Planting Fields Foundation’s annual Deck the Halls benefit ushered in the 2025 holiday season on Saturday, December 6. Long regarded as the North Shore’s holiday party of the season, guests enjoyed a festive evening at the historic Main House in Oyster Bay, New York in support of the stewardship of Planting Fields, a 409-acre historic estate, featuring landscapes designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm, and located just twenty-five miles from New York City.
Chaired by Julia Curry and Anne Barnes, the celebration was a vibrant blend of glamour and tradition, thoughtfully orchestrated to delight guests from the moment they arrived.
The storied halls of the former Gold Coast estate glowed, as the sounds of holiday music drifted through the rooms. Guests were welcomed with a glass of champagne and greeted by carolers, setting a nostalgic and joyful tone that carried throughout the night. Cocktails and exquisite hors d’oeuvres enriched the night, lending a refined winter ambiance well suited to the estate’s historic character.
The evening welcomed over 250 distinguished guests, who gathered to celebrate the season in style while championing the Foundation’s mission to preserve and celebrate Planting Fields. Among the attendees were the Honorable Congressman Tom Suozzi and his wife, Helene Suozzi, the Honorable Peter Fox Cohalan and his partner, Eileen Kremers, COO of Rallye Motor Company Denis Mallon and his partner Robert Galanti.
Special guests of the evening also included: Baron William Frère and his wife, Baroness and Planting Fields Foundation Trustee, Margaret Frère, newly appointed Trustee, Harry P. Davison II and his wife, Kristina; Olmsted Council Member Tom Baione, Tom Vecchione, Olmsted Council Member Howard Kroplick and his wife, Roz, Tom Samet, Nathan Wold; News 12 personality and anchor, Alex Calamia, and his guests Caroline Flynn and Anthony Buckley.
Planting Fields Foundation President and CEO Dr. Gina J. Wouters welcomed guests upon their arrival into the historic mansion. Esteemed members of Planting Fields Foundation’s Board of Trustees were also in attendance, including Bruce Addison, Robert Foschi, Michael Kempner, Robert MacKay, Andrew Nevin, Jean Wynn Shea, Jennifer Smith, Kim Vinnakota, and Amy Xu, adding to the sense of purpose and celebration that defined the night.
Entirely crafted from natural materials and made by Planting Fields Foundation’s talented horticultural team, this year’s décor paid homage to the newest evolution of the historic site, the forthcoming Oudolf Garden, designed by internationally acclaimed landscape designer Piet Oudolf. Inspired by Oudolf’s masterful use of natural forms and seasonal character, the arrangements throughout the House referenced the textures, palette, and sweeping beauty of the garden, thoughtfully linking the historic interiors to the landscape’s modern, artistic vision.
Funds raised at Deck the Halls support the conservation of the Foundation’s rare and singular artworks by early twentieth-century American artist Robert Winthrop Chanler and advance the research and preservation of its treasured collections. These efforts ensure that Planting Fields continues to inspire visitors for generations.
