Community

Photos: Garden Festival kicks off in Riverhead

(Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
Riverhead Garden Club volunteers Margaret Brosman of Hampton Bays and Cathy Fox of Flanders bring a cart of begonias to set up Thursday morning. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

The three-day Garden Festival kicked off under a big white tent near Tanger Outlets II on a beautiful, sunny morning Thursday.

The festival — which is planned for May 7-9 in Riverhead, Manorville and Westampton Beach — is now entering its 20th year. In that time it’s generated $1.3 million for the hospital, now called Peconic Bay Medical Center.

Judy Barth is now the event chair. She took over the gargantuan task of running the Garden Festival from the founder Joe Van de Wetering 10 years ago.

They have plants and nursery specimens from around 30 local businesses and 40 to 50 volunteers from local garden clubs and the hospital volunteers.

See more photos below:

Volunteers Astrid Gaddis (left) and Marilyn Stahl of Calverton educate themselves about a small perennial plant called 'Swan River Daisy.' (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
Volunteers Astrid Gaddis (left) and Marilyn Stahl of Calverton educate themselves about a small perennial plant called ‘Swan River Daisy.’ (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
Mildred Maloney of Calverton gets some help from volunteer Thelma Booker picking out a Golden Thread Cypress. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
Mildred Maloney of Calverton gets some help from volunteer Thelma Booker picking out a Golden Thread Cypress. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
Peconic Bay Medical Center's 20th annual Garden Festival in the parking lot by Office Max at Tanger II. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
Peconic Bay Medical Center’s 20th annual Garden Festival in the parking lot by Office Max at Tanger II. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
Barbara Cook and her son Tom Cook of Massapequa Park pick some plants called 'Cherry on Ice' for a neice's confirmation this weekend. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
Barbara Cook and her son Tom Cook of Massapequa Park pick some plants called ‘Cherry on Ice’ for a neice’s confirmation this weekend. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
Former Suffolk County executive Bob Gaffney and his wife Joanna loaded up their cart Thursday morning. The couple now resides in Riverhead. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
Former Suffolk County executive Bob Gaffney and his wife Joanna loaded up their cart Thursday morning. The couple now resides in Riverhead. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
A table full of orchids from Bianchi-Davis greenhouses in Riverhead under the tent. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
A table full of orchids from Bianchi-Davis greenhouses in Riverhead under the tent. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
Judy Barth is now the event chair. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
Judy Barth is now the event chair. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)