Guest Judith Foltz with Sean Claire, a violinist with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra who performed throughout the evening.
If you are looking for summer vibes, you aren’t going to beat the annual Summer Solstice Dinner held at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum each year on — you guessed it — the summer solstice! This year, that happened a few weeks ago on June 20.
Folks were encouraged to wear white and adorn with flowers. The white actually was helpful as temperatures soared to the low 90s with a “feels like” approaching 100. I do believe some of us (OK, one was me!) ambled into the Dogwood Center a little before the end of the outdoor cocktail time in order to cool off.
But the relaxed atmosphere and mellow pace of the evening just evoked the calm of a Southern summer night. And that alone was worth the $200 ticket price, all of which went to benefit the Knoxville Botanical Gardens.
See what I mean about the vibe? This was the scene when we arrived.
From left, Larry and Jenny Bushkell with Rebecca and Alan Williams.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Poland and long-time Knoxville Mayor Victor Ashe and his awesome wife, Joan. She’s a member of the Gardens’ board of directors.
Sharon Moore is executive director of the Gardens. Ironically, she broke her arm when she slipped and fell while working in her own garden!
One unique aspect of this event is that Gardens board members and staffers are the actual workers. Here’s board member Shante Southwood passing appetizers.
From left, Tom and Deanene Catani with Carol and Joe Pellicia. Tom is on the board of the Gardens. He and Deanene donated lilac flowers from their West Knox garden to be used in one of the signature cocktails of the evening.
From left, Lynne and Walter Fain with Margie Nichols and John Gill. Walter and Margie are on the board of the Gardens.
Ralph Cianelli’s name tag said “World’s Best Bartender.” And when I saw him holding a bottle of my favorite libation, Pinot Grigio, I had to agree!
Kendall Keller made her own lei of flowers for the occasion. She said the process would have gone a lot more quickly had she selected larger flowers! Take note if you plan to do this yourself!
Gay Lyons with Rick Fox, a former board chair.
Sheryl Linck and Garry Conklin. Yes, those are blue suede shoes, he’s wearing!
From left, Anita Hollman Matijcio, Jason and Carrie Hardy, Townes Osborn, and Steven Matijcio. Jason is CEO of Knoxville Opera and Steven is executive director of the Knoxville Museum of Art. I love the way our cultural organizations support one another. For the most part.
From left, Karen and Reinhold Mann with Gary and Julia Bentley. Julia is president of the board of the Gardens.
From left, Johnnie Creel, Pandy Anderson, Mary Morris, Michael and Elizabeth Grant.
Victor Ashe with Anne Kinggard, left, and Lennie Robertson.
From left, Neil and Board member Maureen Dunn McBride with Robert Marquis.
Isabell-Senft-Daniel, left, and Sylvia Peters.
Steve Drevik and Lee Ann Rogers.
Garden nymphs? From left, Gay Lyons, Madge Cleveland, and Susan Arbital.
From left, Elizabeth Offringa, Kim Hays, Jane Venable, Kim Cunningham, and Cathy Briscoe.
Wendell Ely and Gardens staff member Sarah DeWitt.
From left, Jordan and Taylor Phipps with Amy and John Gibson.
Sean Claire sounding good!
Twins! Amy Gibson, left, and Alexis Toulson.
An hour in and, despite the heat, folks were still hanging tough!
But this is about when I decided it would be a good idea to slip inside and take some pictures of the lovely tables! (In the air conditioning!)
Simple elegance. (Plastic plates never looked so good!)
I ran into these fine folks in there. From left, Jennifer Reynolds, Ginger Baxter, Elizabeth Baxter-Stanczyk, and Rick Stanczyk. Ginger is Jennifer and Elizabeth’s mother.
In the late evening light, from left, Linda Haynes, Jennifer Robinson, and Johnnie Creel.
From left, Neil McBride, Pandy Anderson, and Alan Carmichael.
More hard-working board members. From left, Alice Allen, Brandon Hardin, and immediate past board president, Matt Keaney, pouring drinks.
From left, Kelly Tucker, Shante Southwood, and Jennifer Vanderink, all board members.
More folks started drifting in. From left, Nancy Voith, Kenneth Stark, and Cathy Hill looking good!
Victoria Kay taking her seat.
Board member Sheryl Ely with more appetizers.
And then dinner time!
Sean Claire strolled the aisles with his beautiful tunes.
And he stopped at tables from time to time.
Staffer Caitlin Wedekind brought around the desserts.
Wait! What’s this I spy? Is that a birthday cake?
Sean Claire produced the dulcet notes of the birthday song. Where is the Botanical Gardens’ staffer Rachel Orefice taking that cake?
Ah-ha! It was a surprise for Jennifer Reynolds! (Wish I had been sitting at her table because that cake looked yummy!)
After a few very brief official remarks, Matt Keaney was called upon to auction off two paintings that had been created during the event. He did a stellar job.
One was created by Robert Felker.
The other by Jared Gottschall.
What a perfect celebration of the season! Stay hydrated, everybody!
Thanks so much for supporting our beautiful gardens!!
Julia: It was a fun event! Great sitting with you and Gary. Thanks for your work on behalf of the gardens!
What a great event! We love it every year.
Steve: I agree. I love that the program is short and you mostly get to spend your time mingling and enjoying friends and the atmosphere. Good seeing you and Lee Ann.
I love this event! It’s so perfectly summery. And it’s great to see so many people supporting the Garden, which is such a treasure.
What a great event! Love the people who support the gardens as well as those who work there. It’s a garden worth keeping and loving, for sure.
Gay and Rusha: Couldn’t agree more!
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