Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum’s A Writer’s Garden Celebrates its 20th Anniversary at the November 10th Symposium and Luncheon
The Announcement Party Revealed Three Renowned Speakers and Authors Benefiting A Woman’s Garden
(Featured photo: Dorothea Meltzer, Chair, A Writer’s Garden; Renee Farren, Chair, Announcement Party; Suzanne Caruso, hostess; Rose Gault, President, Women’s Council.)
One of the most anticipated events of the fall is A Writer’s Garden Literary Symposium and Luncheon, this year celebrating its 20th anniversary and benefiting the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden and the development and maintenance of A Woman’s Garden, the centerpiece garden of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 10, 2026. Underwriting, tickets and sponsorships are available now! Click here for tickets, here for sponsorships, or visit the website at www.wcdabg.org
The Announcement Party was hosted by Suzanne Caruso and chaired by Renee Farren. They were joined by Women’s Council president Rose Gault and A Writer’s Garden chair, Dorothea Meltzer, a past Founder’s Award recipient and the force behind securing some of the major speakers over the past many years.
Dorothea revealed the poster announcing the theme Garden Bliss Magical Abundance, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of A Writer’s Garden. She recognized Nancy Bierman, founder of A Writer’s Garden and Renee for chairing the first Writer’s Garden, as well as former Writer’s Garden chairs who are serving as the Host Committee. In attendance were former chairs Sandy Ammons, Sharon Ballew, Nikki Beneke, Christy Doramus, Mari Epperson, Bettina Hennessy, Joni Krieg, Michelle Mew, Dyann Skelton and Kay Weeks.
Front row: Michelle Mew, Nancy Bierman, Bettina Hennesy, Kay Weeks.
Back row: Sandy Ammons, Renee Querbes Farren, Nikki Beneke, Dorothea Meltzer (2026 chair), Dyann Skelton, Mari Epperson, Christy Doramus.*
Featured speakers are the team of Edmund Hollander and Melissa Reavis, partners of Hollander Design, Landscape Architects, New York, NY and Chicago, IL. Hollander Design Landscape Architects creates finely crafted landscapes at every scale, from the Hamptons to Hong Kong. Each project responds to the natural, architectural, and human ecologies that make a place distinct. That attention to context shapes enduring, beautiful landscapes that become meaningful expressions of home, a philosophy explored in The Landscape of Home: In the Country, By the Sea, In the City.
Also speaking will be Ngoc Minh Ngo, New York, NY. Ngoc Minh Ngo is an author, photographer, and speaker widely regarded as one of the world’s most poetic landscape and botanical photographers. Her recent distinctions include serving as the 2025 national speaker for the Garden Conservancy and authoring seven books, including Roses in the Garden.
Books by both authors were on display and will be signed by the authors and sold at the November 10th event. Rose wound up the presentations by thanking Suzanne as hostess and announcing the first major gift to A Writer’s Garden of $20,000 from Linda and Frank Spina, which brought a rousing round of applause.
Patron tickets are $500 per person and include the Symposium and Luncheon. Sponsor tickets start at $1,000 per person and include the “Meet the Authors” Reception and Sponsor Party, Symposium and Luncheon. Event sponsor opportunities are available at various levels and benefits. Visit the website for more information: https://www.wcdabg.org/a-writers-garden.html
About the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden:
Celebrating its 44th Anniversary.
2026-2027 Theme: The Year of the Tulip: A Journey of Tulips, Tradition and Giving
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 44th 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.
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’s special meetings and announcements as well as A Writer’s Garden, and post this Philanthropy Lifestyles Scene.)
