A Writer's Garden benefiting the Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

 

 It was a beautiful fall morning at the Dallas Arboretum as guests arrived in great anticipation of the 18th Annual A Writer’s Garden Star Style Glamour for the Home & Garden presented by the Weber Foundation and benefiting the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

         Inside Rosine Hall, the scene was set for an out of this world experience. As guests entered, they were greeted with two champagne stations featuring coupe champagne glasses stacked in pyramids and were surrounded by walls covered in stunning floor-to-ceiling projection images of huge peonies, cabbage roses, fluttering butterflies and more created by LIGHTWARE LABS of Dallas.

         Tables were topped with rich burgundy velvet tablecloths, elegant gold-rimmed place settings and floral centerpieces by The T Shop, boasting flowers that were echoed in the colorful wall projections. Along the center were servers hosting tables full of pastries and refreshments, while Faye’s Book Collection book sales and signing vignettes named in honor of the late Faye Briggs, were set up for the two featured speakers, Martyn Lawrence Bullard and Stefani Bittner.

         Joni Krieg, A Writer’s Garden chair, circulated amongst the crowd, welcoming everyone with Therese Rourk, Women’s Council president, who wore the sapphire and diamond necklace that would be featured in the live auction.

         Calvert Collins Bratton, Mistress of Ceremonies, welcomed everyone from the stage. She acknowledged honorary chair, Garry Weber, who was unable to attend, and the Weber Foundation as Presenting Sponsor. 

2024 AWG Artwork by Tonya Trest

Sponsors included Becky Burgett, Announcement Party host, chaired by Tammany Stern; Kathy and Larry Helm, hosts of the Patron Party sponsored by Sheila and Tom Leslie and chaired by Jolie Humphrey and C’Mone Wingo; and Katherine Phillips, sponsor of the Tea Blending Workshop with Stefani Bittner, chaired by Colby Baer and Katie Kennemer at Gardenuity.

        Stefani Bittner shared interesting stories and colorful scenes from Homestead Design Collective, her San Francisco-based landscape design firm focused on creating beautiful gardens that also provide harvest. A Texas native, she said she is inspired by Texas meadows and the plants that survive and even thrive in the heat. She said that even in different areas of the country, heat is an important factor in planning a harvest garden with hardscape and landscape complementing each other, just like flowers and fragrance. Plants that are also important for pollinators work well when combined with edibles in mind, such as rosemary and lavender. She said kitchen gardens should be designed grouping together herbs and plants for teas, flower arrangements and edibles such as persimmons, certain marigolds and sage. 

         Taking the stage with aplomb, Martyn, a multi award-winning Los Angeles-based British interior designer, began by sharing stories which are featured in his new book “Star Style.” His style has been described as Hollywood glamour meets ethnic exotica and eclectic, luxurious, comfortable and fearless. In rapt attention, the crowd ooh’ed and ahh’ed as he showed slides from Kylie Jenner’s residence, saying she had the leather for her dining room chairs dyed in colors to match lipsticks from her cosmetic line; Cher loves Moroccan and Turkish-influenced design; while Sir Elton John collects photographs from all over the world and while he was traveling the world playing concerts, Martyn joined his team and they would shop for Elton’s three homes in between concert breaks. When asked what is trending now, he said color is back with greens and eggplant; old rose is best for complementing complexions and that the biggest trend now is vintage looking wallpaper. 

To learn more about the Women’s Council visit the website at www.wcdabg.org

2012 Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Join the Women's Council of The Dallas Arboretum and Botantical Garden

on Thursday, April 12, 2012

for The Mad Hatter's Tea Party

at 11:00 am

"The Art of Nature"

Champagne Reception, Hat Judging, Live Auction, Fashion Presentation, and Lunch

Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden

Fashions by Betty Reiter, Cicada, Forty Five Ten, V.O.D.

Fashion Presentation Produced by Jan Strimple Productions

Honorary Chair: Nancy Rogers

Event Chairs: Carmaleta Whiteley and Barbara Daseke

More info and Purchase Tickets on the

Mad Hatter's Tea Page

 Carmaleta Whiteley and Barbara Daseke at the 2011 Mad Hatter's Party

Sprinkles Celebrates Earth Day 2012

Sprinkles Cupcakes joins

The Women’s Council of The Dallas Arboretum

in celebrating Earth Day 2012!

Purchase a limited-edition Earth Day vanilla cupcake from

April 16 to 20

and 100% of proceeds will go to grow and maintain A Woman’s Garden

Just look for the green tree to know you are eating for a great cause!

The Plaza at Preston Center

214.369.0004 • sprinkles.com

The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party “The Art of Nature”

We are excited to announce the 2012 Mad Hatter's Tea Party "The Art of Nature" 

Presented by Nancy C. and Richard C. Rogers

This annual event benefits the Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens A Woman's Garden

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens 

Co-Chairs: Carmaleta Whiteley and Barbara Daseke

Honorary Chair: Nancy C. Rogers

Carmaleta Whitely and Barbara Daseke in their hats from the 2011 Mad Hatter's Event. We can't wait to see what they come up with this year! 

The event includes a champagne reception in Ginsburg Plaza, professionally staged and choreographed fashion presentation produced by Jan Strimple, followed by a seated luncheon.

Judges include: 

Lita Asscher, President of Royal Asscher Diamonds

Brenda Bogart, Artist

Kenneth Craighead of Craighead Green Gallery

Patricia Meadows, President of Art Connections

Gail Sachson, Founder of ASK ME ABOUT ART

Jeremy Strick, Director of the Nasher Sculpture Center

To purchase tickets, visit www.womenscouncildallasarboretum.org.

Dallas Arboretum Women's Council - Fall Luncheon

The Women's Council of The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
cordially invites you to their

Fall Meeting & Luncheon
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Bent Tree Country Club

10:00 AM Coffee & Conversation
10:30 AM Meeting & Program - "The Language of Flowers"
Luncheon to follow ($50 per person)
Members may attending meeting and program at no charge.

For more information on the council, click here
or contact Sue John at sjo449@airmail.net

The 22nd Annual Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Benefiting the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

The most fun, elaborate and creative hats will adorn ladies’ heads at the 22nd Annual Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on Thursday, April 22 at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The Divas and Dahlias event chaired by Sharon Ballew will begin with a champagne reception, silent auction, entertainment and hat judging. One of last year’s winners, D’Andra Simmons is the Honorary Chairman.

The judges faced with the difficulty of selecting the winners in five categories are: Shirin Askari – Designer, Project Runway, Sarah Eveans – Associate Editor D Magazine and
Steve Kemble – America’s Sassiest Lifestyle Guru.

The hat categories are:
Kudos from Carolina - Most Creative
Raves from Ralph - Best Vintage/Elegant
She Fell Off Her Choos - Most Whimsical/Outlandish
St. John’s Dazzling Dahlias - Best use of Dahlias/Botanical
Divine Diva - Best of Show

Guests will also be treated to a fashion presentation produced by Jan Strimple. Gorgeous fashions from Carolina Herrera, Jimmy Choo, Ralph Lauren and St. John of Highland Park Village will be featured.

In addition, the winners of the Chance tickets will be drawn. If you would like tickets, you will want to purchase it before the Luncheon as they will not be sold at the event. The fabulous chance ticket items are:
- $2,000 Highland Park Village gift certificate that can be used at all stores. Donated by Highland Park Village
- Jimmy Choo fine leather designer handbag in Napa Yellow, fringed with studded stars. Donated by Jimmy Choo. Value: $1,295
- Exclusive Chef’s table for eight at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie. Donated by Lone Star Park. Value $665
$1000 Carolina Herrera (HPV) gift certificate. Donated by Carolina Herrera
- Designer, one of a kind Aquamarine cut glass & fresh water pearl necklace by Love It. Donated by Love It. Value $585

This chic ladies’ event is the signature fundraiser of the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens presided by Kathy Cothrum. For the past twenty years, the major goal of the Women's Council has been the design, construction, funding and endowment of a garden at The Dallas Arboretum. A Woman's Garden is now a reality. Phase I opened in September 1997 and Phase II in March 2006.

Individual tickets are $150, $250, $500 and $1,000. Sponsorships are $20,000 to $2,500. For questions or to attend the event, please contact Sharon Ballew at 214-282-1595.

Literary Luncheon Series at the Dallas Arboretum

The Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum is about to kick-off with the first of this year's literary luncheon series on Thursday, October 8th. The group will be reviewing "Landscapes of the Heart" and "The Light in the Piazza" both by author Elizabeth Spencer. "Landscapes of the Heart" has been deemed a southern contemporary masterpiece and "The Light in the Piazza" was transformed into the Tony-awarded Broadway musical. The Reviewer that day, Nancy L. Ashley, will bring Spencer's spirited storytelling to life.

The Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a Texas-based non-profit organization that supports and promotes the garden's continuance and growth through financial support and membership.

When: Thursday, October 8th, 11:00pm- 1:00pm
Where: Rosine Hall at the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, 8617 Garland Rd., Dallas, TX 75218
RSVP: Purchase tickets here, by mail.