THE CROWD:Great Park supporters hear about garden

At a glamorous early-fall luncheon under a white tent erected at the Shady Canyon Golf Club, Irvine brought together a who’s-who crowd in support of the Orange County Great Park Conservancy. Specifically, they came to learn about the Botanical Garden being planned for the park, which will replace the air station at El Toro.

Newport’s Diane Cotton and Jennifer Van Bergh co-chaired the luncheon gathering. It was created in the spirit and bygone glory of another famous botanical garden luncheon that took place about 150 years ago in New York City; none other than the Frederick Law Olmstead luncheon at Central Park. Olmstead, as you may know, was the designer of America’s most famous urban park, and in his day fundraising and civic support was just as important — perhaps even more so — than today. The similarity between the two luncheons, at least in purpose, made for a bit of romantic fantasy combining the glory of the past with aspirations for the future.

The Great Park project, including the creation of a botanical garden, is a massive and costly undertaking. In addition to Cotton and Van Bergh, the botanical garden luncheon committee was chaired by Jill Johnson-Tucker, working with park conservancy board members Teddie Ray and Rick T. Hume. Ray and Hume are very involved with the overall park project as conservationists and also from a business perspective. The park will be the centerpiece of expansive central Orange County residential and business growth.

The event was a chance to welcome a host of local patrons who have donated $500 or more to be listed as founding members of the Great Park Botanical Garden Conservancy. “This is something you can tell your grandchildren. Become a founding member of a park that will be developed and grow into the next century and beyond,” Van Bergh said.

The significance of Van Bergh’s comment was not lost on the largely young and very attractive patrons who were all very proud to sign up. Some of the Newport women on the roster include Sandra Ayres, Hyla Bertea, Susan Bridgford, Mary Buckingham, Jody Burnham, Peggy Goldwater Clay, Tracy Gottlieb, Ann Moorhead, Carmela Phillips, Janet Ray and Ann Smyth. Also front and center for the botanical garden were Shannon Tarnutzer, Alex Parker, Marion Palley, Cecilia Nott, Pam Nestande and Jeri McKenna.

The reception began with waiter service of mojitos, iced tea and Arnold Palmers served in glass canning jars garnished with slices of dried persimmon and sprigs of lavender. Jill Johnson-Tucker and Teddie Ray greeted the crowd as they were seated at tables under the tent set with appetizers of smoked salmon on blinis with caviar. The design team for the garden had come for a little “show and tell.”

Big screens were set up to display the work in progress as a panel of nationally acclaimed experts — including master designer Ken Smith, landscape architect Mia Lehrer, artist Mary Miss, and environmental botanist Steven Handel — joined designer team chief of staff Richard Ramsey for a panel discussion with an audience question-and-answer session on the park and garden.

A luncheon of grilled chicken salad was served followed by a dessert of warm apple tart drizzled with caramel. Donors table-hopped and shared their garden vision. Maralou Harrington, Stephanie Grody, Madaline Gordon, Shelley Belling, Susan Hillgren, Michele O’Leary Koll, Faith Strong, Tatiana Kleinman, Joni Brice, Annette Oltmans and Cindy Fry were among the major supporters of the project.

As the various panelists described the plans for the garden — including magnificent waterscapes and fountains, a citrus orchard encompassing many acres, a rose garden, palm garden, cactus garden and much more — the audience realized the scope of the project ahead of them.

“This is not just a garden for tomorrow,” offered local activist Peggy Goldwater Clay. “This is a park and a botanical garden for many more generations to come. What we accomplish today will hopefully last for centuries.”

For more information on the Great Park Conservancy or the botanical garden, call the headquarters office at (949) 653-1775.