Wave Hill schedules annual Gardeners' Party benefit

Wave Hill, a 28-acre public garden and cultural center, will host its annual Gardeners' Party benefit on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m., West 249th Street and Independence Avenue.

This year, Wave Hill will honor Mary and Howdy Phipps, whose leadership and support of many public gardens and cultural institutions have provided joy and natural beauty to millions of New Yorkers.

For more than half a century, Mr. Phipps has been a champion of the environment, most significantly through his inspired chairmanship and decades of stewardship of the Wildlife Conservation Society. Mrs. Phipps's longtime leadership of Old Westbury Gardens and her involvement with the Girl Scouts Council of Greater New York have brought outstanding contributions to community life in the metropolitan area. Together, these longtime friends of Wave Hill have demonstrated an unwavering devotion to safeguarding the beauty of the natural world.

The Phipps will also contribute to this year's auction through their donation of the only named hybrid Rhododendron to be released from the breeding program at the Phipps Estate on Long Island. The specimen is the fruit of their 25- year quest for superb, hardy yellow flowers on a compact shrub. In addition to other special, rare or hard-to-find plants, the auction highlights include a trio of classic Impruneta pots from Siebert & Rice, importer of the finest Italian terra-cotta, filled with succulents and other gems from Loomis Creek Nursery.

The evening offers gardeners the opportunity to purchase signature Wave Hill plants and participate in live and silent auctions of other premium plants and garden ornaments. Guests will enjoy a sunset cocktail reception on the Great Lawn overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades, followed by supper under a tent on the Lower Lawn in the midst of Wave Hill's peak, late-summer splendor.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is sponsoring the party. Proceeds from the benefit provide funds needed to maintain Wave Hill's horticulture collections and landscape.

This annual event is hosted by Wave Hill's Friends of Horticulture Committee, a group of ardent gardeners and Wave Hill supporters.

Individual tickets are $200.

Call Stephanie Ehrlich at 718- 549-3200 ext. 310.