landscape. I wanted the structure to feel related to the existing salt box shingle house, as if via a long root it sprung up on its own. Like a root the wooden trellis visually connects the two.

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: What did you enjoy most about your party?

Ron: Showing the garden to all our friends and seeing them interact throughout it! Also, Olivier Cheng Caterers are the best! He totally understands my aesthetic.