Thanks to healthy corporate underwriting, the generosity of local restaurants and winemakers, and the work of the all-volunteer crew, the event brought in more than even the most optimistic of the planners had expected. Cathie Watson-Short was event chairwoman.

Drizzle, rain or the threat of either didn't appear to daunt the 500 folks making the trek up to the Mountain Winery for chocolate and nubbins of other food and drink from local purveyors.

The gently flowing shelves that held out Gervais' chocolate creations were even handmade—of sugar, colored blue, and curved to symbolize the river theme ... Napa this year. Gervais operators are Mark and Shekoh Ainsworth.

Auctioneer Pete DeVries got so wrapped up in the excitement of the escalating bidding that he managed to sell his assistant's Stetson—for $100. Assistant David Nielson, getting into the spirit of the afternoon, offered nary a protest as his hat changed owners.

DeVries will receive the coveted Jefferson Award from the U.S. Senate in June, which recognizes his contributions to youth through the years. SAY's mission is to help at-risk children with housing, jobs, education and counseling. Charlie Ahern is president of the SAY board; Beatrix Lopez is executive director.

Saratoga restaurants and wineries on hand included Sent Sovi's new owner Rolando Locci with killer brownies. Also dispensing wares were Viaggio's, The Basin, Plumed Horse and Cooper-Garrod Winery. And Mountain Winery chef Rodney Baca demonstrated intriguing appetizers, stacked high in keeping with today's vertical mode.

IRIS GARDEN: There's a vivid display of irises at 16380 Harwood, Los Gatos, on public view Friday, Saturday and Sundays, 11 a.m.­4 p.m., until May 2 or until Mother's Day if the cool weather holds. Call 408.266.0945 to check. Master Gardener Carolyn Craft is the perpetrator of all this color.

She's passed the requisite classes, tests and community horticultural services to receive that Master Gardener designation. Needless to say, she calls herself a plant freak. Up until four years ago, the Craft iris garden was a horse pasture. Now it's a rolling landscape of 1,000 or more irises, plus a thriving bed of roses, occasional lilies and other flowers and a vegetable garden.

Naming iris varieties would be a grand job for a word freak, since they have such imaginative names. My favorite at the Craft site is Pennant Fever, which sports white petals rimmed with purple and offers a scarlet tongue.

Carolyn's husband is Wayne, a retired rocket scientist now helping out here with more earthbound pursuits.

OPEN JURIED SHOW: Local award winners of the juried show at the Art Museum of Los Gatos sponsored by the Los Gatos Art Association include David Hunt of Saratoga, who won a second place for his pastel Mighty Oak; and Mary Ann Henderson of Saratoga, who captured third for her oil Bagel & Oranges.

Barbara Burge of Los Gatos snared third place for Roses in a Glass Vase, a watercolor. Other Saratogans who made the cut were Shari Monk, Tea with Grandmother, oil; Rudy Marinacci, Snowfall on a Saratoga Vineyard, acrylic; and Helen Scheel, Gamble Gardens, pastel.

Mary Ann Henderson's pastel Squash & Nasturtiums is on display, as is Monte Serenan Carol Blissard's photograph SJMOMA. Los Gatans' work includes Tonya Carpenter's pastel Beret Monochrome and Nancy DeWeese's watercolor Five Sketches.

Also on display: Ted Glauser's monoprint Masquerade and Eva Szorc's acrylics Harvest and Through the Vines. And here's a provocative title: Self Portrait with Brush in Mouth by Mary Ann Merker. You'll have to view it yourself to find out if it beats tongue in cheek.

ABOARD A P-51: Saratogans Gloria and George Watson had an exciting weekend with a loop-the-loop ride in a P-51 recently, arranged by their son Rob as a birthday present for his father. The plane is owned by Dan Martin and the flight was out of Hollister Airport, home to several P-51s.

The P-51 is a WW II fighter plane that escorted bombers in runs over Germany and proved effective against German fighters. There aren't many left in serviceable condition, but those that are are often flown in air shows over the Western United States.

The planes can fly at speeds of 450 to 500 mph, but the Watson flight clocked more like 300 mph—and flew so low over the water that Gloria swore she could have checked out the water temperature.

Both Watsons are pilots and owned their own plane while living in Colorado. After the birthday flight, their interest was so whetted that they're looking at aircraft again with an eye to buying. Son Tim owns a helicopter and both sons are avid auto racers, so the whole family is into speed.

Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send email to maryanncook@earthlink.net.