A Spectacular Luncheon Honoring the Founder of the Friends Joan Selwyn and Our 40-Year Anniversary

On March 16, 2022, the Friends of Robinson Gardens were so happy to honor Joan Selwyn, the founder of the Friends and to celebrate our 40-year anniversary at a luncheon at the Virginia Robinson Gardens. The celebration was a beautiful one, mirroring the multi-talented Joan who is beautiful inside and out and an enchanting inspiration for us all. A gifted writer and a talented artist, Joan imbues whatever she does with kindness, charm, style, and tremendous grace.

On the Tennis Observation Deck by the Display Rose Garden, President Betty Goldstein welcomed and thanked the guests for coming, many past Presidents among them, as well as Joan’s children, Marc Selwyn and Laura Wyatt. Betty also welcomed our new incoming Superintendent Diane Sipos. Betty said, “It has been my good fortune to work with Joan these last few years…She is a brilliant woman, a lovely lady to work with, and it’s really been my pleasure to get to know her better. We are so happy to have this luncheon for her today.”

Past President Ellisa Bregman then explained how the Friends began. In 1982, County Supervisor Ed Edelman asked Joan to form a group to help preserve the Virginia Robinson Gardens through fundraising and support. Ellisa said, “Joan successfully brought together people like her who were community-minded, and the rest is history. Joan is in large part responsible for the private-public relationship between the County and the Friends. President Reagan sent a letter from the Oval Office acknowledging the successful relationship that saved the first estate of Beverly Hills so that it can be enjoyed by the visiting public. Joan is accomplished in many ways, including being an artist. She has written and illustrated a children’s coloring book. She also co-authored a children’s book with Superintendent Timothy Lindsay. Both books are used in the Children’s Science Program. Joan is diplomatic, gracious, elegant and is very gifted in bringing out the best in people. She frequently volunteers for various committees. Recently, she served on the Photo Archive Committee to help organize 106 years of photos, letters, and newspaper articles. I am so honored to call Joan my friend who introduced me to this beautiful estate so many years ago. I know I am not alone in being grateful for all she has done. Thank you, Joan, you are a true inspiration!”

Joan, who was very moved by Betty’s and Ellisa’s words, then said, “They say that we love nature because we evolved in it. We all yearn for a connection to the world we live in and a purpose for being on this earth. I believe that part of this purpose is to care for this beautiful planet and to preserve its history. These gardens are part of that responsibility. Supervisor Edelman gave me a gift when he asked me to help him find a way to preserve the Robinson Gardens so that they could be shared with the public. It has been a privilege and a pleasure, but it has also helped to keep me stable in an unstable world. When I come into these gardens, and I walk around, there’s a peacefulness that comes over me. I also want to thank all of my friends who have been so kind and caring. There’s not another group around like this. I also want to tell Tim how much working with him has enriched my life. He is quite an amazing person, quite talented, wonderful, and sincere. I feel blessed to have played a small part in the history and growth of the Virginia Robinson Gardens. And I welcome our new Supervisor Diane. You will love this place, Diane, and the Friends will love you. Thank you all so much, and I love you all.”

The group enjoyed a sumptuous lunch catered by the Kitchen for Exploring Foods. The menu featured endive and little gem salad with pears and Humboldt Fog, wild rice and mushroom pilaf, garlic-Parmesan zucchini and corn, and Tuscan lemon chicken. The tantalizing desserts of chocolate pots de creme, crème brûlée, and an array of fruits delighted the guests. Friends member and florist Jelena Trifunovic’s romantic centerpieces of soft peach and cream-colored roses on the tables enhanced the beauty of the scene.

The Friends were then entertained by a fantastic surprise by the very talented past President Patti Reinstein, who used to sing professionally with her sisters and cousins. Patti sang the most wonderful song to the tune of “My Favorite Things” in The Sound of Music in honor of Joan. The beginning stanzas were written by Julie Andrews’ lyricist for her 80th birthday. The remaining fabulous stanzas that Patti wrote described Joan to perfection and how much we love her:

Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings
Bundles of magazines tied up in strings,
These are a few of our favorite things

Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings
These are a few of our favorite things

Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin’
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin’
And we won’t mention our short shrunken frames
When we remember our favorite things

When the pipes leak, when the bones creak
When the knees go bad
We simply remember our favorite things
And then we don’t feel so bad

Red hair and much flair our Joan is a wonder
Founding our Friends group when she was much younger
Saving the Robinson’s history that sings
These are a few of our favorite things

Lovely and steadfast her spirit surrounds us
Her guidance and beauty are what help to ground us
Her life is a light that has given us wings
That’s why she’s one of our favorite things

So Joan you know that we love and adore you
There isn’t a thing that we wouldn’t do for you
So let us continue this warm serenade
As you forever … Leave us amazed

You are timeless, you are ageless
You are oh so rad
We simply remember the great things you’ve done
And that makes us feel so glad!

The guests were so charmed by Patti’s performance that they exclaimed, “Oh my God, that was fantastic!” “It brought tears to my eyes.” It also brought tears to Joan’s eyes who was visibly moved. Ellisa then toasted Joan with Champagne saying, “Thank you for your guidance, your kindness, your generosity, and most of all your friendship.”

Past President Barbara Namerow spoke of Joan’s kindness, saying that in 1984, Joan was in charge of the Olympic Arts Festival where they worked together. Barbara’s teenage son loves Shakespeare and wanted to see a British production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, but all the tickets were sold out. Joan went out of her way to procure the tickets and deliver them personally. Barbara’s son is now a university professor who teaches what they saw that night. Barbara said, “Joan, I will never forget that, and my son who is now 60, will never forget it.”

For our last surprise, Betty walked us past the Great Lawn to the Donor Tree (a wrought iron ornamental tree whose leaves are etched with the names of our most generous donors) on the Terrazzo Patio. Betty unveiled a plaque at the roots of the tree which now honors Joan:

Betty said, “In the spirit of the Virginia Robinson Gardens and Virginia herself, we honor Joan today, and we thank you, Joan, for your years of dedication and love for the Gardens.” It was a very emotional and happy celebration for all, as Betty concluded by saying “The founding of the Friends of Robinson Gardens and all that has been done for the Gardens would not exist if it were not for our wonderful Joan Selwyn!”

Please see our special Spotlight on Joan here and the series of articles she wrote on flowers at VRG, “Come into the Garden,” here.

Post by Linda Meadows
Friends of Robinson Gardens Board Member
Editor of the VRG eNewsletter, the Happenings
Photos by Josh Johnston and Linda Meadows