The summer solstice, June 21, the official start of summer, will have passed when this column is published (this year it coincided with Father's Day), meaning that already every day contains a few minutes less sunlight than the day before. As the poet exhorted us, "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may." Schools are recessed until fall; club meetings are in abeyance until September. We look forward to the pleasant prospects of summer and "gathering rosebuds."

But we also recall lots of great times in the spring. And now is a good time to catch up on that news, some of which was overlooked or cut for lack of space.

First, I really would like to acknowledge the warm welcome that my husband, Carlos, and I received from the organizers of Baltimore's annual rite of spring, the Flowermart, when we served as booth judges for participating schools of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

At the Breakfast of Flowers held in the Walters Art Museum, we particularly enjoyed chatting with committee members Kathy Keenan of Councilman Robert Curran's office, Sally Edgerton Bell, Mary Lapides, Jo Suman and many more.

We were cordially greeted by Carolyn Simmons, breakfast chairwoman, and by Carol Purcell, Flowermart executive director.

Honoree William Donald Schaefer was under the weather, but Baltimore doyenne Clarice Mechanic graciously accepted the honors. Speakers included our busy mayor, Sheila Dixon, media announcers Alan Walden, Richard Sher, Tony Pagniotti and other personalities.

After breakfast, it was great fun to visit with the high-spirited students, energetic moms and enthusiastic teachers who had decorated the beautiful booths. We were awestruck at the creativity and visual appeal. We gave them all top credits.

Members of the Mount Royal Garden Club, who take turns as hostesses of the monthly gatherings, had several outstanding meetings in the spring. The attractive Hamilton Street Club, a restored carriage house in Mount Vernon, was the setting for a luncheon hosted by fomer Guilford resident Dayle Jones. Guy Hager of the Parks and People Foundation spoke about his organization's development of Baltimore's unique green spaces, including the Gwynns Falls Trail and Leakin Park, and about the Olmsted brothers' original vision for the parks.

At another meeting of the club, Lisa Garten presented a tour of Homewood on the Johns Hopkins University campus, one of the finest surviving examples in the nation of Federal architecture and a national historic landmark.

The tour was followed by a luncheon at Liz Trotter's stylish residence. Lisa recently has been in the throes of kitchen remodeling, so her pal Liz lent her dining room to the event.

Romaine Somerville was the hostess for a garden club luncheon and meeting held in a private dining room at the dignified Hopkins Club. Ellen Sherwin, Millicent Tyler, Elke Franke, Anne Somerville, Alice Bernstein, Margo Bates (with her visiting grandson Cameron) and yours truly participated.

We were honored by the distinguished presence of Romaine's good friend, Dorothy McIlvain Scott, longtime club member and philanthropist, who recently endowed a wing at the Baltimore Museum of Art.

After the luncheon of salad, crab cakes and lemon sherbet), Miss Scott, who always travels with her gleaming limousine and chauffeur, generously offered a ride with her driver to a fascinated Cameron, then waited with us a few minutes at the entrance, while the youngster, 10, took his premier spin in a limo.

On his return, Cameron succinctly pronounced his memorable ride as, "Neat!"

The year's final meeting of the club was held at the handsome Whitfield Road home of Kelly Stucker.

Now on hiatus, members -- who also include Joyce Forsyth, Marion Bodie, Sue Diedrich, Lori Gladstone, Jean Hepner, Sharon Smith and Eva Higgins -- are planning next season's programs starting in September.

A lovely evening with friends started with cocktails, tasty tidbits and convivial conversation at Liz and Doug Trotter's beautiful home, before continuing on to trendy restaurant Woodberry Kitchen in Clipper Mill for dinner.

Joining the Trotters were Margo Bates (husband Ken was out of town), Betty and John Davis, Sharon and Paul Smith, and Carlos and me. The place was packed on a Thursday evening, but we were seated promptly at our reserved table under soaring double-height ceilings.

Popular local restaurateur and chef Spike Gjerde, his wife Amy, and Nelson Carey of the Grand Cru wine bar in Belvedere Square are partners in Woodberry Kitchen. Billed as providing meals of locally grown produce and organic meats, the eco-friendly eatery, on the site of a 19th century foundry, features exposed bricks and beams, rustic tables in the dining room, and floor to ceiling windows, all artfully illuminated. The restaurant centerpiece and namesake, the open kitchen with a wood-burning oven, adds a cheery note.

We dined heartily, starting with the scrumptious house-made bread, and continuing to the likes of oysters, rib eye steaks, pear flatbread, roast chicken, burgers and rockfish. Connoisseur Doug ordered accompanying tasty vintages from the wine list.

Dinner was topped off with desserts and coffee, followed by a stroll among sparkling trees surrounding the fire pit outside. The evening was delightful, and surprisingly affordable.

Margo and Ken Bates are just back from a fabulous Hawaiian holiday on the beautiful island of Maui. Adventurous Margo, who received her scuba diving certification at the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia, enthused, "The diving was fantastic!"

Ken, a golfer, praised the courses of our 50th state. And they both loved the luaus!

Now that we are past the summer solstice, days are getting steamy. Time for vacation fun. Happy Fourth of July!

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