River Oaks’ Garden Maestro Brings Houston’s Old Guard Power Brokers Out For a Green Celebration

From significant public vistas to some of  city’s most beautiful gardens, many in posh River Oaks, much-admired landscape architect Johnny Steele has embellished the Houston terrain with his uniquely combined talent for design and knowledge of horticulture for close to five decades. No wonder why Steele was honored at the Houston Botanic Garden’s annual luncheon.

The River Oaks Country Club ballroom pulsated with the city’s Old Guard philanthropic and social establishment, beginning with co-chairs Martha Long and Sean Wade and Janie and Daniel Zilkha, heirs to the Cullen family oil fortunes which reach back to 1932.

Nancy Abendshein, a driving force behind bringing the garden to fruition as early board chair, sent a generous thank you video to the throng that raised more than $835,000, even though she was out of the country. Abendshein’s philanthropic threads reach back to Brown & Root, germinating in 1919.

“I can’t think of anyone more fitting for us to celebrate. Johnny has spent his career creating beautiful gardens and landscapes,” Abendshein says. “He has been such a generous supporter of our garden and of parks and green spaces throughout our city.

“He understands just how much these beautiful places add to our lives and our communities.”

Philanthropist and longterm friend of Steele, Judy Tate joined the honoree on stage for a Q&A that touched on his education at Louisiana State University, his early days in partnership with Doug McDugald, several of his most interesting projects, and how McDugald/Steele grew from thinking small to thinking big.

When asked what he would most like to do today, Steele responds, “I would plant more trees. I would happily plant more trees.”

Elizabeth Swift of Swift + Company beautifully dressed the ballroom in one of Steele’s favorites — massive ferns hanging from the stage set and mounted on pedestals around the room.  Embracing “The Magic of Mycelium” theme of the luncheon, Swift flanked the stage with mossy columns adorned with organically grown “bowling ball-sized” oyster mushrooms courtesy of Benjamin & Farris.

The themed decor continued with centerpieces. Swift floral director Bryan Olavarria combined kale, Amaranthus, seeded eucalyptus and cappuccino roses from H-E-B to complement the large oyster mushrooms, which attendees took home along with mushroom-focused recipes.

PC Seen: Original visionary Nancy Stallworth Thomas, Houston Botanic Garden president and CEO, Jill Barry, board president Beto Cardenas, Andrew Abendshein, Susie and Mel Glasscock, Annise Parker, Cherie Flores, Eliza and Stuart Stedman, Mary Eads, Joe Hudson, Rose Cullen, Linda McReynolds, Ceron, Shelli and Steve Lindley, Cherie and John Lindley, Jenna Lindley, Courtney Sarofim, KatharineBarthelme, and Kitch Taub.