Goddesses in the Garden - Chocolate-Wine-Flowers-Tiaras....

My Mother's Day present this year - chocolate - wine tasting - flowers and tiaras - have I got your attention yet?:). Throw in some male models and a neck massage, continue with lunch and a fashion show which included Miss Florida and Miss St. Petersburg and Miss Winter Haven and you know that the "Goddesses in the Garden" Mother's Day Luncheon ticket I got for Mother's Day was a hit with me. 

The best part was that my girlfriend Jackie came along and we both enjoyed meandering through one of the oldest tourist attractions of St. Petersburg in Florida, the "Sunken Gardens". 

So now I'm inviting all my gather friends to come on along with us .....:)

Hold on - first we need to don our tiaras:)

These lovely ladies handed out our tiaras  

Miss St. Petersburg and Miss Winter Haven - Florida - USA

We admired the gorgeous water lilies on the way to the event set up in the garden.

Miss Jackie next to the event sign "Goddesses in the Garden"

It was a wonderful Mother's Day treat for both of us:) 

The water boys:) - called Handsome Heroes were models at the event, handing out water on the way to the garden set-up

Of course a goddess cannot live on water alone - so we tasted a little wine - loved their Riesling ...:)

Refreshed we perused the raffle tables. I loved the idea that you could place your raffle ticket in the bag in front of the item you wanted to win.

We didn't get lucky - maybe because we already are:), but someone won this little kitty and they had a beautiful Dalmation puppy too, along with cruise tickets and spa packages .....

It's not real - but isn't it the cutest?

 The spa booth was fun to visit - wish I'd won one of their gift certificates ...

The raffle package I really - really wanted - a free pass for a year to visit Sunken Garden - beautiful photo art ...

We couldn't even get close to the area which offered neck massages it was so popular. 

I wondered what the Tarot Reader saw in the cards as she was reading someones fortune. I thought she was way too pretty and too young to be a "real" fortune teller:)

Well, it's time to go inside to the air conditioned luncheon ...

one last snap shot of some of those fine wine bottles ...

fancy and just plain pretty blue

Our lunch entertainment included a fashion show.

One of the male models in particular had us in stitches with his antics (and no, I don't think these were planned either) I took some shots I might post elsewhere...sshhh:)

The boys lined the stage as the ladies modeled ... Toga - toga ...:)

At the end of the fashion show ...

The clothing came from Chico's clothing store in St. Petersburg and may I point out that the model wearing the jacket is a mom of five!!!

Well, this wouldn't be one of my posts if I left you without showing you some more green ...

Looking out the windows into the garden below ...

Bougainvillea framed by palms.

In case you were wondering, this was all for a good cause, the Montessori School for the Deaf in Clearwater, FL. Supported by local businesses and the Rays Baseball team I sure hope they will meet their goal.

I think this was one of my favorite Mother's Day gifts I ever received.

If you'd like to take a tour of the Sunken Gardens to see the flowers with Jackie and me - stay tuned for part II of this post - the gardens and flowers.

 Wishing all my gather friends

and all the gather ladies

 a wonderful Mother's Day!!!

 All photos taken on April 10, 2009 - copyright 2009 Rose H.