A Writer’s Garden Features Three Delightful Tastemakers and Will Be “A Celebration of Houses, Parties & Gardens”
(Featured photo: Christy Doramus and Melissa Smrekar, chairs.)*
Theme reveal at Le Bloom on Travis benefited the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
The fabulous Le Bloom on Travis was the site of the announcement party for A Writer’s Garden, a Literary Symposium and Luncheon benefiting the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden and A Woman’s Garden. The event also revealed some “can’t wait” fun surprises.
Chairs Christy Doramus and Melissa Smrekar announced the theme “A Celebration of Houses, Parties, & Gardens,” featuring two celebrated speakers, Rebecca Gardner and Blue Carreon, as well as the renowned Alison Kenworthy, the tastemaker of tastemakers, who will serve as mistress of ceremonies for A Writer’s Garden on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at Rosine Hall at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
Women’s Council President, Paige Elliott, began by thanking Le Bloom’s owner, Layne Tenenbaum, for her gracious hospitality as host of today’s event and introduced the chairs. As guests enjoyed Le Bloom’s delightfully refreshing iced teas, coffees and more, Melissa welcomed the crowd and began sharing the very interesting details about the featured guests.
Rebecca’s first title as an author, A Screaming Blast, will be published in September 2025 by Rizzoli, so the timing is perfect to attend the book signing and get the inside scoop on the background experiences surrounding those stories. A native Texan, Rebecca is the founder and creative director of Houses & Parties, a full-service events, interior design, and retail collective based in Savannah, Georgia and New York City. She has been named a top event designer by VOGUE and Harper’s Bazaar. Her design work has been published in The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, T Magazine, Elle Decor, Town & Country, and The Financial Times. Her online shop, Houses & Parties, offers unnecessaries for devotees of the elegant and unusual in shoppable collections that feature the same style, wit, and treasure that defines her client work.
Christy had her own insider’s peek, as well. When she announced Blue as one of the speakers, she said he is the author of The Gardens of the Hamptons, which will be featured at A Writer’s Garden during the author’s first visit to Texas! Christy is from Bridgehampton and now resides in Dallas. A photo from her former garden is featured in Blue’s book, and the photographs are striking! Blue is a former international fashion editor who is currently a freelance writer covering topics on lifestyle, fashion, and interior design. He’s also the creative director of his eponymous home décor collection, and is the author of Conversations: Up Close and Personal With Icons of Fashion, Interior Design, and Art, as well as the best-selling Equestrian Life in the Hamptons. Blue is an avid equestrian, tennis player, and gardener, and has been voted by Hamptons Magazine as one of the best-dressed personalities and top hosts in the East End. He resides in Manhattan, East Hampton, and Palm Beach.
To top it all off, Alison as moderator, is a three-time Emmy Award-winning television producer and the founder of Homeworthy, a media network that highlights extraordinary people and their homes. Founded in 2020, Homeworthy now generates over 1.2 billion minutes watched annually across its streaming platforms. She formerly worked at ABC’s Good Morning America, where she covered entertainment stories from the red carpets of the Golden Globes and Met Gala. Alison grew up in the historic neighborhood of Georgetown in Washington, D.C., which is where she developed her love of homes and decor. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children.
The symposium will include a fabulous luncheon and book signing by the speakers. Afterwards, revel in the day by roaming the glorious gardens at the Dallas Arboretum and make sure to visit A Woman’s Garden.
Get your tables together, contact your friends, and mark your calendars now for Monday, September 1, 2025 when tickets go on sale promptly at 9:00 a.m. CST and underwriting, sponsorships will be available at the website www.wcdabg.org
ABOUT THE WOMEN’S COUNCIL: Celebrating its 43rd Anniversary.
2025-2026 Theme: Rooted in Friendship – Blooming with Purpose focuses on the Women behind A Woman’s Garden, longstanding members and welcoming new women to our garden community in friendship, fundraising, and fun!
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 43rd 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 28th 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 from Le Bloom event by Vanessa Christina.
**Courtesy images provided by the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
(Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations, is honored to represent the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden and its special events and announcements, including A Writer’s Garden and post this Philanthropy Lifestyles Scene.)
