These beautiful things are dibbles. Available during the silent auction, they are used to make holes in which to plant seeds and bulbs.
One of Knoxville’s newest fundraising events is the Green Thumb Gala, a evening set at the beautiful Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, which it benefits. The inaugural gala was this past Friday night and, with picture perfect fall weather and attendance at more than 250, it was a resounding success.
The auction alone raised more than $16,000. And that’s in addition to ticket sales (tickets cost $150 each).
One of the best things about the event was the array of local vendors who gave away samples of their wares during the cocktail party and silent auction. They included Benton’s Smoky Mountian Country Hams of Madisonville, which gave away ham biscuits; Kira’s Kids Dairy, a micro dairy in Spencer, which gave samples of four kinds of chevre as well as feta cheese; Sweetwater Valley Farm in Sweetwater, which offered five kinds of cheddar cheese; and my personal favorite, Ole Smoky Distillery of Gatlinburg, which provided samples of legal moonshine and moonshine cherries as well as a wide variety of other products made with moonshine. (I loved the apple butter, which was spread on vanilla wafers for tasting.)
A word about the menu, which was one of the most creative I have seen at a big event like this. I thought it was awesome. The fact that it included a first course of soup was brave — and a great touch for an autumn event. Here’s what Holly Hambright of Holly’s Eventful Dining prepared for the gala: hubbard squash and carrot soup, autumn salad with pomegranate and nuts, cassoulet, and apple pear frangipane tart.
There was a bit of a delay getting the main course on the tables, but, again, this was a first-time event catered entirely in an outdoor setting in a huge tent. I predict that next year the few small kinks like this will be worked out. Kudos to all involved. We at Moxley Carmichael were honored to have worked with the great folks at the Botanical Garden to promote the weekend’s events.
An autumn display welcomed guests to the event tent.
Andrew Duncan, left, and his father, Craig Duncan, provided tunes during the cocktail party and dinner.
Rosemary Gilliam admires a garden snail during the silent auction.
Steve Seifried, center, executive director of the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, poses with his wife, Amy, and Sam Anderson.
Sweet P's Barbecue and Soul House offered one of the live auction items. This chainsaw-carved bear wore a Sweet P's t-shirt during the silent auction to promote the item.
Joan Ashe, left, who co-chaired the event with Jackie Wilson, greets Fred and Susan Brackney.
Signature products from Ole Smoky Distillery.
Finbarr Saunders, left, and avid gardner Dr. Alan Solomon during the cocktail party
Deanene and Tom Catani
If you didn't want wine or beer, there was one special drink offered: a szarlotka, made of vodka and apple cider, according to bartender Walter Hayes. It was good!
Vicki Baumgartner, left, Tim Robinson and Elaine Clark.
Craig and Donna Griffith as the party moves into the dinner tent
Gay Lyons samples a ham biscuit from Benton's Smoky Mountain Country Hams.
Ellen Robinson, left, of Moxley Carmichael, and Erin Donovan of WBIR.
Kevin Wright, left, and Moxley Carmichael's Scott Bird enjoyed the squash and carrot soup.
Moxley Carmichael's Tami Hartmann and her husband, Bruce.
Sam Furrow, who did the live auction, and his wife, Ann.
Jeannie and Bill Tapp
City Councilman Duane and Marsha Grieve
I thought it was sweet that Joan and Victor Ashe were holding hands.
Ellen Adcock poses with Botanical Garden board president Jenny Howell Jukes, whose family owned the original Howell Nursery where today's garden is located.
From left, Jenny Jukes, Margaret and Bobby Gehring, all members of the familiy that owned the nursery.
Alan Carmichael, left, and City Councilman Dan Brown
Lorie Huff distributed parting gifts as guests left.
The gift was the evening's recipes tied with rafia and a sprig of rosemary, the herb of remembrance. Nice touch.
So sorry that I missed this special evening! Won’t miss it next year for sure!!!