On Wednesday, September 16, The New York Botanical Garden held its annual Rose Garden Dinner Dance. This event commemorates the beauty of the rose and the Garden’s stunning rose collection in its autumn bloom. The evening began with cocktails in the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and dancing in the Garden Terrace Room at 7:15 p.m.

The Chairmen of the Rose Garden Dinner Dance were Mr. and Mrs. Harry Burn III and Mr. and Mrs. Lionel Goldfrank III. The Honorary Chairmen were Mr. and Mrs. James Benenson, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Hubbard, and Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Nolen.

This year’s Rose Garden Dinner Dance celebrated several of The New York Botanical Garden’s new building and landscape projects, and honored the benefactors that have made these initiatives possible. Amy P. Goldman was honored for The Lillian and Amy Goldman Stone Mill—one of New York City’s prized landmark buildings dating back to 1840, which is currently in the process of being restored for use as a catering facility to produce vital earned revenue for the Garden. Adam R. Rose and Peter R. McQuillan were honored for the Adam R. Rose and Peter R. McQuillan Horticulture Operations Center—an eco-friendly addition to the Garden’s resources that will enable Horticulture staff to steward the Garden’s living collections more efficiently and effectively. In addition, the evening also celebrated the restoration of the historic Lilac Collection.

The Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, which was in full flower for the Rose Garden Dinner Dance, features more than 3,500 plants and 600 varieties of roses. The most beautiful of its kind in America, the Rockefeller Rose Garden is being transformed into one of the most environmentally friendly rose gardens in the world, while staying true to renowned landscape architect Beatrix Farrand’s original 1916 concept. During the multiple-year conversion, low-maintenance, disease-resistant roses are being planted. New varieties on the market, along with the Garden staff’s expertise and experimentation, are driving the idea toward realization.

Proceeds of the Rose Garden Dinner Dance help to maintain and build The New York Botanical Garden’s renowned rose collection, and support the curators’ continued care and development of one of the world’s premier rose venues. This event attracted close to 300 members of the Garden’s extended family, and raised over $500,000 to support the collection.