May 20, 2007

Garden tours spark creativity, spontaneous song

By Janet Duca Norton / Society Columnist

"California Creative," Gamble Garden's 22nd annual Spring Garden Tour was the theme and motto for tour co-chairwomen Anne Taylor and Leslie Huey. With the help of a 30-member committee, Taylor and Huey overcame many obstacles, including the winter freeze, the arrival of the apple moth a week before the tour and early morning rain minutes before the May 4 tour opened.

"While the rain presented some early challenges on Friday morning, nothing could dampen the spirits and energy of our volunteers and guests," Taylor said. "Nearly 2,500 people visited the five gardens and participated in activities at Gamble Garden."

The gardens reflected the homeowners' unique interests and personal involvement. On the land where the headmaster of the Palo Alto Military Academy had lived sat a large arts-and-crafts garden with whimsical sculptures and many garden "rooms" that consisted of an orchard, outdoor spa, greenhouse and vegetable garden.

African sculpture was showcased in a garden designed by Mary Gordon, with "rooms" for everything, including a small exercise pool and a designer chicken coop that housed three chickens.

Tourgoers saw a trio of theme gardens during the course of a brief walk in Crescent Park. A modern, arid garden complemented an updated 1930s Spanish bungalow. Colette and Peter Rothschild pointed out special features in their artisans garden with exotic plants and one-of-a-kind rusted metal artifacts.

Isabelle Cole said the vegetable garden where she and her children sample homegrown strawberries, is her favorite part of her low-maintenance Andalusian garden. Designed by Julianne Frizzell, the Mediterranean-style garden harmonized with the home's Spanish architecture.

There was something for everyone: a raffle, silent auction, boutique and plant sale. Stacey Burkholder was thrilled to win a pair of silver and gold earrings donated by Georgie Gleim of Gleim Jewelers.

Smart shoppers purchased Mother's Day gifts from the Gamble Collection, coordinated by Susan Woodman and Susan Benton, which featured plants and gifts made on the property. Lunching on the terrace and seen shopping in the boutique were Maddy Stein, Carol Read, Libby Taylor, Jody Horowitz, Peggy Dalal, Anne Draeger, Michele Kirsch and Pearl Seipp.

"The Spring Tour is a wonderful community activity and is the single largest annual fundraiser for this local treasure," said Huey, tour co-chairwoman.

President Helen MacKenzie proudly announced on May 14 that the Palo Alto City Council approved a 20-year extension of the Gamble Garden lease. "(The Council) recognizes Gamble's good governance and broad community support," MacKenzie said.



"FLORAL MELODIES" AT FILOLI

"Floral Melodies," the 16th annual Filoli Flower Show, May 10 through 13, was a musical-themed flower extravaganza, showcasing fabulous floral arrangements and table settings by more than 40 professional designers and 30 talented amateurs - including schoolchildren.

Displays in each room were keyed to a theme song, such as the ballroom that featured "I Could Have Danced All Night" and Mrs. Roth's study where "We Are Family" played.

"The presentation of floral design art and designer table settings occurs most uniquely at Filoli, a beautifully furnished estate house," said show co-chairwoman Suzanne Legallet.
Expanded garden vignettes and displays of camellias, rhododendrons and bonsai (presented by horticultural societies) as well as sold-out teas and a Mother's Day champagne brunch resulted in a 50 percent increase in ticket sales over the last two years.

The opening event reception featured entertainment by SF Bay Jazz and a jewelry fashion show by Erin MacGeraghty, with tour committee members modeling MacGeraghty's unique jewels.

Honorary chairs Chuck and Donna Huggins were honored for their many years of leadership and generous support.

"Floral Melodies is for you, Chuck and Donna," Legallet said. The event's theme encompassed Huggins' major interests with Filoli during his past three decades of service: fundraising and development of Filoli's educational programs, and music. (Huggins established the Jazz at Filoli Concert Series 16 .0years ago.)

Andrea Johnston presented the board's gift, a magnolia tree started from a Filoli tree's seeds, for the Hugginses' new home in Larkspur.

"Many of you have given hour after hour of your time to help with the preservation and restoration of this beautiful place," Chuck said. "Filoli's preservation and conservation have brought back some of the good things we call tradition." And then, Chuck was persuaded to sing his signature song: "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You."

More than 300 friends, family and Filoli board members toasted the honorees. Leading the applause were twin sisters Lurline Roth Coonan and Berenice Roth Spalding, who lived at Filoli as children, and the Hugginses' daughter-in-law Pam Huggins and granddaughter Mimi Huggins. Also joining the applause were Tad and Dianne Taube, board members Ron and Barb Peyton, Barbara Seipp, Vanessa Roach, Robert and Connie French, and new Executive Director Jane Risser.

The Filoli estate is part of the National Trust for Historical Preservation. The 43-room modified Georgian mansion and its 16-acres of world-class English Renaissance gardens are maintained by private donations and fundraising by Filoli Center and Friends of Filoli.

Janet Duca Norton's society column appears every Sunday in the Daily News. Send event information to 324 High St., Palo Alto, CA 94301 or e-mail society@paloaltodailynews.com.