Shelby's Social Diary
As pretty as a picture, Bayou Bend Garden Party continues the genteel al frescotradition
On any given day, once visitors step across the swaying bridge that spans Buffalo Bayou into the gardens of Bayou Bend, reality seems suspended. For one night each year — that of the Bayou Bend Garden Party — all worries of a harsher world are checked at the gate as guests enter a sylvan setting where the party tent is so festooned with flowers and greenery that the feel is pure fairy tale.
So it was Sunday night, when Garden Party chairs Leslie Bucher and Toni Wallingford welcomed a heady contingent of Houston notables to the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, the home of the late Ima Hogg that houses the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's American decorative arts collection.
The floral theme changes each year, leaving guests in high anticipation of the verdant magic that McDugald-Steele Landscape Architects will work. The theme on this night revolved around fragrant gardenias, which filled centerpieces and dictated a green and white floral theme. Overhead chandeliers brimming with white petunias and hung with graceful ferns helped define the space. McDugald-Steele's Erik Hanson pointed out that white orchids, impatiens, verbena, ligustrum, river birch and bushels more of flowers and greenery were employed in the plush decor.
In a nod to the gardenia theme, guests left with a unique party favor — a potted cutting from Bayou Bend gardenia plants. It was an evening that Bayou Bend director Bonnie Campbell and MFAH acting director Gwen Goffe had to enjoy with a turnout of 500 guests and proceeds topping $480,000. As George Ball exclaimed, "I love this party!" Bonner Ball quickly added, "It's the prettiest party of the year." Indeed.
The garden party also served to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of the Bayou Bend docent group.
Adding to the evening's enjoyment was the always divine dinner by City Kitchen and the sounds of Yvonne Washington& the Mix, who prove over and over again that great talent lies right here in H-town.
Among the party contingent were Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Tricia Dewhurst, Ann and Mathew Wolf, Aliyya and Hermann Stude, Cornelia and Meredith Long, Kay and Ned Holmes, Diane Lokey Farb, Cerón, Carol and Mike Linn, Pam and Dr. David Ott, Terri and John Havens, Lilly and Thurmon Andress, Jeanie Kilroy, Nancy and Butch Abendshein, Steve and Joella Mach, Bobbie and John Nau, Sheridan and John Eddie Williams, Franci and Jim Crane and Julie Sudduth, representing Iberia Bank, the grand underwriter for three days of Bayou Bend parties.