From Marilee, of Marilee's Farmstand:

Setting the Scene 

Madoo is easy to miss. You’ve probably driven by it a dozen times on the highway without ever making the turn. But just off the road in Sagaponack is this quietly spectacular spot: a former farmstead turned artist’s retreat turned garden haven.

The Story 

In the 1970s, an artist named Bob Dash spotted a rundown piece of land and asked his real estate agent, What’s that? The agent replied, You don’t want to see it. Naturally, Dash said, Actually, I do. He bought the place and spent years turning it into a living work of art.

Dash was both a painter and a gardener, and the result is a lush, layered space that feels like a mini Long House. It’s just an acre and a half, but it unfolds like a jewel box — filled with winding trails, surprising plantings, and views that open onto Foster Farm next door. The entire garden plays like a quiet conversation between artistry and agriculture, as if the painter were framing the farmland itself.

Why It Matters 

Today, Madoo is a foundation and hosts art shows, garden tours, and lectures. From late spring through mid-September, you can wander the grounds for a small visitor’s fee. It’s intimate, creative, and unforgettable.

Inside Tip 🪄

The garden isn’t just beautiful — it’s alive. You might catch a tour guide mid-sentence as tractors fire up next door at Foster Farm. The energy of the land, old and new, never really stops.

Contact

Check for events or tickets at madoo.org. You’ll be glad you made the turn.

About

This card was written by Marilee Foster, a sixth-generation farmer, artist, and author, deeply connected to the soil and the environs of Sagaponack, New York. She runs Marilee’s Farmstand and co-owns Foster Farm and the Sagaponack Farm Distillery with her brother Dean.

Images

Wonder Shuffle