Maple Crest ladies and their guests were treated to a Far East Garden Tea on May 16, surrounded by the beauty of living flowers and plants from the Stratton Greenhouses and Asian décor from the Bluffton Et Cetera Shop and the Findlay China Rose Restaurant. 

Elaborately arranged focal points and photo spots were designed by volunteers Janette Reineke, Sandy Schroll and Marilyn Shelly. 

The afternoon began with refreshments that included vegetarian spring rolls with duck sauce from the China Wok Restaurant in Bluffton and authentic Japanese Green Tea from Alice Ramseyer. 

Servers for this Asian “outing” were: Peg Augsburger, Canda Schmutz, Nancy Schweingruber, Karin Stechschulte, and Nancy Yeager. 

Entertainment was an amazing display of outfits from a variety of countries around the world in a Maple Crest International Style Show. 

Models for the show were:
• Nikki Gratz (Japanese cotton Kimono from Teri Sato),
• Amber Henry (Japanese cotton Kimono from Elnore Yost),
• Janette Reineke (Debbie Mohr’s meri Blouse and skirt from Papua New Guinea),
• Mary Ina Hooley (her own Indian sari and then salwar kurta),
• Nancy Suter (her own Hanbok dress from South Korea),
• Stacey Michel (Elnore Yost’s Hanbok dress from South Korea),
• Marilyn Shelly (Joanne Avers’ Bavarian German dirndle),
• Geraldine Sullivan-Clark (her own Brazilian evening ensemble),
• Cheryl Potter (her own two-piece outfit from the Philippines),
• Sandy Schroll (Dianne Dannemiller’s dress and shawl from Ethiopia), and
• Katie Inkrott (in a silk jacket and pants from China). 

Many hours and hands went into making the annual tea a serene experience for the ladies, from the detailed brush strokes of the Chinese characters painted by Sandy Schroll to the fun goldfish brought in and splashed into their new homes by Becki Ahmed and her granddaughter, Kennedy Longworth. 

Fellowship was savored as tea was shared – a long held symbol of friendship and gratitude.  More photos from the event can be seen at facebook.com/MHCOhio.