Hats in Bloom was this past weekend. It must be spring!

Botanical Garden Executive Director Sharon Moore, left, with event co-chairs Lauren Miller, center, and Lindsay Cates. Lindsay also is on the Garden’s board of directors.

It was a beautiful day for mingling and shopping.

Here are some of the beauties.

From left, Kim Henry, Allyn Purvis Schwartz, Diana Zeltner, Christy Brooks, Linda Haynes, and Melissa Charles.

Janet Testerman, left, and her mother, Janet Testerman Crossley.

Erin Donovan’s hat was a show-stopper! She made it herself. When I asked her how she did it, here was her reply: “A lot of alcohol and some glue!” Ha. She was a member of the Hats in Bloom planning committee.

The little peacock on it was a perfect touch.

More offered for purchase.

Pat Medley, left, and Emily Lenn. (You didn’t HAVE to wear a hat!)

From left, Amy Honeycutt, Kendall Keller, Gay Lyons, and Jacque Hawks. Jacque is on the board of directors. Both she and Gay were honorary co-chairs of the event’s planning committee.

From left, Cindy Mayfield, Judith Foltz, Cynthia D’Andrea, and Debbie Boles.

The passed appetizers were delish! Caterer was Gourmet’s Market. Clockwise, from top: Manchego stuffed dates wrapped with prosciutto and drizzled with honey; smoked salmon cream cheese crostini with sundried tomatoes, capers, and pickled red onion; and wild mushroom tartlets with goat cheese and thyme.

Guitarist Zack Miles played pretty tunes throughout the entire event.

The day was so beautiful that some stepped away from the crowd for a while to enjoy the garden ambiance.

Here’s the woman of the day, hat maker Patricia Frankum.

I loved this hat featuring bees!

And this one with butterflies!

Rick Fox, left, and Ralph Cianelli showed up wearing Indian wedding hats! Clever. Rick is past chair of the Botanical Garden’s board.

Steven and Anita Hollmann Matijcio. He’s the executive director of the Knoxville Museum of Art.

Botanical Garden board member Sheryl Ely, left, and Erin Gill.

From left, Victoria Thomas, Lane Hays, and Kati Blalock.

From left, Virginia Babb, Annemarie Gray, and Debbie Boles.

Sharon Spezia.

Sharon Moore, left, with her nieces Morgan Misiaszek, center, and Madeline McCullough.

Rose Moseley, left, and Harriet Hodge.

Pandy Anderson, left, and Johnnie Creel.

Knox County Commissioner Larsen Jay, who is running for Knox County Mayor, with one of his campaign staffers, Olivia Graves.

Ilene Cheek, left, and Margie Nichols Gill, the vice president of the Botanical Garden’s board.

From left, Monique Anderson, Lucy Tyler, and Sara Rose.

Mimi Turner, left, and Cathy Briscoe.

Loved Kim Hays’ dress!

Here are two of those brave guys! Joe Nolan, left, and Stephen Smith.

From left, Eve Creel Thomas, Johnnie Creel, Jacque Hawks, and Diana Zeltner.

Elizabeth Offringa, left, and Linda Haynes.

Debbie Emery, left, and Robin Smith.

David Butler, left, chats with volunteer Larry Blair.

Chris McGee and Marsha Hollingsworth.

Beth Ford, left, and Ellie Kittrell.

Cathy Lennon, left, and Michelle Collins.

Cathy Campbell, left, and Jenny Bushkell.

From left, Catherine Howell, Patrice Minteer, and Pam Teague.

From left, Sandy Martin, Linda Haynes, and Melissa Charles.

Two former Botanical Garden board chairmen: Rick Fox, left, and Matt Keaney.

From left, Knoxville Symphony CEO Rachel Ford, David Butler, and Sharon Moore. I love the way our important cultural organizations support one another.

Anna Ford, left, and Barbara Hillard.

We were summoned into the beautiful Dogwood Center.

The table settings were lovely.

Centerpieces were donated by Sevier Blumen. Guests could purchase them as they were leaving to benefit the Botanical Garden.

Another centerpiece. Packs of seeds were party favors for guests.

Lunch was herbed Parmesan chicken and Romesco over orzo and arugula with almond, feta and a citrus vinaigrette. Very tasty. Dessert was a flourless chocolate torte with strawberry coulis and a macaron.

My tablemates included Knoxville Vice Mayor Lynne Fugate and Alicia Price.

On the other side of Alicia were Joan Ashe, center, and Barbara Hillard. Joan is on the board of directors and was on the planning committee.

Dino Cartwright is always the best dressed person at any event! Here he is with his friend Janet Testerman.

Wow! Robin Gibson had a stunning hat!

Sarah DeWitt, the engagement manager for the Botanical Garden, kicked off a very short program that featured on the virtues of the historic 44-acre property that’s run by a non-profit organization and is open free to the public every day from dawn to dusk.

From left, Carmanelette and Knox County Commissioner Damon Rawls, Erin Gill, and Bailey Ly.

City and County harmony! County Commissioner Damon Rawls and Knoxville Vice Mayor Lynne Fugate.

Beth Ford wore one of her mother’s hats. He mom had sewn a note inside indicating that she purchased it for Easter of 1960 for $11.31! Very cool!

Christi Fightmaster, left, and Ruthie Sharpe.

Gail Jarvis, left, and Paula Dinkins.

Gwen McKenzie, left, and Amy Honeycutt.

Botanical Garden Board Chair Julia Bentley, left, and Cynthia D’Andrea.

From left, Karen Mann, Nikki Elliott, and Lynne Fugate.

From left, Kelly Reynolds, Heather Overton, and Johnna Easter.

From left, Rachel Orefice, Lauren Miller, and Leslie Bateman.

From left, Rachel Ford, Tiffany Washington, and Laurie Shanderson.

From left, Karen Mann, Janet Greer, Gail Van Hoozier, Teressia Blair, Paula Voss, Nancy Donsbach, Beth Ford, and Judy Doyle.