Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden May Meeting featured Nancy Pierce and a Very Special Keepsake Cookbook
(Featured photo: Nancy Pierce, featured speaker; Joni Krieg, Meetings Chair; Paige Elliott, 2025-2026 President; Kim McBride, Spring Membership Meeting chair.)
While we celebrate the 2025-2026 Year of the Women’s Council and their May 2026 Membership meeting, we also honor the awards recipients (details below), pay tribute to outgoing president Paige Elliott and welcome incoming president, Rose Gault, we look forward to the Fall Membership Meeting on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 featuring guest speaker Tres Fromme of 3 fromme DESIGN – the creative force behind key Arboretum projects including the Paseo, the Color Garden, and the Sunken Garden, and the Arboretum’s first Designer in Residence beginning in 2027. Check it out: Reservations, and details here.
Notes from the May Meeting: The Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden’s May Meeting and Luncheon featured Dallas’ own Nancy Pierce speaking on Herbs in History, Herbs in the Garden and Herbs in the Kitchen. A surprise special treat was the day’s program, a full-sized keepsake cookbook specifically designed with Nancy’s personal recipes especially chosen to complement today’s presentation and luncheon menu.
Chaired by Kim McBride with Decoration Chairs Ashley Lamont and Cindy Syler, the morning began with a reception as everyone shared news about upcoming summer travels and future garden plans.
Paige Elliott, Women’s Council President, welcomed everyone saying this year’s theme, Rooted in Friendship – Blooming With Purpose was certainly realized, focusing on the women behind A Woman’s Garden, longstanding members and welcoming new women to the Women’s Council’s garden community in friendship, fundraising, and fun!
Sabina Carr, President and CEO, Dallas Arboretum, shared updates on events happening at the Arboretum, including the new large-scale art installation Bunnies, Birds and Butterflies by internationally recognized artist, Hunt Slonem.
Updates on A Woman’s Garden included announcements of three spectacular gardens being added this year thanks to the Women’s Council’s fundraising activities: the generosity of the Pier and Glenn Burgess family for the Burgess Family Serenity Garden, and Patty Dedman Nail and family for the Mother Daughter Water Garden, to open later this year. The Pecan Parterre opened earlier in the week.
After board reports, including updates on the recent Mad Hatter’s Tea chaired by Reagan Pace and Sheridan Reeder with Anne Stodghill as honorary chair; Fiesta, chaired by Joni Krieg, Fifth Vice-President; Paige recognized her 2025-2026 board of directors to a rousing round of applause. She presented the 2025-2026 Leadership Award to Karen Sargent, 2024-2025 President and the 2025-2026 Service Award to Venetia Patout.
Welcoming incoming president Rose Gault to the podium, Paige presented her with a gift of appreciation. Rose shared that being from the Netherlands, tulips are near and dear to her heart and will represent the theme for 2026-2027, A Journey of Tulips, Tradition and Giving.
Joni thanked today’s chairs and introduced Nancy Pierce, today’s featured speaker. Sometimes best known as The Rose Lady, Nancy donated the 250 rose bushes she grew in her yard to the Dallas Arboretum in 2018. She is now retired and is active in numerous gardening and philanthropic clubs. Having discovered the intrigue of butterfly and herb gardening, she shared her knowledge of how certain herbs impacted history, how they benefit our health and how to grow them in containers and use them in some of her favorite recipes.
Afterwards everyone enjoyed a most delicious herb-infused luncheon of a chilled soup starter, trio salad plate and mini dessert sampler. The favors were delightedly on point: a floral designed garden trowel and a centerpiece of live herbs for sale.
Upcoming: A Writer’s Garden scoop. Chaired by Dorothea Meltzer, join us on Tuesday, November 10th.
Details: https://www.wcdabg.org/a-writers-garden.html
Membership in the Women’s Council features events like this and so much more: Exclusive parties in private homes, private trips to renowned gardens with tours, advance notice of fundraisers, Volunteer Day, and a camaraderie with like-minded supporters from all over North Texas. Learn more at www.wcdabg.org
Paige Elliott, President.
ABOUT THE WOMEN’S COUNCIL: Celebrating its 44th Anniversary in 2026.
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 29th Anniversary in 2026.
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 for this special event and A Writer’s Garden and post this Philanthropy Lifestyles Scene.)
