OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN PARTY PLANNED AT GLENN HOUSE

Does your garden glow this time of year? Probably not as much as the Glenn House in Cape Girardeau will June 7 during a "Garden Glow" Victorian garden party.

Guests will experience an old-fashioned garden party, the first ever held at the house.

"More than likely, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn had garden parties and elaborate receptions at the house, and I want to recreate that," said John Bry, marketing director for the Glenn House.

Bry said he contacted the director of the Tarrywile House in Danbury, Conn. for details on how to throw an elaborate Victorian afternoon party.

"They've thrown garden parties for years, so they've given me the basics on how to recreate the festive mood the Glenn's would more than likely have had," Bry said.

Old-fashioned food, games and entertainment will be part of the afternoon. Guests can dress in Victorian attire.

"The ladies would have worn white or pastel-colored dresses and huge picture hats," he said. "The men would have worn white with different colored waistcoats, suspenders and straw boater hats."

Prizes will be awarded for the best dressed couple, and for the lady with the most authentic hat.

The meal will be catered by Port Cape Girardeau, and the house will be specially decorated for summer.

"It will be decorated inside and out with flowers, ribbons and lace, streamers, Japanese lanterns and bows on the balconies and gates," Bry said.

Entertainment consists of a tarot-card reader, a strolling magician, string quartet and a soloist.

The Glenn House also has taken on a new look for the summer, Bry said. The furniture has been re-arranged to more accurately reflect the past, and to give the house a more lived-in appeal.

"In some rooms, it looks like the Glenn's have literally just stepped out for a moment," he said.

The light meal will be served in mushroom baskets decorated with tissue paper, scrolled menus, flowers and ribbons.

Games include croquet, horseshoes, badminton and lawn bowling.

Bry said the garden party will be "the largest garden party this city has ever seen. Not only that, but the immortal spirits of Mr. and Mrs. David Glenn will be ever-present."

The party starts at 3 p.m. and reservations will be taken until June 1. The cost is $50 per couple, with proceeds going to continued maintenance of the Glenn House and restoration of the Reynolds House.

For more information or reservations call 334-1177. The Glenn House is situated in downtown Cape Girardeau at 325 South Spanish.