The 17th Annual Garden Party was a resounding success as evidenced by the high attendance, over 275 people, and $40,000 raised. Our co-chairs, Sharon Leininger Nemeroff, Joan Minshall and Marla Moroscak, did a superb job and we are grateful for their leadership. Thanks to them, the ambiance and mood were festive and there were many new faces, including a record number of Junior ticket holders. Guest enjoyed the music provided Walt Whitman High School Jazz Ensemble and sampled the fine food of Occasions Caterers.

The hat contest was a roaring success as always and extremely competitive. Guests arrived sporting hats with live gardens and picket fences, beehives, garden tools and baseballs. Vintage hats ran the gamut from silk top hats ala Woodrow Wilson to pheasant feathers and velvet. Prizes were awarded to the following winners:

Breath of Spring: Louise Daniel Owen
Best Hat and Outfit Ensemble: Dana Demange and Hugh O’Neill
Best Traditonal or Vintage: Mrs. Stacy Reed and Mr. Charles Carter
Show Stopper: Sara Hazelwood and Christine Lonergan
Most Creative or Fun: Vicky Crawford and Sam and Jimmy Corrigan.
The Shops of Upper Georgetown: A Mano, ILO Day Spa, Jaryam, Sassanova, Sherman Pickey and Sugar provided some spectacular prizes to our winners.

Local area Floral Designers donated arrangements for the silent auction ranging from lotus pods and tulips to peonies in Chinese porcelain, adding style and elegance to the event. Thank you to Ruby Fee and the Dandelion Patch, Allen Goldberg, Jack H. Lucky Floral Designs, Starr Sears and Fleurs deForest and Daniel Toman and the Flower Designer.
Valet parking was generously underwritten by Sotheby’s Washington Fine Properties, Linda G. Rogers and Louise B. Williams.

On behalf of all of us at Wilson House, we appreciate your ongoing support of our efforts to preserve and maintain our historic house and garden at this annual event highlighting National Historic Preservation Month.