Hearts weren’t the only thing aflutter at the 2011 Fine Arts Foundation Debutante Ball. A cache of colorful Monarch butterflies, which chairwoman Mary Ann Henry imported for the occasion, were released as the evening drew to a close.
They caused quite a sensation as they flew about the huge tent where guests had dined and danced after the 21 debutantes had been presented on the University of Denver’s Margery Reed Terrace.
“Our theme this year was Butterfly Garden, so of course I felt it was important to have real butterflies,” Henry said. So much so that when she realized there wasn’t enough money in the budget to cover the cost of having them shipped in from Swallowtail Farms in California, Henry decided the purchase would be her gift to the event.
Henry admits to having some anxious moments between the time she placed the order and the time the butterflies arrived. “I can’t tell you how happy I was that they survived the trip and seem to be quite happy fluttering around in their enclosure.”
Once the tent came down, the butterflies flew off to start a new life among the flora and fauna on the DU campus.
The ball, a benefit for nonprofit arts organization supported by the Fine Arts Foundation, began with the traditional grand march that positioned the receiving line under a canopy on the Margery Reed Terrace. This group included Henry and her co-chair, Louise Richardson; the Citizens of the Arts, Don and Arlene Johnson; Fine Arts Foundation president Murri Bishop and tiara mistresses Sophia Long, Victoria Long, Claire Mohler and Abigail Reese.
The debutantes, introduced by master of ceremonies John Tatlock, were Nichole Bracken, Sarah Campbell, Sarah Fisher, Amber Groves, Heather Hagan, Emelie Johnson, Lauren Lake, Amanda McHugh, Meghan Morin, Brianne Pauls, Amy Pomeroy, Shelbee Riehl, Eva Marie Scheele, Hannah Schmitz, Katrina Scott, Sophia Singer, Kaitlyn Van Bockern, Ashlin Veselka and triplets Alexa, Brittney and Caroline Warly Solsberg.
Read more about them, and other special moments from the ball, in my Seen First blog: .
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, GetItWrite on Twitter
