It should have been no surprise that the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum‘s 18th Annual A Writer’s Garden patron party on Tuesday, November 12, would be a draw. After all, it was held at Kathy and Larry Helm’s lovely Highland Park home.
It soon became obvious that the draw of the party, sponsored by Sheila and Tom Leslie, was going to be a bit overwhelming for the valets. The neighborhood streets perpendicular to Preston Road are fine for everyday traffic, but it’s a different situation when it comes to a gathering of more than a dozen guests. Needless to say, the Helms’ home on the corner of Preston resulted in traffic backing up along the southbound lane. At one point, a departing car had a showdown with an arriving car in the lone open lane. The result? The arriving car backed up half a block to let the departing wheels go.
Patron party Co-Chairs Jolie Humphrey and C’Mone Wingo welcomed guests as they entered and were offered wine, champagne and sparkling water. The open bar served specialty drinks as scrumptious hors d’oeuvres were passed.
As Emilynn Wilson was escorted to the front door with the help of a cane in one hand and a valet in the other, she arrived just as Larry was sweeping up the remnants of a tray of white and red wine glasses that had hit the entry hall’s marble floor.
Years ago the late Stanley Marcus had made the serving of red wine absolutely verboten at Neiman Marcus due to the hard-to-scrub-out vino from the stores’ marble floors.
Speaking of hitting the floors, the crowd was so SRO that when one guest fainted, paramedics were on the scene despite the traffic mixmaster outside.
But not to worry. The paramedics let the guest head home without a visit to the ER, and Writer’s Garden speakers Martyn Lawrence Bullard and Stefani Bittner continued to be delightful, graciously chatting and posing for selfies and photos with everyone. Including A Writer’s Garden Chair Joni Krieg and her husband John Krieg, Women’s Council President Therese Rourk and her husband Chris Rourk, Barbara and Bob Bigham, Claire Catrino, Martha Cox, Rose Gault, Sila Grogan, Sarah Hardin, Cindy Avroch Rosenthal, Anne and Bill Seanor, Donna Weitzman, Karen Sargent, Tonya Trest, Paige Elliott and Catherine Awtrey.
Under starry skies in the south lawn entertainment area, Joni thanked the hosts, sponsors, Patron Party chairs and her husband for his steadfast support and patience as she dedicated most of her time the past year to this fundraiser. Although he was unable to attend, Joni acknowledged Honorary Chair Garry Weber and his foundation, Weber Foundation, as A Writer’s Garden presenting sponsor.
Joni introduced the authors as everyone gave an enthusiastic round of applause, saying that in addition to the event the next day, Stefani would be hosting a garden workshop at Gardenuity, sponsored by Katherine Phillips and co-chaired by Katie Kennemer and Colby Baer. It will be a delightful day as participants explore the powerful benefits of herbal teas, personalized aroma selections and design bespoke take-home sachets, she said.
The 18th Annual A Writer’s Garden also celebrates the 27th Anniversary of A Woman’s Garden and the 42nd Anniversary of the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, its beneficiary.
Learn more about the Women’s Council, membership opportunities and benefits, private tours, trips, parties and more, visit www.wcdabg.org