Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden held its 14th annual Gala in the Garden: A Night in Tropical Paradise on Saturday February 3, 2007. Co-chairs for this year’s black-tie fundraiser were Brenda Nestor Castellano and Swanee DiMare. Jean duPont Shehan served as Honorary Chairman, with Bunny Bastian and Anna May Conese as Philanthropic Chairmen and Barbara Tria as Silent Auction Chairman.

This year’s Gala in the Garden for 450 guests began with cocktails and a highlight of the evening, a silent auction, in the Northern Trust Ballroom of the Jean duPont Shehan Visitor Center. Guests proceeded to a large lakeside pavilion for dining and dancing to the music of The Peter Duchin Orchestra, one of the most sought after bands of the modern era who returned after last year’s much talked about performance.

Along with catering the event, Le Basque Catering in association with Karla Productions, created the sultry, innovative décor with orange, hot pink and gold silk fabrics draped throughout the pavilion, creating an exotic atmosphere. Pink orchids and thousands of pink, orange and red roses were used for table centerpieces. The rose centerpieces were donated to a local hospital. Gala guests enjoyed a spectacular evening in the stunning tropical landscape while they also supported the vital work of Fairchild. Proceeds from Gala in the Garden support the advancement of Fairchild’s programs in education, research and conservation.

Grand Sponsors ($25,000 and above): Mrs. Jean duPont Shehan, Mrs. Bunny Bastian, Mrs. Brenda Nestor Castellano & Mr. Robert Castellano, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene P. Conese, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Paul J. DiMare, Jr.

Sponsors ($10,000 - $24,999): Mr. and Mrs. Daniel M. Bell, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brockway–Bill Ussery Motors, Inc., Ms. Teresa Buoniconti, Mr. and Mrs. M. Anthony Burns, The Aaron I. Fleischman Foundation, Florida Power & Light, Mrs. Evelyn Langlieb Greer & Mr. Bruce W. Greer, Mr. and Mrs. Heinz Luedeking, Northern Trust, Ryder System, U.S. Trust.

Special thanks to: Bacardi USA, Peroni Italy, Piranesi Haute Jewelry, Saks Fifth Avenue–Dadeland, Mr. and Mrs. Alvaro Varela–Agriflora.

Please save the date for Gala in the Garden 2008 on February 2, 2008. To date we are pleased to announce Co-Chairmen Bunny Bastian and Teresa Buoniconti, Honorary Chairman Jean duPont Shehan, and Philanthropic Chairmen Brenda Nestor Castellano and Swanee DiMare. The Peter Duchin Orchestra will be performing and the artwork of featured artist Roy Lichtenstein will be on display throughout Fairchild. For more information please call Suzanne Kores at 305.667.1651, ext. 3323.