31st Annual Dinner on the Desert
Desert Botanical Garden hosted its 31st Annual Dinner on the Desert on April 22. More than 600 guests attended the garden-inspired event, which was chaired by Rebecca Ailes-Fine.
As guests arrived at the Ottosen Entry Garden, they enjoyed welcoming refreshments – including Butterfly-Tini cocktails – and music by Tetra String Quartet. A stroll through the Desert Terrace Garden and Jan and Tom Lewis Desert Portal ended at the silent auction in Dorrance Hall, where attendees had a chance to bid on more than 260 distinctive plants, pots and garden art, plus unusual and exciting experiences. Both along the way and in the auction area, passed hors d’oeuvres were served.
Native American flutist Ken Duncan entertained along the path to dinner in Sunset Plaza, the garden’s newest event venue. M Catering by Michael’s prepared the fresh, seasonal cuisine.
Following dinner, guests gathered in the Ottosen Entry Garden to enjoy warm cinnamon-sugar doughnuts, petite chicken and waffle cones and a chef-in-action ice cream and sorbet station. Cover band Groove Museum (comprising former Arizona State University music students) provided music for dancing under the stars. Each guest parted with a set of signature Dinner on the Desert gift card sets.
The evening netted $418,000 to support the garden’s research, conservation, exhibition and environmental education programs.
HAUTE EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY
Butterflies adorned flower-fill cages on tables
Tetra String Quartet
Jeffrey and Tahnia McKeever; Bennett and Jacquie Dorrance
Lee and Mike Cohn; Larry and Tracey Lytle
Nancy Hanley and Bob Bulla; Tom and Jan Lewis
Dr. Kellie Warren and her husband, Onesimus Strachan; Paul Smith and Diana Ellis Smith
Native American flutist Ken Duncan; Harold Dorenbecher and Mary Heiss
Carrie Hulburd and Erin Gogolak
Seated: Peter Fine, Rebecca Ailes-Fine, Drew Fine, Kim Fine and Gina Gral. Standing: Justin Ailes, Cheryl Ailes, Alexa Alley, Jillian Fine Heise and Jeff Heise
Darra Rayndon
Tracy Bame and Jeff Abernethy
The garden lighted with color
The Groove Museum
