The verdant, fern-infused theme for Sunday night's Bayou Bend Garden Party was more appropriate than might have been imagined, unless, of course, you know party chair Bobbie Nau. Enthusiastic, energized and persuasive, she oversaw the evening in which the benjamins, the kind of green that everyone loves, poured in at a record $600,000.

As Nau was announcing proceeds of $570,000, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston director Gary Tinterow stepped up to the mic to interject that an anonymous donor had just contributed the extra that would bring the total to that nice round figure. "This is as good an indication as any of the economy in Houston," Bobbie proclaimed. Bayou Bend director Bonnie Campbell was all smiles — no surprise there.

Tradition prevailed with this, the loveliest of the city's fundraisers. The 550 guests gathered in the vast, open-sided party tent on the north lawn of Bayou Bend, where guests meandered through the gardens and around the beautiful Diana Fountain. Wearing their best spring frocks and summer suiting, the well-heeled coterie added color to the genteel tableau that on this evening was basically green.

The program was deliciously short. Iberia Bank was once again grand underwriter. The dinner was divine (thank you City Kitchen) and the dancing spirited. Yvonne Washington and her musicians once again kept the dance floor active with couples including Janice and Bob McNair, Michelle and Frank Hevrdejs, Lynne and Joe Hudson, Yvonne and Rufus Cormier and Susie and Mel Glasscock.

This A-list gathering included the party chair's husband John Nau, Iberia Bank's Kevin Rafferty and wife Ann, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and wife Tricia, Christopher Gardner, Nancy and Rich Kinder, Cornelia and Meredith Long, Sheila and Jerry Reese, Carol and Mike Linn, Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence, Jeanie Kilroy, Elise and Russell Joseph, Linda McReynolds, Mary Lynn and Steve Marks and Pam and Dr. David Ott.