Philanthropist Audrey Gruss invited 30 of her closest women friends to a White Tea Garden Party at her Southampton home, “Fairwind.”
Guests including Serena Boardman, Karen LeFrak and Margo Nederlander helped kick-off Hope for Depression Research Foundation’s Fall Luncheon Seminar by wearing their brightest whites for the afternoon.
Classic tea sandwiches were passed around, while white linen-covered tables in the pool house were laden with pastel-colored pastries.
Guests including Louise Blouin, Kim Heirston and Susan Mortimer meandered through beautiful grounds that featured a white cutting garden, beautiful blooming white hydrangeas, a white and green woodland garden, and a pool surrounded by white dogwood trees, with an apple orchard and white birch allee.
Gruss welcomed guests and explained how important it is to have good nutrition, exercise and sleep to keep a balanced mind/body state and help ward off depression.
Rosemarie Pacheco of Grace’s Marketplace and the granddaughter of Grace Balducci Doria, gave a short talk explaining how white tea is one of the most effective antioxidants.
A rare tea, it was harvested only once a year and was originally saved for emperors and nobility in the Far East to enjoy. The tea is now available in the U.S. through distributor The Republic of Tea.
All guests, including Mai Hallingby Harrison, Carol Mack, Lise Evans, Dana Hammond Stubgen and Francesca Nye, left with gifts of white tea from The Republic of Tea and a Save-the-Date for Hope for Depression Research Foundation’s Luncheon Seminar on November 10, 2015, to be held at the 583 Park Avenue venue. www.hopefordepression.
Pictured: LeFrak, Gruss, Mortimer