Indiana Region
Donwell Abbey Strawberry Party
June 13, 2010
The summer humidity was definitely felt, but failed to make a negative impact, on June 13 when a crowd of Austen enthusiasts met at Garfield Park for a tour of the beautiful conservatory, led by Indy Parks and Greenhouse Horticulturalist Susan Meeks. This tour was followed by the meeting at the Arts Center at Garfield Park where the hostess, JASNA-IR member Ann Alexander, who had supplied the tour group with hand made fans depicting various characters from Emma with which to keep cool during the tour of the conservatory and sunken gardens, had ready wonderful refreshments following the strawberry party theme-strawberry ganache, strawberry iced tea, strawberry salsa with cinnamon chips, strawberry angel food cake, and home made scones with strawberry jam and whipped cream. It was a feast!
While the crowd enjoyed the food, James Smith, owner of Montgomery Smith, Inc. and premier firms in the country on greenhouse restoration, gave a fascinating talk on the history of greenhouses. He alluded to Sense and Sensibility in which Fanny Dashwood wanted to take out trees at Norland to make way for a greenhouse. It was the largest turnout we have ever had at an event, with over thirty in attendance, many of whom were first time attendees. This is partly due to the event having been profiled in the Saturday June 12 edition of the Indianapolis Star Home and Garden Events section. Secretary Mary Miller gave a door prize-a copy of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and advised the group of a recent Best Buy sales ad for their e-book reader which showed the opening lines of Pride and Prejudice. It was a wonderful day which left the JASNA-IR members looking forward to the August discussion of Northanger Abbey and Mysteries of Udolpho with eager anticipation.
—Sue Landow
Indiana Region Members