A beautiful, but blowy day out on the North Shore of Long Island where I spoke on Thursday, April 24, 2014 to the North Country Garden Club at the historic and beautiful site of Old Westbury Gardens. in Old Westbury on Long Island. I was welcomed by Helen Bonebrake, shown with me above along with John Norbeck, President and CEO of Old Westbury Gardens and Mary Phipps. It was a special surprise and honor to have Mary Phipps come too. This had once been the home of Mary’s family and Mary herself had been a good friend of Rosemary Verey. The four of us are standing in front of a magnificent fireplace in the entrance hall of the main house.
I was also delighted and admittedly quite nervous to have my dear friend, the renowned editor, Kate Medina come too. Especially since she and her husband, Leo Guthart had only recently been married at Old Westbury Gardens. In fact, we had enjoyed a lovely, intimate dinner reception in the very same room where I was to speak. Here I am with Kate and here is a view of the elegant room itself with the audience assembling. Please note that another friend in the audience, Ann Cannell, particularly pointed out that I had come “dressed to match the walls!” After the talk, Ann and her husband, Peter Cannell, invited me out to lunch with them at nearby Piping Rock Country Club, a place I once knew well years ago. It was a lovely way to end the day, looking out over the beautiful view of the expansive golf course and enjoying their good company before the long drive back to Brush Hill.
