The Spectacular 2025 “Floral Fantasia” Garden Tour & Showcase Extravaganza

On May 17, 2025, the 36th annual fundraiser Floral Fantasia Garden Tour and Showcase Estate thrilled and delighted the attendees, many of whom were already excited about attending next year’s Garden Tour. Founder of the Friends Joan Selwyn said, “Not even the light rain could dampen the spirit and beauty of Garden Tour. There was laughter and fun at the hat contest so professionally run by master of ceremonies Marcella Ruble while the florists outdid themselves with their lush and elegant floral displays, eliciting oohs and aahs from our guests.”

Our premier fundraiser and signature event raises much-needed funds for the restoration and preservation of our beloved Robinson Gardens and the Children’s Science Program, keeping Mrs. Robinson’s legacy for the welfare of children alive.

The Friends are so grateful to our terrific co-chairs President Lynn Whitaker and Vice-President Elaine Stein. The day was a glorious one, full of exhilarating beauty, creativity, and culinary delights. It was a labor of love not only for our co-chairs, but also for our very talented and dedicated Garden Tour Committee, Superintendent Diane Sipos, Member Relations & Administrative Manager Barbara Remedios, volunteers, docents, curator April Walton, and our County staff. The Friends are also very grateful to our generous sponsors, Coldwell Banker, The Northern Trust, Plantasia, Lillian Vernon, and Sunset Magazine.  A big thank you as well to Superintendent Emeritus Timothy Lindsay who beautified the gardens for our grand event!  

Thanks to Jeanne Anderson and Maralee Beck, three superb private gardens were selected for the attendees to tour. The guests were charmed and enthralled by the romantic “Greenery Amidst the Temple Ruins” garden. The artist wrapped his haven and art studio with 20-foot-high ficus hedges and Japanese timber bamboo. The Roman-style temple — faithfully recreated from Palladio’s 16th-century drawings — rose behind the mists of a serene pool. The vast and undulating sea of sheared and curvaceous boxwood was populated throughout by large-scale sculptures. The landscape was designed by Richard Shapiro.

“A Stunning Heritage Cedar” garden exuded serenity and elegance. In this historic property, the landscape has been updated, so the original cedar of Lebanon is now joined by an allée of olive trees and a welcoming pond. Old stones and marble coping added much enchantment in the backyard with a fabulous fig tree wall. The landscape was designed by Scott Shrader.

The “Flowers and Fruits Perfume the Property” garden featured a magnificent Floral Fantasia, where rose parterres, stone and citrus fruits, and ever-changing border beds delighted the eyes and nose at every turn. It was a modern take on indoor-outdoor living and entertaining. The hostess graciously welcomed the attendees with a lovely spread of dessert, fruit, and tea from a samovar.

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, Krista Everage, and Jeanne Anderson who select the very talented florists and designers, these dazzling displays never fail to delight and inspire the guests. Their Instagram accounts are referenced after their names.

Planted with native wildflowers designed to attract birds, bees, butterflies, and insects that are beneficial to the health of the plantings, the Front Meadow greeted guests as they walked up to the house. The stunning meadow was awash with soft pink flowers enlivened with yellow, blue, orange, and red flowers, and beckoned the beauty within the house to be discovered by the guests.

Landscape designer Jeffery Smith of JMS Design Associates (@jmsdesignassociates) designed the Front Entry with a burst of vibrant color. Fuchsia bougainvillea encircled the two pillars. However, since Jeffrey was concerned that the cut sprays of bougainvillea would not last long enough for the display, he used silk ones to great effect. In the antique French cast iron urns flanking the doorway, Jeffrey placed tall, slender fine-leafed small maple trees in clay pots that fit in the urn. Delphiniums and foxglove decorated the vintage terracotta pots while Spanish lavender was placed in the concrete urns at the base of the steps.

For a more detailed description of Jeffrey’s installation, please click here.

In the Great Hall, guests were greeted by a gorgeous arrangement by the Bel Air Garden Club (@thebelairgardenclub). Member Joan Ransahoff expressed her vision for the bouquet to Beth Brown, the designer of Colors in Bloom. (The florist for the J. Paul Getty Museum, Beth does all the arrangements there.) Exquisite pale peach, pink, and yellow roses were framed by blue delphiniums on top and delicate sprays of greenery and yellow flowers.

Also in the Great Hall, Lynn Vinkovic of Rose Lane Farms’ (@roselanefarms) luscious flower bouquets are always popular at Garden Tour. The captivated guests love to buy these beautiful arrangements.

Sepideh Miyanabi of Ivory Florist (@ivoryfloristinc) never fails to “wow” her guests with her exquisite mannequins festooned with flowers, and this year was no exception. In the Library, Sepideh created a dazzling vision with a “dressed” mannequin. Nestled among the greens was a symphony of deep red, burgundy, and pink roses with accents of pale green and purple hydrangeas.  Sepideh said, “I was so excited to create something romantic. I love reading romance novels, and because of the dark hues in the Library, I thought beautiful rich jewel tones would be the perfect colors to use in that room. I also created a heart-shaped floral arrangement to represent romance and all the love stories you would read in the many books in that room.” 

The beauty continued in the spectacular display of Ines Garstecki of Flowermaid’s (@flowermaidLA) enchanting floral creations in the Yellow Salon. To complement the yellow shades of the room, Ines said she used hues ranging from a butter yellow to poppy yellow, coral and burnt orange. Ines added, “I love to do installations and always wanted to do a big moment on a fireplace mantle, and the mantle in the yellow room was perfect for it, especially because the fireplace is the focal point when you look into the room from the foyer. My style is always loose and airy, mimicking nature, which I incorporated in the fireplace design as well. All the other smaller arrangements were complementary to the fireplace installation.”

In the Guest Bedroom, Patti Sue of XOXO Patti Sue (@xoxoPattiSue) created a dramatic floral piece titled “Life After” because there is life after for so many flowers. She said, “I use a special technique to dehydrate and preserve each bloom as true to its original color as possible. After a long waiting process, I carefully rehydrate, reflex, and assemble them into their new form. Once dry, I coat the entire piece with a high-gloss resin to bring out every color and detail, giving it a finish that often leaves people asking, ‘Are they real?’– a question I absolutely love to hear. They really do resemble Capodimonte porcelain in person! I’ve started accepting commission orders for these types of pieces and hope to bring joy and healing to others through one of my favorite artistic mediums—florals.”

The Morning Room, decorated by Yanna Polshina of Vespera Floral Studio (@vesperaflorals) and Avena Kvassov of Awesome Bloom Décor (@awesomebloom_decor), was a sheer delight. Yanna and Avena created a gorgeous bridal-themed floral display complete with a wedding dress. Yanna said, “Embracing Virginia’s love for pink and white, we set out to create a serene oasis. In this beloved retreat, we adorned the space with fresh blooms and soft fabrics, creating an inviting atmosphere that radiated warmth. This space celebrates beauty, creativity, and the magic of treasured moments.” 

In the Master Bedroom, Liz Barbatelli of E. Braun & Company (@ebraunbeverlyhills; @liz.barbatelli) displayed her elegant linens for the bed and matching towels in the Master Bath. Named “Ikebana,” Liz said that the design “was inspired by the Japanese cherry blossom trees that bloom in the spring. I was inspired to design the room to have a more modern feel; the Ikebana design is fresh and pretty. Adding the pillows on the chaise and the new linens and accessories added elegance and created a spirit of contemporary beauty to the bedroom of Virginia Robinson. My Oscar de la Renta dress paid homage to Virginia’s contribution to fashion and spoke to her love of entertaining.”

Yanna Polshina of Vespera Floral Studio and Avena Kvassov of Awesome Bloom Décor said, “We also enhanced Virginia’s Master Bedroom with elegant non-sleeping Asiatic lilies, adding to the luxurious ambience.” A beautiful and delicate arrangement of lavender and white flowers, accented by greenery echoed the colors of the bed linens on a table in front of the bed.

The dressing area of Mrs. Robinson’s bedroom looks over the magnificent view of the Italian Terrace Garden. In this special room, The Empty Vase (@theemptyvase) arranged alluring colorful bouquets with orchids, peonies, and roses.

Jeanne Anderson designed multiple stunning and creative arrangements in the Master Bath with pink colors in varying shades contrasting with leafy greens. Jeanne detailed her sources, saying, “All the plants in the bathtub are plants that grow at VRG. The garden roses in the sink are from Rose Story Farm in Carpinteria. The gladiolus in the toilet are grown by Por La Mar Nursery who supplies all the gladiolus to Trader Joe’s west of the Mississippi.”

Krista Everage (@EverageDesign) curated the Galleria with flowers by Josh Johnston (@applied_aesthetics), art by her daughter, Erica Everage (@EricaEverageArt), and her garden-inspired jewelry (@Eve_Bespoke_Jewels). Josh said, “I tried to bring the gardens into the space by choosing greens that matched the decor of the Galleria and flowers to complement the amazing art pieces. It was from the Italian Terrace Garden below that I gathered orange and yellow Alstroemeria flowers, pink Cestrum, Iris, and branches from the Montezuma Cypress and Acacia trees. In the end, my arrangements have a meadow-like appearance.”

Erica’s passions for history, feminism, storytelling, and dance all inform her current work as a painter and sculptor.

This particular piece is titled “Flower Moon” after the super full moon. It was placed in the Galleria by Josh’s foraged flowers from the Italian Terrace Garden with the view of the Garden.

For more information about Erica, please click here.

Krista said, “I so enjoyed sharing my garden-inspired fine jewelry at the garden tour! Butterflies and flowers especially influence my designs.” 

On the table in the Galleria, The Empty Vase created a gorgeous and romantic arrangement in a tall silver vase. Owner Saeed Babaeean oversees the vision for all their designs. They said, “The Robinson Estate and Gardens provide plenty of inspiration on their own – the grandeur and historical significance lend themselves to opulent, colorful florals. The Estate provided their own vases for the florals, which created a lovely canvas for us to work with. We chose bold colors reminiscent of a late spring, early summer garden and focused on a hyper seasonal variety of Peonies, Tree Peonies, as the star of the show. The rich hue of these hot pink Peonies with vibrant yellow centers, combined with fragrant garden Roses, and cascading Phalaenopsis orchids created a luxurious base worthy of the setting. Accented by whimsical Plumosa greens and tropical Gloriosa lilies, this arrangement created a lush landscape of its very own.”

In the Dining Room on the table, George Martinez of George’s Garden (@georgesgardenla) created an opulent tableau of vibrant roses and other flowers in many rich colors amidst blue and white vases by Phoebe Danaher. Inspired by the orchid scene in the 2013 movie of “The Great Gatsby,” George arranged yellow and pink orchids with trailing ivy in a romantic and beautiful setting over the fireplace.  A glorious burst of greenery, hydrangeas, and multi-colored roses under the mantle of the fireplace added to the splendor of the scene.

On the long table in the Loggia overlooking the King Palm Forest, Jelena Trifunovic of Viola Floral (@violafloral) arranged a breathtaking display of flowers. Jelena shared, “My inspiration for the arrangements was actually my mother-in-law’s vintage china! She gifted it to me over a decade ago! I thought it would go so well with the classic elegance of the space itself, and imagining the parties that Mrs. Virginia Robinson would throw! I wanted to create something that felt both timeless and inviting, hence the teacups and all of the flowers we used. The focal flowers were bearded iris, garden roses, ranunculus, lilac, and viburnum. We aimed to bring a touch of whimsy to the overall design with the garden roses placed inside the teacups.”

In Ivo’s Office, Hilary Bein (@hilarybein) designed a magnificent mannequin – a woodland fairy sprite, dressed in a lime green gown with gossamer veils. Radiating birds of paradise and colorful flowers created a magical aura around her.  An opulent, jewel-toned floral arrangement, evoking a Dutch Master floral painting decorated the nearby table.

Collections Curator April Walton’s created exuberant and vibrant compositions in the Pantry. On four shelves, April designed contrasting vignettes with books, a vintage typewriter and cameras, and colorful miniature floral arrangements. Directly across in the kitchen sink, April arranged a row of succulents in a variety of shapes and colors.

In the Kitchen, Superintendent Emeritus Timothy Lindsay of Horticulture Consulting Service (@timothylindsay10) composed dramatic and colorful tableaus with vegetables and fruits. Tim said, “I used the inanimate objects in the kitchen and filled them with flowers and vegetables with the concept of a still life painting in mind.”

As an added bonus, Archive Chair Patty Elias selected photos of Virginia Robinson at her bridge and dinner parties to display in several rooms of the house. Virginia loved to entertain, and these glamorous images reflect her liveliness and great sense of “joie de vivre.”

On the Kitchen Patio, Faith Ford of Floracotta (@floracotta) said she created a mini demo raised-bed garden from redwood, densely planted with edible plants and flowers, to showcase the beauty and productivity of a raised-bed kitchen garden.

The resource display showcased a variety of tactile, organic materials designed for creating and building your kitchen garden.

The glow-in-the-dark plant tags and garden tools displayed for sale were created in partnership with local Los Angeles artist Nick Biddle, using his preferred medium of urethane and pigment. 

On the Back Patio, Marianne Yamaguchi (@yamaguchi.bonsai.nursery) showcased a spectacular Satsuki azalea bonsai (approximately 50 years old) with myriad pots containing pink hydrangeas called Seaside Serenade Kitty Hawk, surrounded by Snow Princess lobularia and variegated hakone grass.  Two dwarf olive patio trees with pink astilbe in pots added height to the scene.

By the Lily Pond, Jessica Viola of Viola Gardens (@violagardens) said, “Our garden installation at Robinson Gardens was a microcosm of the landscapes we create—each planter a small, living world. Using recycled glass, wood, coral, crystals, and succulents, alongside vintage pottery, we composed vibrant botanical vignettes that emulated the textures and hues of nature. We also offered pollinator and butterfly guides for sale, featuring native plants of California and the birds, bumble bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies they sustain. Lastly, we featured my book, A Hundred Bells: Understanding Patterns in Nature on the Path to Empowerment—an exploration of permaculture principles and ecological patterns, written to illuminate not only the world we inhabit, but how nature’s wisdom can guide personal growth and foster community connection.”

The Kitchen Garden with its Orchid Greenhouse is a delightful and charming space. One hears the happy clucking of hens that provide fresh eggs daily in the chicken coop. Dedicated master gardener Lucia Burke (@lucia.burke.3) and Estate Caretaker Josh Johnston keep the grounds flourishing with vegetables, flowers, and fruits.  A special space that is 100% organic, the garden is a fun place for children to learn from and enjoy in the very popular Children’s Science Program.

In the Pool Pavilion, Susan Reuben of the Beverly Hills Garden Club created two dazzling and elegant floral arrangements in classical urns on two consoles. Susan explained, “ When I looked at the space – the elegance of the room, the stately tall mirrors which almost reach up to the coffered ceiling, the tall marble consoles, and the traditional shape of the urns, I began to envision arrangements which would befit the space – tall stems in varied feminine spring colors which would be reflected in those beautiful mirrors. I sent a colored sketch of what I had in mind to Lisa Dietenhofer, and she did a wonderful job of buying the perfect flowers at the Mart. Sharon Durham was an invaluable help, and we all critiqued the arrangements at various stages along the way.”

Anne Mansour (@annetmansour) decorated the poolside railings by the Pool Pavilion with four striking and lovely arrangements of vibrant pink, red, and white peonies and greenery. Anne said, “I used Monstera from the Robinson Gardens and added the scented geranium, bay leaf laurel, grasses, and eucalyptus branches with the pods attached.” Inspired by her alma mater, Immaculate Heart High School, where they had paper flowers decorating the auditorium at an event, Anne supplemented the real flowers with delicate handmade paper flowers that she water colored to great effect!

Thanks to Amanda of House of A Gray, the Silent Auction table was graced by a lush and lovely arrangement of pink peonies, yellow delphiniums and irises, and delicate green leaves.

Throughout the day, the attendees were regaled by the beautiful tunes played by pianist Dale Witt in the Yellow Salon and guitarist Aron Peidraita by the Lily Pond.

Kerstin Royce and Patti Reinstein decorated the Tennis Court where colorful tablecloths, patterned runners, floral centerpieces, and paper flowers on lattice screens coalesced to create a warm and beautiful ambience. Paper flowers also graced the windows on the Pool Pavilion leading to the Tennis Court. The guests, who also sat by the pool under chic black and white umbrellas and pink tablecloths, enjoyed a superb luncheon catered by the Kitchen of Exploring Foods, overseen by co-chair Elaine Stein.

The attendees raved about the delicious menu which featured: herb crusted salmon fillets with a Meyer lemon emulsion and asparagus; grilled chicken breasts with peach chutney; a grain salad with quinoa, farro, barley, cucumber, tomatoes, kalamata olives, basil and a vinaigrette; a summer chopped salad with red lettuce, butter lettuce, peas, corn, radishes, tomatoes, grapes, croutons, avocado, cabbage, Marcona almonds, beets, green onions, mint with a champagne honey mustard tarragon vinaigrette; and Parmesan crisps. The popular Peach Fuzzies, lemonade, iced tea, and Arnold Palmers were offered as well.

The tantalizing Dessert Table in the Pool Pavilion was artfully arranged by Tom Gandolfo. Swags of teal and pink fabric decorated the table, crowned with an elegant and romantic centerpiece designed by Joan Selwyn. Luscious peonies and roses spilled out of Kerstin Royce’s antique silver tea set.

With the help of Elaine, the plethora of delicious cookies baked by the Friends and fruit served on elegant silver trays delighted the guests. The iconic coconut cake dotted with raspberries was a big hit as well.

The culinary feast continued with delectable bites by chef Courtney Jean (@chef.courtneyjean) in the kitchen where she served a lemon olive oil cake. She said, “I made the cake for the flower show because it just felt like the perfect match for the day. It’s light and elegant—like spring itself—and the bright citrus notes really echo the freshness of the season. With all the beautiful flower installations and the history of the home, I wanted something that felt connected to both: something simple, refined, and full of character. This cake just fit!”

Co-chair President Lynn Whitaker welcomed and thanked everyone for coming and supporting our largest fundraiser of the year. She said, “We have two magnificent honorees here today, and I would like to introduce our Grand Marshal, Jade Mills of Coldwell Banker in Beverly Hills. Jane has been the #1 Coldwell Banker agent in the country. Being a real estate agent myself, I can tell you that she has a tremendous reputation within our industry, and we are thrilled to honor her. She has a terrific family and most of them work with her and are here today. Jade thanked Lynn and said, “You ladies have given so much to this organization. This place is one of a kind. It is absolute perfection, and I am blessed and honored to be here.

Lynn then introduced our Garden Champion Doug Kazanjian of Kazanjian Jewels in Beverly Hills. “Doug is the fourth generation of the Kazanjian family in the fine gems and jewelry business, and his family has been very close to the Friends for many years. We honored his family at our 2010 Patron Gala. He has always been very generous to us, and we are so fortunate to have him and Jade here today who are so good to the Friends.”

Lynn continued, “Besides being a great jewelry designer, Doug is a terrific photographer. For ten years, he has visited the Gardens to take pictures of jewels amidst our flowers.” Doug has published books from these photographs titled Kazanjian Gems in the Garden. He signed these gorgeous books on the Back Patio.

Our third annual hat contest was masterfully chaired by the founder of the Friends Joan Selwyn and our terrific master of ceremonies, Marcella Ruble, who entertained the onlookers with much exuberance and panache as the contestants twirled down the runway to hearty applause!

Our very talented judges were Superintendent Emeritus Timothy Lindsay; retired judge, docent, Friend and Book Club co-chair Patricia Cowett; and vendor and milliner Jill Courtemanche. 

Our lovely contestants:

The three categories were “Most Glamorous;” “Best Fascinator;” and “Best Floral Fantasia.” The winners received prizes comprised of a beautiful crystal flower, which is a symbol of feng shui and a universal symbol of purity and enlightenment, and a box of chocolates from Edelweiss in Beverly Hills. 

Ileana Cataldo won in the Most Glamorous hat category.

Patty Sanchez won in the Best Fascinator category.

Daniel Bentley won in the Best Floral Fantasia category.

Some important achievements of the Friends were displayed under the banner: “This Is Who We Are.”

Archive Chair Patty Elias displayed exhibit boards with charming photographs showing the development of Harry’s lower Tennis Court, c. 1912-1915 and early photographs of the Main House on Elden Way in 1911.

Also impressive was an exhibit of the very successful Children’s Outreach Science Program, created by Patti Reinstein and Leslie Kavanaugh, with Kerstin Royce heading 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. There are more than 16,000 students in both public and private schools who have participated in the three science modules since its inception during COVID.

Adding to the excitement of the day was the Marketplace, chaired by Patti Reinstein. Stacy Klines helped with the setup. Ten new vendors offered exceptional items to purchase this year ranging from original artwork, festive hats, chic clothing, delicate handkerchiefs, unique artistic scarves, Provencal tablecloths, jewelry and charms for bracelets and necklaces, designer bags, elegant eyewear, and our fashion partner Sheila on Sunset. New this year was a “Passport,” in which you collected stamps with each purchase to redeem prizes such as a coffee table book on the Louvre, vases by MacKenzie-Childs, Nest candles, and scarves.  Twenty percent of the sale proceeds was donated to Robinson Gardens. To see all the photos of the vendors, please see the gallery of photos at the end of the article.

Our beautiful models, Blessing Dossouyovo and Aylin Uyanik paraded elegant ensembles by Sheila on Sunset. Founded by Sheila Speer, the store on Sunset Plaza features a curated collection of small independent designers from Europe and the U.S.

Helmed by Kerstin, Elaine and Ron Stein, and with the assistance of Jonathan Chu, the popular Friends Boutique also displayed many treasures and antiques for sale on the tennis court. 

The silent auction, chaired by Kerstin Royce, and supported by Barbara Marcus, was a big success, offering many items solicited and generously donated by the Friends and the vendors. Popular items included a cooking class offered by Kerstin and Elaine, custom house portraits, a Kazanjian red gold custom photo pendant, restaurant gift certificates from Koi, Marea, Wally’s, Il Pastaio, Porta Via, Joan’s on Third, and Uchi, tours of Lotusland, the Huntington Library, Hollyhock House, and Bellosguardo, tickets to the Wallis, the Broad Stage, the Ahmanson, and the Los Angeles Opera, a Pennoyer Newman garden urn, and stays at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Tennis & lunch at VRG and a brunch on the Loggia with a tour of the VRG Palm Forest were offered as well.

Our terrific Garden Tour Committee:

Not pictured: Diane Sipos, Kerstin Royce, Krista Everage, Jeanne Anderson, and Barbara Marcus

The Friends are so grateful to our wonderful County staff who were so enthusiastic and helpful in every way:

Not pictured: Charles Tyrer, Jonathon Gulley, Bobby Flores, Arthur Abramyan, Pam Davis-Burns, and Colleen MacCay

It was truly an enchanting day. Past President Kerstin Royce noted that despite the misty day, “It was “Blooms Everywhere” and our guests’ faces radiated “Sunshine and Pure Delight.” Patti concurred, saying “A cool rainy day could not deter us from celebrating at the 36th Annual Garden Tour at The Virginia Robinson Gardens. Our spirits, much like Mrs. Robinson’s legacy, were alive and well, making for a memorable and heartwarming occasion.”

Friend Lori Greene Gordon added, “It might have been a cold day, but the warmth of this year’s garden tour was palpable. The magnificent floral displays, delectable food, and super fun touches, like the hat contest, made for a spirited afternoon. Kudos to the Garden Tour committee for an innovative and enjoyable event.”

The Friends are grateful for your presence at our Garden Tour fundraiser which supports the restoration and preservation of our beloved Virginia Robinson Gardens and the Children’s Science Program. Thanks to our sponsors and the hardworking Friends in partnership with the County, this historical gem and botanical paradise in Beverly Hills continues to thrive and flourish!

Click here to see a full gallery of photos.

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

Event photos by www.shousemedia.com, Michael Garland (@michaelgarlandphoto), Linda Meadows, Ron and Elaine Stein, Emina Darakjy, Josh Johnston, Krista Everage, Kerstin Royce, and Bernice Balson.