Blue Frog was co-host of the Pryses’ annual garden party! Sharon Pryse is vice chair of the non-profit Garden Conservancy, founded by renowned gardener Frank Cabot. Often, she said, conservancy members honor Cabot by displaying frogs!
I’m not saying you should place your investments in the hands of The Trust Company of Tennessee just because you will be invited to their annual garden party! I’m just saying we sure are glad we did!
Our experience with The Trust Company has been phenomenal. Alan and I are word people. And, although I always scored well on the math portions of assessment tests, I never did really like the numbers thing. I have a habit of every-so-often sending my financial advisors an envelope labeled “Scary Things that Came in the Mail” containing a bunch of puzzling financial information we’ve received.
Ever since we’ve had Sheryl Linck of The Trust Company assigned to our investment accounts there, we’ve slept a lot better at night. She has a knack for explaining things in terms that we immediately understand. She was a valuable consultant to us when we sold our company three years ago to our top four employees. I’m sure we could have somehow figured everything out with help from other advisors, but Sheryl made things clear and understandable. And easy. We will forever be grateful to her for all she did — and is doing — for us. Especially in these turbulent financial times. Plus, she and her husband, Garry Conklin, have become valued friends.
All this to say that The Trust Company is great at taking care of our investments. But the icing on the cake is the terrific annual party that company founder and CEO Sharon Pryse and her husband, Joe, host each spring for clients and associates. The one held just the other day was a prime example.
From left, Daniel Carter, Sharon Pryse, Billy and Becky Bale, and Grant Boyd. Sharon hosted the party at her beautiful home on Kingston Pike. Carter and Boyd are executives at the company.
My hero, Sheryl Linck, with Jack Davidson, another top exec at The Trust Company.
Here’s the view we saw when we arrived. Can you believe that? No wonder this beautiful creation is featured in a new book published this past February called “Garden to the Max: Joyful, Visionary, Maximalist Design” by Teresa Woodard.
It was great seeing, from left, John Gill, Loretta Harber, Leann and Jim Dickson, and Margie Nichols Gill.
Love Sharon and Joe’s beautiful gazebo.
And the koi pond.
The caterer for the evening was Gourmet’s Market, which always does a fantastic job. Here are just the passed appetizers. Clockwise from top: mini crab cakes with caper lemon remoulade, fried okra, and Caprese skewers with pesto drizzle.
Joe Pryse, who is recovering from surgery that affects his mobility, enjoyed the party and socialized from the back porch!
Kay Clayton and Bob Page were there.
As were Joe Stair and Billie Shelby.
Smoked brisket in biscuits was a highlight of the grazing table! Yum!
Sesame fried chicken was accompanied by raspberry sauce.
There are all kinds of flowers in the garden, but roses are the stars.
Like these.
And these.
Whit and. Rachel Addicks.
A happy crowd gathered around the grazing table!
Ham, butter, and radish sandwiches were featured on the sandwich tower. Plus watercress and cucumber sandwiches.
Another appetizer tower featured, from top, veggies and cauliflower hummus, pimento cheese and crackers, and shrimp cocktail.
And there was bacon-wrapped shrimp!
If you were in the mood for something sweet, there was a tower of fruit and cookies!
Charles and Nancy Wagner enjoying the repast.
Hydrangeas were blooming.
A cute fish was spitting into a pool.
A cherub holding a Frisbee? He was hiding in a flower bed.
Another was playing a flute. Adorbs.
I thought these white bushes were azaleas. But Sharon said they are a kind of rose.
Here’s a breathtaking view of Cherokee Farm as seen from the Pryses’ garden.
I decided to walk down towards the river. All along the way were little surprises. Like this curious wolf coming out of the shrubs.
I came across this relaxing sitting area.
Kay Leibowitz, left, and Barbara Bernstein watched me make my descent.
I bet this will be a pretty arbor covered with vines one day soon.
As I was going down the path, these two were coming up it. Janet Testerman, left, and Maria McHale.
This dogwood tree still had some blooms on it.
Beautiful.
Soon I came upon an image of Kokopelli, a Native American god.
Another lovely sitting area.
This arbor is developing nicely.
I was getting close to the bottom now.
Where there were plenty more beautiful blooms.
I turned around and headed back up.
I was surprised to see Lenten roses still in bloom. Lent is long gone!
Aww. How cute is this little dog statue?
Not sure what this pink bush is, but it was pretty.
Ran into this cutie who seemed unafraid.
I joined the party again!
Fun seeing these two Trust Company folks: Jack Davidson and Lindsay Cates.
From left, Bob Witt, Paul Jaeger of The Trust Company, and Joe Johnson.
Sharon with Jimmy Smith.
Robin Turner, left, and The Trust Company’s Suzanne Hauk.
From left, Chad Schollaert and Adam Davies of The Trust Company, with Byron and Emily White.
From left, Lisa Skinner, Finbarr Saunders, and Ellen Bebb.
John Tolsma, left, with Nancy and David Miller.
I said goodbye to Blue Frog before I left!
Spring is so much fun in our great city!
Sharon and Joe have produced one of Knoxville’s best gardens right in the heart of the city. From florals
to frogs, this garden shines with beauty – and
fun!
Alan: You are absolutely right! It was a perfect evening with fabulous food, folks, and flowers! (Oh, and frogs!)