Landscape Architect Stephen Hackney leaves the podium after accepting his Gardens Legend Award.
UT Gardens gave well-known Knoxville landscape architect Stephen Hackney its Gardens Legend Award on a beautiful April evening inside a massive tent just off Neyland Drive.
Hackney, who formed his company SWH Landscape Architecture in 2011, was recognized for his more than 20 years of “crafting thoughtful landscapes throughout the region for clients both residential and commercial,” said Lisa Stearns, vice chancellor of marketing and communications for UT’s Institute of Agriculture.
“With an instinct for graceful simplicity, SWH creates gardens firmly rooted in tradition incorporating modern sensibilities to honor each client’s unique vision,” Stearns said.
The University of Tennessee’s three gardens — the one in Knoxville as well as gardens in Jackson and Crossville — constitute the State Botanical Garden of Tennessee. The Gardens Legend Award was created in 2013 as a public recognition of excellence and influence in the gardening community.
The UT Gardens Gala is an annual party created to raise funds for the UT Gardens. This year’s event was a stark contrast to last year’s during which torrential rain drenched attendees and literally created a stream running through the tent where the dinner was being served.
You can see what a beautiful night it was. This is the signature sculpture at the UT Gardens in Knoxville.
Folks were taking advantage of the lovely setting to take prom pictures.
Meanwhile, on the patio, we were mixing and mingling.
James Newburn, left, is the managing director of UT Gardens Knoxville. Isaac Collins, director of development of the UT Foundation, is with him. Colorful!
UT Appalachian Strings provided appropriate tunes throughout the evening.
Brad and Nicki Collett.
Sara Phillips and Jim Gossen grabbed a seat near the music. They are sipping on the evening’s signature drink: a Raspberry Blossom, which is a raspberry lemonade cocktail created for the occasion.
From left, Keith Carver, Beccy and Andy Pulte. Carver is senior vice chancellor and senior vice president of the UT Institute of Agriculture.
Brent Jones and Kathy Park.
Jon Brock, left, was honorary host of the event. He’s with Hollianne and Keith Carver.
Passed appetizers were spicy tuna on sesame wonton, top, and green apple, basil, and strawberry bruschetta.
A pleasant setting inside a tent offered some respite from the late day sun.
A massive grazing board is a signature of this event.
Some examples of the contents!
Larsen Jay and Sherri Lee.
From left, Alan Carmichael with Kay and Larry Leibowitz.
Debbie and Mitch Steenrod.
Joe and Chrissy Mazer. He’s dean of the UT College of Communication and Information.
From left, Norman Hammitt, Liz White, and Lisa Stearns.
Jane and Kenneth Creed.
From left, Josh Royer, Thabiso Bolebano, Amy Miller, and Hannah Royer.
David and Susan Long.
From left, Chad and Melissa Tindell, Bill Pittman, and Tina Rolen.
From left, Chris and Terri Clark, Christopher and Mindi Stripling.
From left, Kenyon Warren, Anne Hewitt, and Larsen Jay.
From left, Natalie Bumgarner, Karen Caspary, Catherine Lawson, Anna Parsons, and Caitlin Dalton.
Lane Hays and Stuart Worden.
Matt Allum and Haley Aud.
From left, Kathy Brennan, Kati and Jim Blalock, and Jackie Wilson.
Karen and Harvey White.
Patricia Bible and Stephen Hackney.
Sherry Millhorn and Lofton Stuart.
From left, Sheila Walton, Alan Carmichael, and Alice Greene. They are friends from days when they all worked for TVA.
Tom and Tori Looney.
From left, Michael Smith, Holly Jones, and Morgan Carr.
Kathy Brennan, left, and Sharon Moore, who is the executive director of the Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum. Garden folks stick together!
While we were mingling, bidding was open on dozens of interesting silent auction items.
At 7, we were called in to another tent for dinner.
Because it was a little warm in the tent due to the afternoon sun, I was grateful to see this sight near our table!
Tables were lovely.
Scott Sams and Jennifer Gramling.
The salad was a Southern panzanella: cornbread croutons, pickled red onion, marinated cucumber and tomato, and bacon lardons on a bed of arugula with a sorghum vinaigrette.
Entree was a crusted 7 oz. filet accompanied by purple cauliflower gratin, Himalayan red rice, and a spiced tomato jus. The beef was produced at the Northeast Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center. The program bolsters sustainability in that beef cattle are born, raised, and consumed within a 150-mile radius.
Dessert was a layered vanilla crepe cake with cherry brandy sauce and fresh vanilla bean Chantilly cream. All food
Bear Stephenson, our auctioneer for the night, and Shirley Elder.
From left, Ryan Hammitt, Kayleigh Jennings, Norman Hammitt, and Lisa Stearns.
Emcee for the program was Leslie Ackerson, formerly with WBIR-TV in Knoxville.
Charley Deal, vice chancellor of advancement for the UT Institute of Agriculture, made a few remarks.
Keith Carver bestowed the Garden Legend Award on Stephen Hackney with James Newburn looking on.
And he gave Jon Brock a tree in gratitude for his service as honorary host for the evening.
Here’s Jon Brock and his tree as he thanked everyone for attending the fun event.
It was a beautiful event and evening.
So thankful no rain!!!
Kathy: No kidding! After last year, I was even more grateful for the beautiful weather!
Who did the catering? The food looks great!
Aramark did it. They are UT’s contracted food provider. It was delicious. (My only complaint would be that I didn’t eat even half the steak and asked if there were any way I could take the remainders home — was thinking steak biscuit for breakfast. I asked if I could just get a piece of aluminum foil. The answer was no. Gourmet’s Market, which caters a lot of local events, has made that possible before. No biggie. I just hated to waste it.)
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