Celebrate Spring

Every spring, Oprah's good friends, Annette and Harold Simmons, throw a tulip tea for friends at their Dallas, Texas, home to celebrate the flowering of thousands of tulips in their garden. Annette says as many as 17,000 bulbs are planted in December to create the spectacular scene.

In 2006, Annette hosted a special tulip ladies' luncheon. She says planning a party is all about being with friends, no matter how big or small your garden. Pick a color you love, says Annette, and build around that theme. Annette's color scheme started with pink Rosière glass, then she chose antique lace tablecloths and porcelain Flora Danica plates to help bring her garden theme to life.

For lunch, Annette served a traditional leek and watercress soup, Texas blue crab and avocado salad. Individual angel food cakes with berries and lemon sorbet were the perfect, sweet ending.

These ladies who lunch love to give back, too. Annette and each of her guests made donations to Oprah's Angel Network for building Oprah's Katrina Homes.