The Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum played an important role in the lives of this year's Green Thumb Gala chairs, Deanene, Tom and Cate Catani.
After three years, the annual Green Thumb Gala held to benefit the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, has become something of an autumn tradition around here. One thing that makes it so much fun is the fact that is is held at the garden itself and that, at least so far, the dinner venue set up at the 47-acre garden varies from year to year. This year, the reception and silent auction part of the evening was held in an old barn that the managers of the garden recently cleaned up and are putting into use. They plan eventually to turn it into an events center.
Not that events aren’t already being held there. Weddings, in particular, as well as other parties. But brides and other hostesses and hosts will feel a lot more confident when they know they will have an indoor back-up plan in case the weather turns ugly on their special day.
Joan Ashe, right, is chair of the board of the Botanical Garden. Nancy Kendrick catered the Green Thumb Gala.
The chairs of this year’s Green Thumb Gala were Tom and Deanene Catani and their daughter Cate. It was one of those garden weddings on July 6, 2008, that officially created the blended Catani family, so the venue has special significance for them.
The Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum is located on Wimpole Street in East Knoxville on land that formerly was the Howell Nursery. The family patriarch, David Howell, first planted an orchard on the property in 1786, before Knoxville was even founded. Work on the Botanical Garden is still in its infancy, but I believe the pretty jewel can be, not only an important historical preserve, but also a key to the revitalization of an economically challenged part of our community.
Anyway, here are some sights from this year’s low-key (thankfully) Green Thumb Gala. I’d encourage you to make plans to include next year’s Green Thumb Gala in your autumn plans.
Here is that old barn. It made a great reception area.
Loved the old Howell Nursery truck!
Ben Pinnell, left, with his father, Burke, both of Hickory Construction.
Anne and Michael McKinney during the reception
This is Mary Ellen Brewington holding one of the evening's signature cocktails. It didn't have a name, but the bartenders called it a "stinky pinky" because of the strong scent of the rosemary with which it was infused and garnished! Ha.
WBIR's Emily Stroud with her hubby, Greg.
Terry and Thomas (Tank) Strickland, with Arthur Seymour, Jr., right.
Chris Christenberry chatting with Dorothy Stair.
Congressman Jimmy Duncan and his wife, Lynn.
Enjoying the reception, from left, Michelle Jubran, Kati and Jim Blalock, and Raja Jubran
Our fellow downtowners, Marshall Peterson and Linda Gay Blanc
Mary Helen Byers, center, with Denise and Kent Ledbetter
Gay Lyons with Duncan Mansfield, left, and my sweet husband, Alan Carmichael
Susan and Lee Hyde
John and Allyn Purvis Schwartz
Mary Bogert
Leanna Belew, left, and Kim Beets
Here's that good-looking Catani couple again!
Dinner was served in a nearby (huge) tent.
I adored the centerpieces! Moxley Carmichael was pleased to be a sponsor.
The burlap roses were just charming.
The "tablescape," as the Food Network's Sandra Lee would say.
Sprigs of fresh rosemary set off the menu cards.
Moxley Carmichael's Amanda Shell and her boyfriend, Mark Jennings, joined our table.
Gay Lyons, David Butler, center, and Ted Smith were with us.
So were Scott Bird, right, of Moxley Carmichael, and Michael Higdon, of the UT College of Law.
Here's another of our table mates, Craig Griffith, with Alan.
The delicious salad was mixed greens with roasted butternut squash, parsnips and roquefort with pecan vinaigrette.
I table-hopped between courses and saw, from left, Caesar Stair, Julie Etter, Victor Ashe and City Councilman Marshall Stair.
John Craig and Patricia Robledo
Jack and Jackie Brundige
Craig Shelton, left, and David Payne
Chris Davis, left, and Rene Yanes
The band, The Corduroy Road, played all night.
Vivian Vega and Duncan Mansfield
Main course was thyme and white wine braised chicken breast over truffled mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus topped with basil and lemon corn succotash garnished with locally grown fried basil leaves! All this was served with buttermilk biscuits and sweet potato butter!
Alan, of course, loved the dessert: rhubarb and blackberry cobbler with Cruze Dairy Farm ice cream.
More table-hopping: Dan and Lisa Duncan
City Councilman Duane and Marsha Grieve
Lisa Warren and state Rep. Ryan Haynes
From left, Todd Cramer, Ernie Hoskins, Jackie Cody, Cindy Buttry and Anita Lane.
Jan and Sylvia Peters
Scott and Kim Bumpas
From left, Martha Kern, Connie Wallace and Allyn Purvis Schwartz
Robyn Ulrich bought her fantastic centerpiece to take home.
Jeff Lee and the goodie basket he won in the silent auction.
Sara Hedstrom Pinnell, center, with her in-laws, Lezah and Burke Pinnell. Love these three!
Click here to read a News Sentinel story about the plans at the Garden.
This was a great evening! Thanks for sharing all the fun and food with everyone, Cynthia! You will be happy to know we donated a Low Country Shrimp Boil for next year’s auction! Get ready to start the bidding! BTW, those are 2 of the best photos taken of me in years! Can I get copies?! 😉
The tables were beautiful–loved the linens, the burlap roses, and the rosemary sprigs. The Botanical Garden is a real treasure–just minutes from downtown.
Allyn: Just right-click and copy. If you need higher res format, let me know and I will send.
Gay: Agree.
It was a great evening! Such a festive crowd – and Sold Out I might add! We will be there next year for sure.
We will, too, Sara!
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