ON THE TOWN

Garden parties: Events support Toledo Day Nursery and the arts

Megan Meyer-Foos, John Mangas, Aniata Lopez, and Miranda Jarouche at Summerfest.

Pat Scheuer, Joan Tobias, and Chalrene Kuhn attend Toledo Day nursery's 16th annual 'In Another Garden' 2011 preview party.

Toledo Day Nursery's 16th annual "In Another Garden" Tour 2011 presented by Friends of Toledo Day Nursery was Saturday in Ottawa Hills, and it was another smashing success.

PHOTO GALLERY: View images of preview party

Attendees boarded vans at St. Ursula Academy and headed to the beautiful sites, where live music added to the tranquil scenes.

Krista Havill, Elaine BAchey, Dee Teich, and Marsha Molnar.

Those in the know attended the preview party June 16 at Inverness Club with party chairmen Konni Bostleman and Marcia McCready. In addition to dinner, this year's garden owners were thanked for their participation with a token of appreciation -- a Jan Pugh pottery piece. They included Leah and Doug Hileman, Carol and Dan Hylant, Carrie and Mike Ferguson, Dorothy and Rex Figy, Eileen Conlon and Naran Burchinow, Cindy and Fred Redmann, Krista and Nick Havill, Deborah and Wayne Court, and Sunset House and The Woodlands. After the tasty buffet dinner, guests rushed off to get a sneak peek of the gardens on tour.

Megan Meyer-Foos, John Mangas, Aniata Lopez, and Miranda Jarouche at Summerfest.

The gardens had the extra help of local nurseries to add that special touch, including Tom Strain & Sons and Daughter Too!, Blanchard Tree and Lawn, the Andersons, Alaina Meister, the Gardenmeister, Black Diamond Nursery & Garden Center, Naturally Native Nursery, Hoen's Greenhouse and Garden Center, Rhodes Garden Fresh and Oak Park Water and Land, Northbranch Nursery, and Creque's Greenhouse.

Pete Culp, Mayor Mike Bell, and Calvin Lawshe at Summerfest.

The tour committee included Nancy Robon, Mona Macksey, Darlene Carpenter, Leah Hileman, Jim Foote, Jean Emery, Theresa Hoen, Jamie Orians, Janice Sandys, Mary Decker, Margaret Doresco, Julie Goldner, Jano Nolette, Claudia Sundberg, Eric Lehman, Lois Whiteman, president of Friends, and others including her husband, Jim Whiteman, president of the Toledo Day Nursery. About 600 people attended the event, which is expected to raise $70,000 for Toledo Day Nursery.

Speaking of gardens, Toledo Botanical Gardens' annual Crosby Festival of the Arts is Saturday and Sunday, and there will be a preview party tomorrow.

It was not A garden event, but certainly a wonderful outdoor setting for the Toledo Board of Realtors, the Home Builders Association of Greater Toledo, Inc., Professional Remodelers Organization, and Mortgage Bankers Association, who joined forces for Summerfest 2011. The event June 16 at Centennial Terrace was a great opportunity to network with other industry professionals. The small entrance fee helped cover the cost of the band.

Among the 450 partygoers was Toledo Mayor Mike Bell, who arrived on his Harley along with many other party-goers who rode in on their fancy bikes. Still others came by auto, including a few convertibles.