Sagaponack’s Bucolic Madoo Conservancy Celebrates 25 Years

The former home of artist Robert Dash marks its anniversary with a major exhibition of drawings and paintings that capture the evolution of the public green space

lush green garden with ornate bench surrounded by blooming flowers and trees on a foggy day
Madoo Conservancy. Photo: Mick Hales

While many of the romantic structures on artist Robert Dash’s bucolic Sagaponack property date back centuries, the garden itself is celebrating 25 years as an open-to-the-public green space. The centerpiece of the festivities will be the Much Ado About Madoo benefit on June 15.

Garden landscape with a small pond, wooden footbridge, and rustic house surrounded by lush greenery and trees.
Madoo Conservancy Asian Pond Gardens. Mick Hales

Stroll the Madoo Conservancy’s myriad gardens—including the new silver-leaf plot with willows, foxglove, iris, and lavender—and tour Dash’s former studio, now used for film screenings, lectures, and musical performances.

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An exhibition, titled Madoo: A History in Photographs, Celebrating 25 Years as a Public Garden, on display through July 27, will offer a broad look at the history of Madoo, including some of Dash’s never-before-seen original charcoal drawings and paintings that capture the evolution of the acreage. “It’s exciting to bring out all of that material and really show people what a lasting influence Madoo has had on the gardening world,” says executive director Alejandro Saralegui. 

Serene garden with lush greenery, a wooden bench, and quaint wooden buildings surrounded by mist.
Madoo Conservacy. Mick Hales

Lush garden with trimmed shrubs, green lawn, and foggy atmosphere surrounded by trees.
Madoo Conservacy. Mick Hales

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2019 Summer issue under the headline “Mad About Madoo.” Subscribe to the magazine.