On Friday, May 11, the need for cloning may be necessary around lunchtime. While the Genesis Women’s Shelter’s luncheon with Hilary Swank will be underway at the Anatole, First Lady of Lifestyle Martha Stewart will be at the Dallas Arboretum for the Artscape Luncheon. Event Chair Kaki Hopkins just revealed that in addition to being the keynote speaker, Martha will receive the Great Contributor to Art Award.
The author/TV host/business woman has created works of art both indoors and out. But on this occasion the focus will be on gardening and her newest book — “Martha’s Flowers: A Practical Guide to Growing, Gathering and Enjoying” — that “features decades of Martha’s gardening advice.”
Joining Martha will be “her longtime friend and colleague” Kevin Sharkey, who has collaborated with Martha over the years. More than 100 creative arrangements by Kevin are included in “Martha’s Flowers.”
No doubt one of the topics that will be included will be Cantitoe Farm, Martha’s 150-acre property in Katonah, where she has “planted masses of my favorite kinds of flowers: a giant bed of pink-colored peonies; a very large perennial garden filled with all of my favorite lilies, poppies, and irises, among hundreds of others; two long gardens filled with many kinds of lilac shrubs; and borders of hydrangeas, Japanese maple trees, clematis, shade plants, and tulip beds.” Talk about a gardening masterpiece!
According to Kaki, “Martha Stewart has brought into millions of American homes a respect for artistry. She has inspired us to seek artistry in our everyday life—menu planning, entertaining, decorating for special days, cooking for special occasions and every day, table top design—among countless other lessons on living graciously and artfully. She has written 90 books on these subjects, so we can follow her lead. Her latest book extends her artistry into horticulture and arranging flowers. We are thrilled that she has chosen the Arboretum to announce this book on her passion for growing flowers and engaging the best of design in gardens and flower arrangements. As lovers of the Dallas Arboretum, we share that passion.”
The plan calls for book sales and signing at 10 a.m. along with the Invitational Fine Art Auction silent auction featuring art donated “by dozens of acclaimed artists and local Dallas notables” like Daniel Angeles, Carolyn Brown, Denise Brown, Francene Christenson, Julie England, Michael de Feo, Ginger Fox, Abhi Ghuge, Marci Harnden, Arienne Lepretre, Jay Maggio, Christopher H. Martin, Juan Negroni, Pamela Nelson, Nan Phillips, Carol Swenson Roberts, Laura Roosevelt and George Tobolowsky in the Arboretum’s Rosine Hall followed by lunch at noon emceed by WFAA’s Ron Corning.
BTW, this is only the second time the award has been presented. The previous recipient was philanthropist/ businessman Craig Hall.
Tickets start at $300 and are available by contacting Missy Whisler at 214.515.6688.
* Graphic and photo provided by Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden