After Nature Museum's Gala, Decor Gets Planted in Local Gardens

It only makes sense that a nature museum's gala would strive be as environmentally friendly as possible, and such was the case at Friday night's Butterfly Ball (No. 17 on our list of Chicago's top annual benefits). The black-tie fund-raiser, which drew 600 guests this year, is the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's largest annual affair. "We really focus on being the city's example of a green, sustainable gala," said development manager Diane Gerrish.

Bukiety handled decor, filling centerpieces with lilac trees and flowers from local nurseries. After the event, Gerrish and her team donated the trees to the city to be replanted, and the flowers will go into the museum's own butterfly garden. Above the dance floor, a mobile made from recycled twigs dangled orange butterflies. Made with paper that contains seeds, the butterflies will be donated to local schoolchildren to replant in their home gardens.

Limelight Catering provided hors d'oeuvres, dinner, and specialty cocktails, with 90 percent of the ingredients sourced from Green City Market farmers. During the cocktail reception, servers circulated with free-range bison tartare on truffled potato chips and pizzettes topped with Michigan apples and farm-raised pheasant. Dinner began with a salad that contained purple and green asparagus from Michigan. Subsequent courses offered grass-fed sirloin and desserts made with local honey and farm-fresh rhubarb.

Additional eco-minded touches included signage printed on recycled boards and invitations printed with soy-based ink.