The New Orleans Town Gardeners (NOTG) and City Park Conservancy (CPC) joined together on April 22, 2026 to host the annual Heart of the Park Hat Luncheon presented by First Horizon Bank in the New Orleans Botanical Garden.

The annual fundraiser brings together community leaders, philanthropists and friends of the park for a festive gourmet lunch benefiting the Park’s historic urban forest, and the community programs supported by the New Orleans Town Gardeners.

This year’s theme, “A Celebration of Frida Kahlo,” honored the life and art of the Mexican icon, bringing her bold, imaginative art to life as the New Orleans Botanical Garden was transformed into a tapestry of color and inspiration.

James Oles, a distinguished scholar and curator of Latin American art, renowned for his expertise in modern Mexican visual culture delivered a lively keynote to attendees exploring Frida Kahlo’s iconic look and how it captivated admirers during her lifetime and beyond. Oles is a consulting curator for the new exhibit, Frida: The Making of an Icon, at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

This year’s luncheon chairs were Lynn Isacks, Jenny Odinet, and Virginia Rowan, with Stephanie Feoli and Cathy Pierson serving as honorary co-chairs, and Boo Charbonnet chairing decorations for the event.