The New York Flower Show Dinner Dance is always a standout in a season of pretty parties in the city. Benefitting the Horticultural Society of New York, the designers, bless them, were inventive and over-the-top, and if you look closely there are many ideas that can be adapted at home–interesting color combinations, place settings, plant varieties and props.

The evening’s honorees this year were La Grenouille’s Charles Masson and artist Hunt Slonem. Wow oh wow and they were, and are, wonderful.

Now may I show you to your table?

The venue this year was the Altman building in Chelsea, a location somewhat edgier than the usual Upper East Side glamour spot. I missed our old place at 583 Park, but hey it’s good to mix it up now and then.

I’ve never seen so many orchids.

The designer Michal Aram is noted botanical motifs in his designs for the house and table.

West Elm was nice enough to create a centerpiece you could see over. I love the yellow and blue, and the beachy-summery theme.

H. Hartley du Pont was one of the evening’s design chairmen, along with Mario Buatta and Lee Robinson. His table was inspired by the sea, with a turquoise-y tablecloth and porcelain sea urchins with tentacle-y things.

All green can be great.

But then again…

Renny & Reed is always a showstopper. Oh, those peonies! And the supersize scale of the centerpiece, the hanging votives, the turquoise tablecloth with the emerald chargers–great fun.

And a great show it was. The Hort raised money for its children’s programs and as a trustee I was happy about that.

Win a Rocking Chair…

Have you entered to Win a Rocking Chair? You still can by clicking here and leaving a comment. It’s a beautiful wicker piece by Lloyd-Flanders. Details here.