Photos

Greg Yull and Anne Garlington

Eleni Kouvatsos and Sharon Kunkel

Mark Pritchett, Mireya Eavey and honoree Jaime DiDomenico

Rebecca Abrahamson, honoree Rachel Shelley and Michael Shelton

Kelly Lyons and Robby Hukill

Michael Doyle, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County President Bill Sadlo, Jill Luke and Angie Stringer

Honorees Rachel Shelley and Jaime DiDomenico

Art Lambert and Larry Fineberg

Julee Breehne and Ann Marie Chupa

Jennifer Rominecki and Kathy Lehner

David Sessions accepts the Clyde Nixon Business Leadership Award from Bradley Nixon.

Clara Reynardus de Villanueva and Kelley Lavin

Peter McAllister and Ringling College Innovation by Creative Design awardee Christopher Stidd.

The crowd intently watches the ceremony unfold.

Charles Hines and Andy Stultz

Incoming EDC Chair Art Lambert and Larry Fineberg with the ceremonial gavel.

Bob Hite, Victoria Stultz and Craig Tuley

Sisters Bradley and Lisa Nixon present David Sessions with the Clyde Nixon Business Leadership Award.

The final course included a coconut drink rimmed with coconut sugar.

The main course included soba noodles smoked with tea.

Linda Garcia takes a closer look at one of the salts.

The scallops were seared with Dutch cocoa.

Donna Barth and Barbara Price sip their watermelon gazpacho.

Lindsey and Victor Gaviria.

Lindsey Gaviria shows the best process for steeping tea.

Lindsey Gaviria teaches the crowd about what they're eating.

Chef Chris Johnson toasts fennel.

Richard Morsberger and Steve Boesel.

The long table held all the guests.

Andrew Vac and Ramona Glanz

The welcome drink contained peach rooibos tea.

The Spice and Tea Exchange, celebrating 10 years, had samples of their salts, teas and sugars.

Paulette Callendar stops to talk to Natalie Davis before dinner.

The places were set with care.

Carolyn Lowry-Nation grew milkweed in her lanai and the result was Monarch butterflies that developed because their eggs had been attached to the milkweed before it was purchased.

Golden raindrop is prominently featured.

... and spiral stem ginger.

... curcuma ...

Carolyn Lowry-Nation has an interesting mix of plants including heliconia ...

Zinnia flourishes in her yard.

Caladiums thrive along the side of the house.

Bromeliad adds a burst of color.

A trumpet tree plant adds an unusual beauty in her back yard.

Ixora grows along her screen.

Golden raintree thrives in Carolyn Lowry-Nation's lanai.

Zinnia bursts with color.

Heliconia offers unique beauty to Carolyn Lowry-Nation's lanai.

A bed of petite petunias sits with a waterfall in the background.