If my busy schedule allows, I always try to attend the "Hat Luncheon".
Last week was the 40th annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon hosted by the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy. More than 1300 attendees filled the park’s Conservatory Garden for what is popularly known as the “Hat Luncheon” - a festive affair where guests don their most extravagant chapeaus. Frederick Law Olmsted was an American landscape designer and widely considered the father of American landscape architecture. Olmsted was made famous for co-designing many well-known urban areas including New York City's famous Central Park. This yearly gathering is among the Conservancy’s most important philanthropic events supporting its mission to preserve, maintain, and enhance the iconic public green space.
Enjoy these photos.
Here I am in my “hat luncheon” ensemble. I always embellish one of my own hats for the affair. This year, I decorated my hat with many fresh daffodils from my gardens.
It was a cloudy, rather gloomy day, but hundreds of guests wearing their fanciful toppers came out for the well-known gathering at Central Park’s Conservatory Garden located at Fifth Avenue and 105th Street.
Waiters in white dinner jackets escorted all the ladies down the steps leading toward the awards ceremony venue. (Photo by BFA/Darian DiCianno)
The event was held under this giant white tent. It was so fun to see others walk down in their creatively designed hats.
Inside, cheerful tables decorated in bright spring colors. (Photo by BFA/Deonte Lee)
Here I am with my longtime publicist and dear friend, Susan Magrino. (Photo by BFA/Darian DiCianno)
Everyone wore hats of all sizes and shapes adorned with all kinds of embellishments. Here is one that caught my eye – a basket of spring flowers.
Here is another creative hat decorated with yellow roses.
I stopped for this quick photo with Lu-Shawn Thompson, philanthropist and wife of the late District Attorney Ken Thompson.
This is philanthropist and Central Park Conservancy Trustee Gillian Miniter in her spring purple headpiece.
Miss New York, Sydney Park, chose royal blue for her outfit.
Here’s a fun photo of Susan and Katherine Zeller Gage, the beautiful wife of Chef Daniel Boulud.
There were so many unique and interesting hats like this one on actress, author, and producer, Ali Wentworth.
Hard to miss this hat and cape worn by television personality Suzy Buckley Woodward.
Here’s another charming hat adorned in pretty orchids.
So many of the attendees, including we three – “got the memo” to wear floral designs.
This is designer Shannon McLean in a fanciful butterfly hat. (Photo by BFA/Darian DiCianno)
The lunch was catered by Abigail Kirsch Catering Relationships. It included these fresh grilled chicken salads. The floral décor was designed by Andrew Pascoe. (Photo by BFA/Deonte Lee)
And for dessert, a trio of strawberry delights – a mini strawberry shortcake, a fresh strawberry and a strawberry dipped in chocolate.
The annual “hat luncheon” in New York City was another huge success. I am already looking forward to next year’s event. (Photo by BFA/Deonte Lee)
The vegetable gardens at my Bedford, New York farm are ready for planting.
Having a really good vegetable garden where I can grow lots of fresh, delicious, and nutritious produce is extremely important to me. I share the vegetables with my daughter, my grandchildren, as well as other relatives and friends. Every year, we spend a lot of time preparing the soil for planting - tilling the earth, adding natural fertilizers, and building raised, well-aerated beds.
Enjoy these photos.
Building up the soil is the most important part of preparing a garden for growing vegetables and flowers. Deep, organically rich soil will encourage and support the growth of healthy root systems. Once the soil is fertilized, it’s ready for rototilling. The purpose of tilling is to mix organic matter into the soil, help control weeds, break up crusted soil, and loosen the earth for planting.
Here is Phurba with our Troy-Bilt Pony Rear-Tine “Big Red” Tiller. We rototill the vegetable garden every year – regular tilling over time can improve soil structure. The soil does not need to be tilled very deeply – less than a foot is fine.
This model tiller has four forward, one neutral, and two reverse speeds for easy use.
Here is a view from the operator’s position. It is not a heavy piece of equipment, but does need to be pushed slowly through the soil to work it well.
The machine is set to till the soil at about six to eight inches deep. On some tillers, the speed of the rotating tines helps determine the speed of the machine.
As Phurba moves, he makes sure to overlap his passes slightly, so every bit of soil is covered. Tilling also helps to level the ground as it turns over the soil. Phurba is also wearing proper safety gear – long pants, closed shoes, and head and face protection.
Here is one side of the larger garden all done. One can see the tilled dark, rich soil.
This soil in the adjacent garden is not yet tilled – one can see the difference in color.
Phurba goes around clockwise with our Troy-Bilt in the same manner. Only rototill when the ground is moist, but not wet – the soil should still crumble when picked up. It’s also a good idea to do this on a day with little or no wind, which could also slow down the task.
In the foreground is nutrient-rich soil that has been tilled. In the center is soil that Phurba still has to go over. If one is not sure what amendments the garden soil may need, one can test it to gain more knowledge of its pH, phosphorous, lime, potassium, soluble salts, and soil texture. Soil testing kits are available at garden centers, or through a local cooperative extension.
The vegetable gardens are quite large, so it takes time to rototill the entire space, but it’s well worth the effort. One complete pass over this garden takes a couple of hours. Once the soil is upturned, determine its condition – too much sand in the soil may make the soil too dry, and too much clay may make it too wet. The soil should be a good combination of earth, sand, and clay. My soil is very well balanced.
After the soil is well tilled, it is time to create the beds. I like to use the most amount of space possible for planting. Here is a line of jute twine marking the center of the garden. Jute twine is easy to tie from one side of the garden to the other. The twine will mark the raised beds so they are all aligned perfectly.
In the center is the perennial herb garden. This area is also marked with twine.
Brian tends the herbs – making sure the beds are weeded and the plants are in good condition.
Here’s Phurba raking and shaping the tops of the raised beds. Raised beds warm more quickly in springtime and maintain better aeration and drainage.
Narrow footpaths are dug alongside each bed using the twine as a guide.
The footpaths in between each bed are only as wide as the spade. These paths are used for walking, weeding, and cutting.
It takes time to build the beds perfectly. When building raised beds, be sure every part can be reached without standing on it. Let this be a number one “ground” rule – never step on the soil within raised beds.
We’ll be planting lots of crops soon. No matter when the soil is prepared, only start planting when the soil is warm enough to be worked. The soil temperature for planting cool weather vegetables is about 40-degrees Fahrenheit. 50-degrees Fahrenheit for onions and leeks, and at least 60-degrees for other warmer and tender crops.
Here is the main footpath between the two sides and leading to the center herb garden. It is also measured and marked with twine before edging. This aisle will accommodate the wheelbarrow and sprinklers when needed. It’s always exciting to start planting the vegetable gardens. I can’t wait for all the delicious vegetables we’ll have here this summer.
More than 2600 people were in attendance at this year’s annual Dinner of the White House Correspondents’ Association in Washington, D.C. This Association, WHCA, is an organization of journalists who cover the White House and the President of the United States.
The first WHCA Dinner was held in 1921. It is traditionally held during the last weekend of April. 16 presidents have attended at least one Dinner beginning with Calvin Coolidge in 1924. I’ve attended several over the years and always enjoy seeing other celebrities, politicians, public figures, and media personalities.
Here are some photos of the event and around DC, enjoy.
Whenever I travel to our nation’s capital, I always take photos of the historical buildings and monuments. The Lincoln Memorial is a US national memorial built to honor our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the western end of the National Mall across from the Washington Monument, and is built in the form of a neoclassical temple.
And if you haven’t yet visited, inside is a large seated sculpture of Abraham Lincoln and inscriptions of two well-known speeches by Lincoln, the “Gettysburg Address” and his second inaugural address.
This is the United States Library of Congress. The library’s primary mission is to research inquiries made by members of Congress, which is carried out through the Congressional Research Service. It also houses and oversees the United States Copyright Office and is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country.
If one looks closely, one can read the engraving above the front entrance of the United States Supreme Court building. It reads “Equal Justice Under Law.”
This is The South Portico of the White House. It was constructed by James Hoban in 1824 during the presidency of James Monroe. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman added the Truman Balcony to the second floor, a private porch enjoyed by First Families ever since.
As day turned to night, many of the monuments and buildings are lit up. Here is the Washington Monument, the most prominent structure in Washington, DC. The Washington Monument is an obelisk on the National Mall built to commemorate George Washington. It stands just over 555-feet tall and 55-feet wide at its base.
This is the back of the Lincoln Memorial – so brightly lit, one can see it clearly from nearby roads.
The US Capitol sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall. It is, of course, the meeting place of the United States Congress.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is always held at the International Ballroom in the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC.
My longtime publicist and friend, Susan Magrino, my agent, Ben Levine, and I were seated at table #234. I was a guest of DailyMail.com.
Here are members of the United States Marine Band and Joint Armed Forces Color Guard – all entering the ballroom with their instruments in tow.
Everyone was taking phone photos. Here I am in the ballroom before dinner began.
Susan and I stopped for this photo before sitting at our table.
In this photo I am joined by political journalist, author, and ABC News’ Chief Washington Correspondent, Jonathan Karl.
And here I am with Sean Walsh, Chief Brand Officer for DailyMail.com.
Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson and I greeted each other while waiting for President Biden’s address. (Photo by Sean Walsh)
Did you see this image on my Instagram page @marthastewart48? Kim, Pete, and I stopped for some photos together – this one went viral. (Photo by Sean Walsh)
At the beginning of the event the United States Marine Band and the Joint Armed Forces Color Guard played “Hail to the Chief” – the official song welcoming the United States President. This event was the first after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. It was nice to see everyone who attended.
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