Tuesday evening at 583 Park Avenue, the Horticultural Society of New York hosted its Flowers & Design benefit showing off an array of tabletop designs that played up this year’s garden-party theme. Thirty-one floral and event designers, each given a table to embellish with flowers and decorative trimmings, filled the airy, open space with an array of outdoor effects.
The primary reason that Maureen Ferry, the Horticultural Society of New York’s director of special events, chose the venue is because it “feels like a raw space, even though it isn’t a raw space—it’s spacious and open with light-colored walls, and we’re able to get all of the tables on one level.” Ferry oversaw the event and worked with its design chair, former Metropolitan Museum of Art event chief Chris Giftos.
With a few exceptions (like Antony Todd’s golden pavilion-like structure), most designers went for literal interpretations of a garden party that incorporated alfresco looks. Treelike constructions appeared frequently, like the realistic tree trunk by David Beahm topped with branches of cherry blossoms and azaleas, with a base of flowers growing from the bark. Susan Edgar’s take on a tree used strands of ribbon and seed packets as foliage and decorations of birdhouses and lanterns. Tabletop accessories spotted around the event included miniature terra-cotta pots (used as votives), slabs of slate as chargers, lamb’s ear leaves as votive coverings and napkin rings, and watering cans as vases.
Three hundred twenty-five guests dined at the garden-decked tables on poached jumbo prawns and sweet-corn succotash with potatoes and field greens, followed by an entrée of dry-aged strip steak with green peppercorn sauce, asparagus, and thyme-scented Yukon potatoes. Dessert offerings included strawberry shortcake made with Grand Marnier and a selection of petit fours. The benefit, which honored interior designer Charlotte Moss, earned $375,000 for the organization.
![Van Vliet & Trap's colorful table included a runner of bouquets arranged monochromatically in containers like milk bottles and watering cans. Silk butterflies topped each guest's plate and dotted the floral arrangements.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e10654image2.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Bridget Vizoso of the Designer's Co-op hung small green lanterns from a treelike structure surrounded by citrus-hued spring blooms. Small pots of peonies sat at each guest's place setting.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e10654image1.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Fungi provided the base for Rock Shelter Landscape Design & Construction's woodland-inspired centerpiece. Designers nestled moss, ferns, and flowering plants between the mushrooms. Tiny pots of pansies and moss-lined votive holders surrounded the display.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e10654image11.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![David Beahm crowned his table with a realistic tree bearing azalea and cherry-blossom branches. Spring flowers sprouted around the base of the trunk, which was also surrounded with green votives. A plaid tablecloth, rattan chargers, and bamboo chairs added to the alfresco look.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e10654image3.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Designers added texture to Renny & Reed's centerpiece by lining it with rows of velvety lamb's ears. The three-level display contained tulips, ranunculus, daffodils, and other seasonal blooms.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e10654image4.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Antony Todd created an elegant golden pavilion surrounded by cube ottomans. On the table, Todd used few flowers—only some cut gardenias floating in bowls—and pushed the gilded look with a shiny golden tabletop surface, chargers, and flatware.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e10654image6.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Flowers, Sticks, and Stones' interpretation of a tree featured seed packets on strands of ribbon, hanging lanterns, and birdhouses. Colorful foliage covered the base of the tree, extending along the banquet table.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e10654image7.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Celebrate Flowers' table had a large working fountain filled with dozens of flame-hued tulips. Wheatgrass and mini topiaries surrounded the base of the fountain.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e10654image9.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![The public squares of Savannah inspired Gotham Gardens' table. In the center of the table, designers surrounded a Spanish-moss-draped tree with a miniature park setting, complete with shrubbery and tiny benches.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e10654image10.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)