Torrential downpours didn’t deter approximately 600 Botanical Garden of the Ozarks supporters from the 12th annual Greening of the Garden fundraiser on May 10, raising more than $30,000. This year’s theme was “Pane e Tulipani” or Bread and Tulips.

Silent auction items included approximately 20 varieties of roses, several pieces of floral-themed art, landscape consultations and nights out.

The Botanical Garden, under executive director Scott Starr’s lead, has been through extensive development in the last 16 months, with completion of this first major phase slated for July.

The difference in the Garden since I first went last September is remarkable. There’s been tremendous progress in all nine gardens of the “Backyard Gardens” that include a Japanese Garden, rose and perennial garden, Ozark native garden, children’s garden and a sensory garden.

The Backyard Gardens are so named because the idea is that they could be replicated in our own backyards by us mere mortals who are not garden wizards.

Brides are already lining up to have their ceremonies and/or receptions at the florally florid east Fayetteville site, which is north of Zion Road on Arkansas 265 and extends for 90 acres to Lake Fayetteville.

The “Sowing the Seed Team,” who put on a lovely Thursday evening event consisted of co-chairmen Bill Dollar, Liz Esch, Phillip McKnight and committee members Margie Alsbrook, Joyce Jones, Rebecca Larson, Carolyn Lee, Martha McBride, Gloria McIntosh, Linda McMath, Mickey Morrison, Twania Pinnell, Lisa Purkayastha, Jennifer and Marvin Shirley.

The Arkansas Nautical Museum launched the 2007 Fashion Show Regatta and Luncheon Thursday afternoon at the Jones Center for Families in Springdale with the help of about 100 supporters.

The crowd consisted of boating enthusiasts, vacation lovers, sun worshippers and the fashion-conscious.

You’d never know from the upbeat crowd that the museum had just vacated its former home at the Frisco Station Mall in Rogers and is looking for a new harbor to display their nautical treasures.

The ever-optimistic founder Jan Muetzel doesn’t see rough seas ahead, though, and is looking for a community partner to work with the museum. She said the funds raised at Thursday’s event will help them dock at a new place.

The fashions modeled by approximately 20 volunteers featured many shades of blue, the nautical look, which of course is big this year, straw hats, bags and shoes and “bauble” jewelry.

The afternoon’s “Organizing Crew,” were chairwoman Olga Berg, Marilyn Annen, Cecile Bledsoe, Sally Bowen, Terri Brown, Debbie Main, Jan Muetzel and Carolyn Winscott.

Northwest Arkansas met East Meets West Friday afternoon at an event lacking nothing in production value at the Fayetteville construction site of the spa. Like the Botanical Garden, they are shooting for a July completion date.

Guests sipped “spatinis,” nibbled on hors d’oeuvres and listened to the band Kemistri cover hits from Roberta Flack, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner and Gloria Gaynor while others took advantage of having their arrival announced as they stepped onto the red carpet leading to the party.

The spa, brainchild of Helena Gadison, seeks to offer exclusive, high end products and services, many of them debuting in Arkansas at East Meets West.

Gadison said she hopes to bring together the western idea of spa services as indulgences and the eastern way of thinking that spas are holistic.

The program featured several speakers including Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody, Mary Beth Brooks, Brandon Barber and Adam Arroyos. Guests were also treated to two dance troupes and a fashion show.

Among the approximately 250 people out for the event were Eddie Armstrong Lapaine and Gary McHenry, Karen Flake, Jessica and Matt Dearnley and Mike Thompson.

source : www.nwaonline.net By Carin Schoppmeyer