HUNTSVILLE — It’s been said a great hat can change a person’s day.
It certainly changed the day for the Huntsville Botanical Garden which, after a two-year absence, held its Spring Hat Luncheon to benefit Garden educational programs, camps, horticulture displays and exhibits.
“We are so excited to be bringing back the Spring Hat Luncheon this year,” said Annette Alexander, vice president of advancement at the Garden. “It has always been a popular event for our community, and it is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate spring while supporting the work we do here at the Garden.”
To shine a bit of perspective on how important these missions are, the Huntsville Botanical Garden has been nominated by travel experts for the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards in the 10Best Botanical Garden category.
You can still vote every day through May 22 to make Huntsville Botanical Garden No. 1.
The sold-out Spring Hat Luncheon welcomed 320 guests donning stunning hats and fascinators in all shapes, sizes and colors.
What is a fascinator you may ask? It is a formal headdress usually attached to the hair or the head, and apparently wearing them as headbands is also popular these days.
There were several ways to donate at the event including a silent auction, fancy cupcake sales and proceeds from sold out tickets.
Bestselling author, horticulturist and television host Brie Arthur was the guest speaker. Proceeds from her book sales at the event also went toward Garden mission causes.
“Brie’s presentation consisted of sharing her landscaping ideas and wisdom from years and years of gardening with the guests,” said Anna Beck, director of communications and special projects. “She has fabulous ideas about gardening and planting, and she is known for foodscaping, which is including edible plants in with your ornamental garden.”
Beck said there was positive feedback about Arthur.
“She is inspiring and engaging and she motivated everyone to get back outside now that it has warmed up,” Beck said. “We gave the guests a copy of her Powerpoint presentation, and she even stayed afterward to chat with the people and do a book signing.”
The Spring Hat Luncheon is a philanthropic and a social event, according to Sue Wagner, chief executive officer of the Garden.
“Guests are able not only to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate the return of spring, but they can also walk away knowing they have made a difference,” she said.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our email newsletter to have all our smart stories delivered to your inbox.
