WAG is still smiling over the lovely afternoon spent at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx last week.
We were invited by Tea Forté to celebrate the launch of Jardin, a collection of tea and tea accessories created in collaboration with the NYBG.
The curated collection of organic teas – featuring selections such as Chocolate Rose, Strawberry Hibiscus and Chamomile Citron – was inspired by the fruits and flowers of the garden and provided the focal point of a delightful afternoon tea in the Hudson Garden Grill.
We heard about the company, the teas and the collection from Julia Khodabandeh, Tea Forté’s vice president of marketing, while the event also featured comments from Stephen Sinon, the William B. O’Connor Curator of Special Collections, Research & Archives of the LuEsther T. Mertz Library at the garden.
Sinon, who also manned a display of botanical prints, spoke about famed botanical artist Pierre-Joseph Redouté, whose prints from the garden’s Rare Book and Folio Room of the library inspired the creative packaging for the collection that can be purchased in the NYBG Shop, along with other outlets. It was nice to hear, as well, that a percentage of the proceeds of the limited-edition collection will go back to the NYBG for education and preservation.
Following the tea service and presentation, the group proceeded outdoors for a private tour of the garden’s major summer exhibition, “Brazilian Modern: The Living Art of Roberto Burle Marx” (advanced in our May issue)
Walking through the primarily outdoor exhibition devoted to the work of the late Brazilian landscape architect and artist – which continues through Sept. 29 – provided quite a dramatic counterpoint to the quiet beauty of Jardin.
In fact, I can’t decide which was more memorable – the stunning floral centerpieces and overall pink-infused theme of the afternoon tea or those soaring palm trees outside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
But then, there’s really no need to pick one or the other, is there?
For more, visit teaforte.com or nybg.org.
– Mary Shustack
