A little thunderstorm did not dampen the spirits of the 330 guests at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s biggest annual fundraiser, Gala in the Gardens on June 22. Chaired by Georgia Thompson, Isabel Keating, Polly McCrea, Marla Ordway and Cindi Sutter, the silent auction, held in MacMillan Auditorium due to weather, set a record for money earned. The sun came out and guests walked through the gardens to the al fresco tent outside the Sensory Garden for an outstanding dinner prepared by Chef Steven Brown of Tilia and St. Genevieve, 2017 finalist for James Beard Best Chef Midwest. The program, emceed by KARE-11’s Belinda Jensen, featured Heads and Tails games and a live auction. The theme for the evening, Kaleidoscopes of Color, was brilliantly displayed with gorgeous floral arrangements, green tablecloths and pink accessories. Sponsors included Wells Fargo, Jeannine Rivet and Warren Herreid II, Land ‘O Lakes, Bailey Nurseries, Cargill, Dorsey, Popp Communications, Lurie Wealth Advistors, Microgigantic, The MPX group, Solution Blue, Otten Bros. and Minnesota Monthly.
