Autographed Books and Garden Bulbs Hit the Spotlight at Our Blooming Garden Fall Meeting and Luncheon
Sponsored by the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
(Featured photo: “The Bulb Hunter,” Chris Wiesinger, founder of The Southern Bulb Company.)
Our Blooming Garden was the theme for the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden’s Fall Meeting and Luncheon September 2024 which featured “The Bulb Hunter,” Chris Wiesinger, founder of The Southern Bulb Company, as the speaker.
Meeting and luncheon chairs Leesa Alhadef and Venetia Patout greeted guests and invited them to enjoy the delightful spread of muffins, juices and coffee as they chatted with Chris and were given the inside scoop on the selection of flowers bulbs for sale, along with his book, The Bulb Hunter.
President Therese Rourk welcomed the crowd and after board reports, introduced Sabina Carr, President and CEO, Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, who encouraged everyone to take a peek outside as workers and volunteers were putting out pumpkins and other fall decorations. She said this fall she will be working with everyone at the Arboretum to welcome guests with variable pricing, new sustainable projects and conservation.
Marilyn Cline, a 4th Vice-President/Membership, announced membership has grown to 542 members, 86 of which are new members. Joni Krieg, chair of A Writer’s Garden, announced the Weber Foundation as presenting sponsor, Garry Weber as honorary chair and the two featured speakers, Martyn Lawrence Bullard and Stefani Bittner. She said a record $270,000 has been raised so far, to a rousing round of applause. More news to come later on the symposium’s Scene and happenings.
Following reports on Volunteer Day and Educational Trips, Dyann Skelton thanked today’s chairs for all of their hard work and introduced the featured speaker, Chris Wiesinger, who founded The Southern Bulb Company in 2004 with some friends in an attempt to recapture that which was once “lost” to the Southern gardener: bulbs that thrive in warm climates.
Chris shared that he began his love of garden bulbs when he was 12 years old with varieties of tulips. He used his bulb passion for a Texas A&M college project, which then grew into a lifestyles and business. He sought out heirloom and rare flower bulbs like the red spider lily and was featured in a New York Times story that affectionately dubbed him “The Bulb Hunter.” He later used that name as the title for his 2013 book, which details his life as a bulb collector and farmer. He loves to share his passion for life and bulbs with others. He recalled stories of collecting, shared insights on planting bulbs and offered ideas and examples for using bulbs in the landscape. He said no matter what happens, life goes on, seasons change and bulbs flower in all different seasons, delighting the audience with a journey filled with beautiful forgotten places.
The presentation was followed by a delicious luncheon including a Texas field greens salad, entrée of chicken and mushroom crepes with wild rice blend and vegetables and dessert choices of a lemon crème brulée with berries and a molten chocolate lava cake with Bing cherry sauce.
Membership in the Women’s Council includes many benefits such as meetings and luncheons featuring wonderful speakers, first notice of fundraisers and other celebrations, volunteer projects, opportunities to participate in A Writer’s Garden Symposium and Luncheon in the fall and Mad Hatter’s Tea in the spring.
Visit www.wccabg.org for details.
ABOUT THE WOMEN’S COUNCIL: Celebrating its 42nd Anniversary.
Since 1982 the major goal of the Women’s Council has been the design, construction, funding and endowment of A Woman’s Garden, a principal garden at the Dallas Arboretum. A Woman’s Garden is the only public garden in the United States conceived by women, funded by the efforts of women and dedicated to the spirit of women. Celebrating its 42nd year, the support of over 600 members of the Women’s Council makes possible the continued expansion and development of A Woman’s Garden. The Women’s Council is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. www.wcdabg.org
ABOUT A WOMAN’S GARDEN: Celebrating its 27th Anniversary.
A Woman’s Garden is the only public garden in the nation conceived, constructed and maintained by the funding efforts of women. Ablaze with color in every season, A Woman’s Garden sits majestically as a living testament to the passion and vision of the Women’s Council founders and the boundless energy and devotion of its members whose commitment to creating a garden dedicated to the universal spirit of women across generations is realized in its inspired design. Our beautiful garden celebrates the power, creativity, resourcefulness, passion and unwavering commitment of the women who came before us and those entrusted with its care now, and into the future.
Photos by Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio
(Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations, is honored to represent the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden and post this Philanthropy Lifestyles Scene.)
