Bucolic supper rewards Garden donors

Alan Carmichael looks over a part of the expansive gardens in Betsey Bush's backyard.

Alan Carmichael looks over a part of the expansive gardens in Betsey Bush's backyard.

What’s the best way to reward the biggest donors to the Knoxville Botanical Garden? Why a garden party, of course! In one of the best gardens in Knoxville.

That was the occasion earlier this month when folks who have given $1,000 or more to the Knoxville Botanical Garden came together for supper in the lovely Kingston Pike backyard of Betsey Bush. The house, built in 1927 by the famed architectural firm Baumann and Baumann, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Here are some quick photos of the evening. The only agenda was a short thank you speech and then guests spread out to enjoy the garden before coming back to the patios for an al fresco buffet dinner.

Joan and Victor Ashe presented Betsey Bush with a cute sculpture of a "garden lady." They brought it back from Poland, where he served as U.S. Ambassador.

Joan and Victor Ashe presented Betsey Bush with a cute sculpture of a "garden lady." They brought it back from Poland, where he served as U.S. Ambassador.

Here is a closer view of the thoughtful gift.

Here is a closer view of the thoughtful gift.

Guests fanned out to chat and tour the gardens.

Guests fanned out to chat and tour the gardens.

The heat insured that everyone moved at a leisurely pace.

The heat insured that everyone moved at a leisurely pace.

Betsey Bush has used research and old photos to try to recreate some gardens from the past.

Betsey Bush has used research and old photos to try to recreate some gardens from the past.

There are several pretty water gardens.

There are several pretty water gardens.

Cute cranes

Cute cranes

Loved this use of old millstones.

Loved this use of old millstones.

Details throughout the gardens are well-placed.

Details throughout the gardens are well-placed.

Jeff Chapman, center, poses with Mike and Laurie Devoto.

Jeff Chapman, center, poses with Mike and Laurie Devoto.

Greg Marrett poses with, from left, Vicki Chapman, Frances Adams O'Brien, and Bonnie Marrett.

Greg Marrett poses with, from left, Vicki Chapman, Frances Adams O'Brien, and Bonnie Marrett.

Mimi Turner, center, poses with Tom and Anna Ford. Anna is president of the Knoxville Garden Club.

Mimi Turner, center, poses with Tom and Anna Ford. Anna is president of the Knoxville Garden Club.

Jenny Jukes, whose family owned the property where the Knoxville Botanical Garden is located, left, passes time with Mary Helen Bower.

Jenny Jukes, whose family owned the property where the Knoxville Botanical Garden is located, left, passes time with Mary Helen Bower.

Milton Turner with Teenie Hayworth, center, and her granddaughter, Maggie Johnson

Milton Turner with Teenie Hayworth, center, and her granddaughter, Maggie Johnson

I caught Jeff Chapman, left, and Jimmy Cheek inside trying to cool off! Ha!

I caught Jeff Chapman, left, and Jimmy Cheek inside trying to cool off! Ha!

When you see caterer Betty Melrose, right, it is a very good sign. She is with Mary McKee and they have everything under control in the kitchen.

When you see caterer Betty Melrose, right, it is a very good sign. She is with Mary McKee and they have everything under control in the kitchen.

Here is the dinner spread!

Here is the delicious dinner spread! A chicken dish to spoon over noodles and a shrimp dish to spoon over rice. Yum, yum!

Brownies for dessert.

Brownies for dessert.

These folks selected a table by the pool.

These folks selected a table by the pool.

Mary Ann and David Piper

Mary Ann and David Piper

John and Sandra Butler pause to speak to Betsey Bush, center, on their way to their table.

John and Sandra Butler pause to speak to Betsey Bush, center, on their way to their table.

Jimmy Cheek, left, and Victor Ashe

Jimmy Cheek, left, and Victor Ashe

Botanical Gardens executive director Steve Seifried, left, with Bert and Jennie Ritchie

Botanical Gardens executive director Steve Seifried, left, with Bert and Jennie Ritchie

From left, Jim and Carol Cortese, Frances Adams O'Brien and Sam O'Brien

From left, Jim and Carol Cortese, Frances Adams O'Brien and Sam Adams

Milton and Mimi Turner

Milton and Mimi Turner

Andrea Cartwright and Alan Soloman

Andrea Cartwright and Alan Solomon

Jo and Sid Blalock

Jo and Sid Blalock

Joan Ashe, right, and Rosemary Wolf

Joan Ashe, right, and Rosemary Wolf

Filed under: Events, Historic preservation, Knoxville. Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to Bucolic supper rewards Garden donors

  1. Elizabeth Farr, on July 29th, 2011 at 8:22 pm said:

    Just loved the pictures of Betsey’s lovely gardens! And Joan and Victor are looking especially good. Thanks for publishing.

  2. Melinda Meador, on July 30th, 2011 at 7:58 am said:

    How lovely! Such a beautiful setting must have made the heat more bearable — at least for a few hours.

  3. Cynthia Moxley, on July 30th, 2011 at 9:52 am said:

    Elizabeth, you are right. Joan and Victor are looking great. And, Melinda, the key to staying cool was to move VERY slowly, which we did! Thanks for the comments!

Leave a Reply