The Enchanting 2023 “Back in Bloom” Garden Tour & Showcase Estate

On May 20, 2023, the Friends of Robinson Gardens were so proud to present the 34^th annual Garden Tour at The Virginia Robinson Gardens. The theme of the tour, “Back in Bloom,” conceived by co-chair Elaine Stein, was particularly apt as the guests were so happy to be back. The founder of the Friends Joan Selwyn said, “Flowers were at their peak bloom, showing off with a mesmerizing display of color.”

Past President and co-chair Betty Goldstein added, “This is our premier fundraiser where funds are raised for the restoration needs of the estate and the Children’s Science Program which has served more than 7,000 children throughout the pandemic years, keeping Mrs. Robinson’s legacy for the welfare of children alive.”

Thanks to our terrific Garden Tour co-chairs Betty Goldstein, Nicole Antoine, and Elaine Stein, the event was a fabulous success, full of exhilarating beauty, creativity, and culinary delights. It was a labor of love not only for our co-chairs, but also for our wonderful President Lynn Whitaker, and our very talented and dedicated Garden Tour Committee, Superintendent Diane Sipos, volunteers, docents, curator April Walton and our County staff, and Member Relations & Administrative Manager Barbara Remedios. The Friends are also very grateful to our generous sponsors, The Whittier Trust, Sunset Magazine, and The Beverly Hills Collection. A big thank you as well to Superintendent Emeritus Timothy Lindsay who beautified the gardens for our grand event!

Thanks to Maralee Beck and Jeanne Anderson, four spectacular private gardens were selected for the attendees to tour. After days of gray skies, the sun shone brightly that day, illuminating the gardens. The guests visited the “Mediterranean Mixes with Modern” garden with much delight. Walking through the vine-draped gate of this lovely hillside estate, designed by architect Richard Landry and interior designer Mark Pennino, one could easily imagine being in Tuscany. Fruit trees perch over the motor court, dominated by an ageless olive tree. The grounds open to various levels, showcasing a wisteria-lined gazebo, rose allee, formal parterre, pool, and a vegetable and herb garden, where the owners harvest much of their produce.  A new ultra-modern glass guesthouse, a sculptural folly, offers stunning views of the hillside and adds to the many contemporary sculptures punctuating the garden.

In visiting the “Beyond the Green Door” garden, the attendees were treated to one of the more famous backyards in Los Angeles, immortalized in a David Hockney painting. It has been retained but re-framed by landscape designer Laura Weber Glendinning. The rose garden is still in bloom, but its backdrop now features Ficus with neighboring taller figs to take advantage of the borrowed view beyond. A Frank Gehry-designed addition to this Mid-Century Modern beauty brings some curves and tranquil settings for palms, citrus, cannas, and art.

“La Paisible,” featuring three co-joined properties, is a nod to Audrey Hepburn‘s retreat in Switzerland and means “The Peaceful Place.” This Brentwood Park masterpiece has been host to many civic and cultural events. The book-loving owners, whose charitable, civic, and educational accomplishments have transformed Los Angeles, cherish plants and living collections too. Mature trees, gardenia hedges, Angel Trumpets, and more add to the tranquility. A chapel, a conference room, and a separate guestroom are all planted with blooms, and there is always something to catch the eye, no matter what time of the year, from camellias to jacarandas.

Another garden in Brentwood Park, the “Sheltering Garden Sanctuary,” is one of the original homes built in 1919 and is completely restored. The landscape encircles the house with several romantic garden spaces. Boxwood hedges, and lush rows of iceberg roses frame the house.  A fountain garden welcomes in front, then segues into a green-on-green knot garden, sculpture atop clever statuary, and then an incredible outdoor room, complete with chandelier, becomes part of “sheltering at home.” Merri Lee Marks designed the succulent garden; three Sulcata Desert tortoises play in the side garden. The Friends are so grateful for the kind generosity of the owners of these fabulous private gardens who shared them with much enthusiasm with our guests.

Back at the Virginia Robinson estate, the attendees were treated to a magnificent show of incredibly beautiful floral creations in select rooms of the house and exterior spaces. Always a highlight of Garden Tour, and thanks to Kerstin Royce and Jeanne Anderson who select the very talented florists and designers, these dazzling displays never fail to delight and inspire the guests.

Superintendent Emeritus Tim Lindsay of Horticultural Consulting Services handsomely decorated the entrance of the Robinson house with regal swags of a luscious orange fabric draped on either side of the front door. The tangerine orange hued Peruvian Lilies used in the two French-Egyptian decorative urns, echoed the color of the swag. Providing a lively contrast, the richly colored burgundy geraniums, purple larkspur, and bright greenery made for a striking arrangement. The festive colors were repeated in the two sizable, poured concrete urns at the base of the portico. 

A mannequin, gloriously festooned with pink roses and blue and white feathers, “greeted” the attendees in the Great Hall. Sepideh Mianaby of Ivory Floral Events “wowed” the guests with her amazing, romantic, and beautiful artistry. She also decorated a nearby table with a lovely arrangement of colorful blooms.

Also in the Great Hall, Lynne Vinkovic of Rose Lane Farms arranged gorgeous bouquets of flowers, tempting all to buy her beautiful designs, so artfully composed. Nearby, in front of a mirror, another luscious arrangement of pale apricot, yellow, and pink roses echoed the golden colors of the gilt frame.

The Guest Bedroom thrilled the guests with arrangements reminiscent of Dutch Master flower paintings. The rich glowing colors and lush, opulent arrangements took one’s breath away. Adding to the luxury was Frette’s elegant bed sheets and towels.  The delights continued in the adjacent bathroom where a bathtub was luxuriously filled with a dense tapestry of flowers and plants. Hilary Bein of Hilary Bein Florals who has worked for 20 years with Jamie Wolf is the very talented creator of these ravishing tableaux.

In the Library, Ezra Woods and Michael Woodcock of Pretend Plants & Flowers created magnificent floral arrangements, many on pedestals, one more beautiful than the next, against the backdrop of antique books in the warm-toned library. A wonderful arrangement of contrasting greenery in a lion-footed sculptural glazed pot adorned the Library Terrace.

In the Yellow Salon, Andrey Yun of Return to Eden placed delicate arrangements of flowers in slender vases, framing a bowl filled with white roses and calla lilies. Swiss cheese philodendron leaves on either side of the console balanced the ensemble. Over the fireplace, lively upright delphiniums in lavender and deep purple with accents of white, lavender, and red roses added a note of gaiety to the room.

Moving to the Dining Room, George Martinez of George’s Garden created a stunning bridal vignette. Using Mrs. Robinson’s wedding China on a pearl-studded tablecloth, George designed a symphony of white roses on the dining room table with a gorgeous burst of white and pink roses on a ledge nearby. White orchids and trailing vines spilling over the fireplace mantel completed the wedding theme.

The Loggia featured another floral masterpiece by Corey Andrews of Sweet Pea’s Custom Floral.  Paired with the most elegant China and flatware by Christofle, and nestled among the silver candelabras, bowls, and frames were extravagant arrangements of a mélange of colorful roses peonies, hydrangeas, sweet peas, and a spray of delphiniums. Two gorgeous cakes by Bottega Louie completed the breathtaking scene. 

This floral splendor continued in the Galleria Bar, where a spectacular and vivid arrangement by Ines Garstecki of Flowermaid featured tall sprays of pink, white, and red roses, white delphiniums, and foliage around a couch. This dazzling tableau proved to be a wonderful photo opportunity for guests to have their picture taken with their iPhones as a memory of the day. Elise Nygaard, Ines’ assistant, kindly and expertly took the photos. Nearby, Ines also created a romantic arrangement of pale-colored roses in an urn.

Botanical illustrations by our very talented past and present members of Robinson Gardens complemented the scene.

In the Kitchen, Jeanne Anderson, representing the Beverly Hills Garden Club, designed a graceful and artistic arrangement of pale yellow amaryllis and lavender irises which delighted the eye.

Jelena Trifunovic of Viola Floral created a vision of pink with varying hues of pink roses in multiple arrangements in the Morning Room. The contrast with the green foliage in the arrangements and the King Palm Forest peeking through the windows gave a spring-like freshness that permeated the room.

In the Pool Pavilion, Mary Lu Tuthill representing the Brentwood Garden Club, created a cheerful and lovely arrangement of blue hydrangeas and white roses with upright dogwood stems.

Also in the Pool Pavilion, Joan Selwyn representing the Friends of Robinson Gardens, decorated the console with an elegant and beautiful vertical display of pink roses, orchids, white hydrangeas, and delicate white Veronica blooms in a tall container. 

Amanda Gray of Amanda Florals’ bouquet added a note of beauty to the Silent Auction Table with her lovely arrangement of white roses, snapdragon stems, and lavender flowers.

On the Back Patio, Marianne Yamaguchi of Yamaguchi Bonsai Nursery presented a balanced and beautiful arrangement of white petunias, purple and white delphinium, pink peonies, blue hydrangea, and chartreuse coleus in colorful pots in company with Mrs. Robinson’s monkey seat garden ornament.

Master Gardener Lucia Burke and Estate Caretaker Josh Johnston keep the Kitchen Garden flourishing with vegetables, flowers, and fruits by the Orchid Greenhouse. They stage the garden as a beautiful, welcoming, fun, and special place for the children to enjoy and learn from in the very popular Children’s Science Program.

Out on the Great Lawn, Jeanne arranged charming centerpieces of soft-hued roses on tablecloths with lively floral motifs, so in keeping with our “Back in Bloom” theme.

On the Back Patio, the Friends were thrilled to honor their wonderful Grand Marshal, famed author and former historian of the Hearst Castle, Victoria Kastner. An inspiring and fascinating speaker who is passionate about her subjects, Victoria has generously given many lectures at The Virginia Robinson Gardens to mesmerized audiences about Hearst Castle, William Randolph Hearst, and Fred Astaire, among other topics. She signed her new book, Julia Morgan: An Intimate Biography of the Trailblazing Architect, already in its third printing, for the guests.

The festively attired attendees then enjoyed a superb luncheon catered by Sean Murphy Catering & Events, overseen by co-chair Elaine, and prepared by Chef Joanne Hallsarault. The menu featured: roasted salmon with a parsley, mustard dill vinaigrette; charred citrus chicken with a chimichurri relish; a strawberry feta cheese salad; an orzo herb salad; a sugar snap pea faro salad; and artisan breads. The bar offerings included white wine spritzers, lemonade, iced tea, and Arnold Palmers. 

Further adding to the delectable delights, owner Cecile T’ang and Chef de Cuisine Golo Kwokson Yu’s traditional and refined Cantonese cuisine of Joss restaurant was reflected in the appetizing steamed chocolate puddings that were served in the Kitchen.

The pièce de résistance was the tantalizing Dessert Table in the Pool Pavilion, helmed by co-chairs Betty, Elaine, and Nicole. The plethora of delicious cookies baked by the Friends and served on elegant silver trays, and exquisite chocolates by andSons Chocolatiers delighted the guests. The iconic coconut cake crowned with luscious red roses and red velvet cake and cookies from The Ivy were a big hit as well. Katie Marsano graced the table with a lovely centerpiece of blue hydrangeas and little vases with yellow roses dotting the tablescape. 

A new and exciting highlight of Garden Tour was a very fun hat contest, co-chaired by Patricia Cowett and Joan. Amid gales of laughter, the participants strutted across a stage (provided by Kathy Choi), showing off their artful hats and fanciful poses. The judges – Michael Bayer of Frette, Ines Garstecki of Flowermaid, George of George’s Garden and Beth Schoenmann of Christofle — proclaimed, “You are all winners,” as it was so difficult to choose. The winners, who were all awarded First Prize, were Lenny Strand who sported a stuffed bird fascinator; Victoria Gordon, who wore a wide-brimmed, red-fringed chapeau; and Maureen McGillan-Sklar, whose hat featured a large fuchsia rose. Joan distributed the gifts to the happy winners: a rose bouquet from Rose Lane Farms; a lovely silk scarf designed by Joan; and a Sogetsu ikebana class, donated by Joan, and taught by Katie Marsano, an ikebana expert. The hat contest was so much fun that it will make its regular appearance next year at the annual Garden Tour.

Co-chair Betty then announced the winner of the raffle, which was a resin reproduction of Mrs. Robinson’s monkey seat garden ornament, cast and generously donated by Virginia Newman of Pennoyer Newman. Kerstin Royce was the excited winner!

This year, Betty, our past President and Garden Tour co-chair, felt that it was very important that our supporters know the work that the Friends started during the Covid years and that is still in progress. To this end, a new display was added, called “This Is Who We Are,” exhibiting three important achievements by the Friends — The HALS Project, the Archive Project, and our Children’s Science Program. 

The Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) documentation is a comprehensive study of the development of The Virginia Robinson Gardens. It includes historical landscape plans, large-format photographic documentation, and a written history of the Robinsons and their estate. It will assist the Friends in fulfilling the requirements for House Museum accreditation regarding the exterior of the Robinson estate and will also help with long-term maintenance of the Gardens. Upon its completion, it will be sent to the Library of Congress. The Friends-sponsored HALS Project is led by our wonderful Friends members — landscape architect Lisa Gimmy and the liaison for the Southern California chapter for HALS Alison Terry — and their terrific team.

Archive Chair Patty Elias, along with the help of Marcella Ruble and Tom O’Connor, presented fascinating items from the VRG Archive for the guests to peruse. Copies of photographs of celebrities, a travel album to India, and biographical and family materials of Harry and Virginia were some of the items displayed. Also noteworthy was a warm letter from President Reagan in 1982 from the Oval Office acknowledging the formation of the Friends and the successful public/private relationship that saved the first estate of Beverly Hills so that it could be enjoyed by the visiting public. Boards with charming photographs of Virginia’s legendary parties, the Bathing Pool, the development of the Robinson’s Department Store, and the Robinsons’ trip to Egypt in the early 1900s were also shown on easels. Thanks to the dedication of Patty, work on the archive is ongoing with the assistance of Archivist Jane Glicksman. The goal is to have it available to the public by the end of the year.

Also impressive was an exhibit of the very successful Children’s Outreach Science Program, created by Patti Reinstein and Leslie Kavanaugh, and assisted by Kerstin Royce in the outreach to the teachers. The program has been met with great enthusiasm from grateful teachers as well as students. All the units for study were displayed including the newest one, “The Ecosystem of the Pond and the Development of the Frog.” The contents of a box were also shown, filled with healthy snacks, a coloring book by Joan, the book Sam’s Super Salad (written by Tim & Joan and illustrated by Joan), notebooks with science lessons, crayons, coloring pencils, tips for healthy eating, and other fun items to use for learning. More than 7,000 of these kits have been sent to grades 3-5 of Title 1 schools.

The silent auction, chaired by Jeanne with the help of Nicole and Lynn, was a big success, offering many unique and private dining experiences at members’ homes, some of which are historic properties. The Friends are so grateful for their kindness in hosting these special events. Other items included a meal catered by Sean Murphy Catering & Events, pet portraits, tours of Bellosguardo and Lotusland, dinner at Spago, tea at the Maybourne Hotel, stays at the Beverly Hills Hotel, a gift certificate from Escada, and a cashmere sweater set from Club Monaco. Tennis & lunch at VRG and bridge & lunch in the secret card room in the Pool Pavilion were offered as well. The vendors from the boutique also generously donated lovely items to bid on.

Adding to the excitement of the day was the boutique, chaired by Dana Reston along with the help of Patti Reinstein and Susan Finkelman, where vendors offered popular items to purchase, with 20% of the sale proceeds donated to Robinson Gardens.

Friend Sharon Gart mirrored all our thoughts as she said, “I can’t imagine a more spectacular, inspiring, and special day than the 34th annual Virginia Robinson Gardens Garden Tour. It was pure magic on every level and the sheer wonder, joy and delight of the day was obvious by the huge smiles on everybody’s faces.
A must for me every year!”

Our wonderful Garden Tour Committee
Standing left to right: Maralee Beck, April Walton, Patricia Cowett, Sharon Gart, Elaine Stein, Robin Blake, Kerstin. Royce, Lynn Whitaker, Jeanne Anderson, Barbara Remedios, Betty Goldstein, Susan Finkelman, and Joan Selwyn.
Seated left to right:  Evie Carlson, Patti Reinstein, and Nicole Antoine.
Not pictured: Superintendent Diane Sipos, Linda Meadows, Ann Petersen, Paola Werstler, Suz Landay, Dana Reston, Andrea Layne, Clare Wagner, and Kathy Choi.

It was a magnificent day, a visual feast for the eye and the soul, and all for a cherished cause — the restoration and preservation of our beloved Virginia Robinson Gardens. This cultural and historical landmark in Beverly Hills is an important part of our heritage and spans the eras of the Gilded Age through the Golden Age of Hollywood to the present. Thanks to our sponsors and the hardworking Friends in partnership with the County, this botanical paradise is flourishing. Not only do the Gardens educate and inspire children from all socioeconomic backgrounds, they also provide an enchanting oasis of serenity and splendor for all to enjoy.

Post by Linda Meadows
Friends of Robinson Garden Board Member
Editor of the Happenings

Photos by Linda Meadows, Josh Johnston, Ron and Elaine Stein, Emina Darjley, Tim Lindsay, JC Griffith, Sharon Gart, Kerstin Royce, Sean Murphy, Diane Jenkins, Ines Garstecki, Adrienne Horwitch, Nicole Antoine, and Shiva Moshtael.