The Friends of Robinson Gardens is proud to present the annual Garden Tour and Showcase Estate, co-chaired by Kathy Choi and Keeley Smith, on Saturday, May 18, 2019. The theme of this glorious garden party is Oh! Naturale, celebrating the beauty of nature, and all that is organic and sustainable. Nature gives us much pleasure and solace. In the words of Henry David Thoreau, “We can never have enough of nature.”
In addition to viewing magnificent private gardens, one of the highlights of this Garden Extravaganza is the transformation of Virginia’s home. It is always a ravishing and gorgeous sight to behold as top florists and designers transform the rooms into visions of enchanting beauty.
The Friends are very proud to honor our Grand Marshals — the stellar restaurateurs Elena Baldi of Giorgio Baldi and her brother Eduardo of e.baldi. You will have the opportunity to taste their outstanding Italian cuisine as they will be serving tantalizing bites in the kitchen. For more culinary delights, The Kitchen for Exploring Foods will be catering a sumptuous buffet on the Great Lawn and luscious desserts in the elegant Pool Pavilion.
During lunch, you will be entertained by a captivating fashion show, presented by BA&SH. This French womenswear label is known for its romantic silhouettes and chic prints, and is sure to dazzle!
In keeping with the theme of capturing all that is beautiful in nature, there will be a Chinese brush painting demonstration by the artist Nan Rae. Nan’s brush painting combines the grace of the Literati style with an impressionist approach to color.
Not to be missed is the boutique on the tennis court featuring a curated collection of several popular vendors. This shopper’s paradise will offer exquisite fashions, jewels, bags and unique gifts for the home and garden. New this year is the famed British designer India Hicks who will be showcasing her lovely bags and jewelry.
Also inspiring are three spectacular private gardens, relatively close to each other, for purchasers of general admission tickets to visit. A great feature of the VIP and Concierge level tickets is the opportunity to visit the BONUS garden; this property is not available for the general admission level ticket holders.
Another favorite aspect of Garden Tour is the VIP van. You can enjoy the ease and convenience of door-to-door transportation. With the Concierge luxury van, you gain the additional benefit of a knowledgeable docent-led tour that will inspire and entertain you.
Upon returning from the private gardens tour, Concierge guests are served lunch with specially decorated reserved tables. The legendary event planner Mindy Weiss will adorn each table with her fabulous designs. Concierge guests will also receive lovely gifts from different vendors. Last year, the very popular VIP and Concierge level tickets were totally sold out.
An additional convenience is the opportunity of Valet Parking your car with a pre-paid ticket. (The Concierge ticket includes the Valet Parking.) You can drop off your car at Valet Parking, and when you are ready to leave at the end of the day, your car will be driven up to the entrance of Virginia Robinson Gardens.
Don’t miss out on this elegant, awe-inspiring day of great beauty and fun — and all for a good cause — preserving and restoring the magnificent Virginia Robinson Gardens, and supporting the Children’s Program that has provided enrichment and enjoyment to children from all socioeconomic backgrounds in our Gardens’ magical setting!
Post by Linda Meadows
Friends of Robinson Gardens Board Member
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