At Home in the Garden – A Floral Finale was the theme of the Annual Meeting of the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden which featured Carla Fonts, founder of Dunbar Road Design, as the headline speaker.
It was a gorgeous day as everyone came together at A Tasteful Place at the Dallas Arboretum. Tables were draped with rich orange tablecloths topped with gold chargers, fuchsia linen napkins and striking centerpieces of Delft-style pottery filled with orchids and fresh fruit echoing the color palette.
Chaired by Brenda Shute and Brenda Cary Brown, 5th VP of Programs, the reception featured passed hors d’oeuvres and sparkling wines. Presentations began with Karen Sargent, 2023-2024 president, welcoming the crowd and bringing board members to the podium to give their reports. Allison Brodnax, chair of the Mad Hatter’s Luncheon, announced the sold-out event netted $314,496.66 and presented Karen with a huge ceremonial check. Karen also presented Allison with a lovely thank you gift.
Linda Spina, 7th VP Donor Development and Dave Forehand, Vice-President of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, presented slideshow renderings depicting exciting new announcements of three significant projects. Linda said, “Through the fundraising efforts of the Women’s Council and donations by generous benefactors, we are excited to announce the construction of three gardens in A Woman’s Garden. These garden areas represent an additional investment of over $2 million by the Women’s Council and our donors. Construction is about to begin, with garden completion of at least one project expected as early as later this year.”
Briefly, Linda said, “A re-envisioning for Pecan Parterre was completed by our landscape architect Warren Johnson and Dallas Arboretum VP Dave Forehand. An exciting new feature in this garden is a walkway that extends from the upper level of the garden to the perimeter path at the lower level.” Improvements include refurbishing existing hardscapes and new plantings.
The Burgess Serenity Garden plans were also revealed. “Pier and Glenn Burgess were captivated by an undeveloped area in our garden that was planned as a cloister or meditative space. The area is one in a series of garden vignettes in A Woman’s Garden that provides views toward the lake,” Linda said. Plans for that garden include new and existing plantings that will take advantage of the forest canopy, offer shade, green spaces and more year-round.
The Mother-Daughter Water Gardens Walkway is a new garden donated by Patty Dedman Nail and her family. Linda stated, “This garden will connect The Meadow, donated in honor of Patty’s mother Nancy Dedman, and The Woodlands and The Cliffside, donated by the Patricia Dedman Family Foundation. It will serve as a living tribute to their very special mother-daughter relationship.”
Karen said that this year her theme of A Garden of Possibilities - Cultivating a Brighter Future has certainly come to fruition. Beginning with welcoming Sabina Carr, the new president and CEO of the Arboretum as the 600th member of the Women’s Council, she thanked membership chairs Mary Ellen Winborn and Claire Catrino for their efforts in growing the membership to over 625, as well as to Dorothea Meltzer, chair of the Lisianthus Society, for guiding patron membership to a record 341 members.
Heartfelt thanks also went to A Writer’s Garden 2023 chairs Mari Epperson and Sharon Ballew with honorary chairs Ann Barbier-Mueller and her daughter Niña Tollette and daughters-in-law Bridget Barbier-Mueller and Kaitlyn Barbier Mueller.
Karen thanked the chairs of the many special events offered by the Women’s Council, their volunteers and committees. She said that overall, the combined fundraising efforts of the Women’s Council, with additional donations from donor naming, memorials and honorariums brought in total income of $606,941.
Special recognitions included the presentation of the Leadership Award to Karen Keith for her work these past two years as treasurer and the Service Award to Carolyn Tobin for her many years of guiding the Women’s Council in technology.
In closing Karen said, “From these experiences grow the treasured friendships our members value and cherish. I am grateful for your friendship, your generous support and the gifts of your time and talents.”
Carla Fonts, as the featured speaker, spoke about the history of the name of her company, Dunbar Road, and shared her fresh approach to design in some of her recent projects and the art of bringing nature inside the home through color, texture and design.
Luncheon was served and included a first course of sweet corn chowder, main course of a trio of hearty salads and for dessert, a delicious and imaginative white chocolate lemon shell shaped like a lemon and filled with lemon cheesecake.
Learn more about the Women’s Council and membership benefits at www.wcdabg.org
(Linda Spina contributed to this press release with quotes from her Updates on A Woman’s Garden, which contains more details on the Pecan Parterre, the Burgess Serenity Garden and the Mother-Daughter Water Gardens Walkway.)
ABOUT THE WOMEN’S COUNCIL: Celebrating its 42nd Anniversary.
Since 1982 the major goal of the Women’s Council has been the design, construction, funding and endowment of A Woman’s Garden, a principal garden at the Dallas Arboretum. A Woman’s Garden is the only public garden in the United States conceived by women, funded by the efforts of women and dedicated to the spirit of women. Celebrating its 42nd year, the support of over 600 members of the Women’s Council makes possible the continued expansion and development of A Woman’s Garden. The Women’s Council is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. www.wcdabg.org
ABOUT A WOMAN’S GARDEN: Celebrating its 27th Anniversary.
A Woman’s Garden is the only public garden in the nation conceived, constructed and maintained by the funding efforts of women. Ablaze with color in every season, A Woman’s Garden sits majestically as a living testament to the passion and vision of the Women’s Council founders and the boundless energy and devotion of its members whose commitment to creating a garden dedicated to the universal spirit of women across generations is realized in its inspired design. Our beautiful garden celebrates the power, creativity, resourcefulness, passion and unwavering commitment of the women who came before us and those entrusted with its care now, and into the future.
Photos by Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio