African-themed Newport Flower Show Opening Party a Roaring Success

Out of Africa, and straight to Newport! With its safari theme, the Newport Flower Show celebrated its 15th year as America’s premier summer show with "Safari--Flora and Fauna", capturing the guests’ imaginations, and highlighting the exotic treasures of the continent that boasts the most diverse range of plants and animals in the world.

With three full days of lectures and presentations the 2010 show featured special guests Marie-Françoise Déprez, teacher, floral demonstrator and author, who spoke at a Friday luncheon, and Tony Avent , world-class plant explorer, author and nursery owner.

Newport Seen waded into the "jungle": Did anyone dress as a white hunter? Yes, Dick Brickley. Was there a pith helmet in sight? Yes, many, at Lisa Stubbs’ hat stand. Did leopards roam the grounds of Rosecliff? Mercifully, no, but a constructed lion near the entrance drew lots of attention from Donald O. Ross, new Board President of The Preservation Society, Kimberly Skeen-Jones, just back from Italy, Ron Fleming, and a group of gentlemen from Boston paused to look at the living trees, with heads like beasts of the jungle. Robert Bartlett, of presenting sponsor Bartlett Tree Experts, also observed.

Chairman Pat Fernandez with Stephen & Denae

Bayer

An array of booths featuring vendors of hats, jewelry, sunglasses, real estate (all very upscale) and British boots was heavily attended. The cocktail party with food stations by various restaurants spilled out onto the lawn and down toward Cliff Walk, where the Mac Chrupcala band was playing. A juggler, two gentlemen carrying enormous butterflies on their shoulders, and a lion tamer cracking an audible whip, walked the grounds as a perfect full moon rose over the ocean.

It is estimated that 800 people attended the opening festivities,
"oohing" and "aahing" over the many award-winning creations.Prizes were awarded for Best in Show Award, and the Garden Club of America and National Garden Club Awards are a terribly prestigious….as are the Gilbert Kahn Sweepstakes for the most blue ribbons in horticulture.

The full list of award winners can be seen at

http://www.newportmansions.org/page10000713.cfm