PARTY LINES : ADVENTURE IN PARADISE, LAS FLORISTAS STYLE.

Byline: Barbara De Witt

Las Floristas has been performing good deeds for 61 years, and along the way has earned a statewide reputation as party decorators extraordinaire.

Always known for its floral headdress competition, Las Floristas is not a florists' organization, but a group of 400 women dedicated to raising money for handicapped children at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey and also USC Medical Center. And the flowers were something members thought would set the group apart from other philanthropic groups.

This year's gala was an over-the-top tropical paradise with swaying palms, live parrots and exotic flowers designed by artist Ray Hom with the help of Las Floristas ball chairwoman Susan Talesnick and committee members Carolyn Johnson, Linda Capello, Mary Memory, Sandy Wessel, Carolyn Rutter, Jade Higgins and Cindy Somer. As the 600 guests entered the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills (many with flowers in their hair or sewn onto their clothes), they were treated to a dazzling display of floral mini-floats with themes like ``Tropical Heat Wave,'' before entering the ballroom through a small tropical rain forest.

But the highlight of the night was the parade of floral headdresses created by leading L.A. designers and worn by Las Floristas members. Some of the headpieces were small and elegant, like the cocktail hat-shaped design perched on the head of Leslie Muelder of La Canada, and others were humorous, including the KFC bucket overflowing with daisies and feathers worn by Lynn Zar of Long Beach.

And then there was the floral competition, with awesome 6-foot-tall headpieces that made Carmen Miranda's outlandish ones of the '40s seem tame. After the floral showcase judging was over, the judges' trophy went to Kevin Claywell, an award-winning Pasadena Rose Parade float designer, who called his explosion of blue and white flowers a ``Disco Inferno.'' Awards for best tabletop floral displays went to Vynss Gonzalez of North Hollywood, Kandy Faiss of Clovis and Scarlett De Witt of Silver Lake.

After an equally tropical-themed chicken dinner, chairwoman Talesnick of San Pedro talked about how much fun she and her committee had. ``In the past we've had more formal themes for our balls, but this year I wanted to do something different that reflected the energy and excitement that's occurring at Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitiation Center,'' she said, adding that the evening raised $500,000.

At the United Cerebral Palsy gala at the Universal City Hilton hotel, the exotic flower theme continued, with a dinner of Peking duck and mango pudding served while guests watched a catwalk parade of Hugo Boss fashions. Then the Big Heart awards for volunteerism were presented by president Richard Rosin to Dr. Sanbo Sakaguchi, Peggy Joslyn and Cheng Yen.

And at the All Star Salute to Administrative Professionals luncheon at the Warner Center Marriott hotel in Woodland Hills, there were folks doing the hula before honoring Ginny Skellenger as Administrative Professional of the Year.

Coming up on May 16 will be a series of fund-raisers with a more futuristic theme, offering a sneak peek at the newest ``Star Wars'' movie, which opens citywide May 19.

The special previews are expected to raise $700,000 for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, according to spokeswoman Cheryl Cook, and the $500 tickets are almost sold out. To get on the waiting list, call Levy, Pazanti and Associates at [phone].

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6 Photos

Photo: (1) Schmoozing at the All-Star Salute to Administrative Professionals at the Warner Center Marriott Hotel are Michelle Patterson, left, Administrative Professional of the Year winner Ginny Skellenger and Kathy Vara.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Daily News

(2) Grace and Sam Carvajal were presented with the Spirit of Life Award at the Glendale Adventist Medical Center gala held at the Red Lion Hotel in Glendale for their $50,000 donation to its new Maternity and Outpatient Surgery Center. The party also honored Frank and Norma Dupper, and raised $150,000 for the hospital.

Edi Metcalf

(3) United Cerebral Palsy director Ron Cohen, left, gala event chairwoman Margaret Kimoto, and president Richard Rosin share a moment at the Hope Is From the Heart gala at Universal City Hilton hotel.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News

(4) Celebrating a successful dinner dance are Cheerful Helpers of Cedars-Sinai president Helen Sherwin, event chairwoman Ruth Fenton-Sax, and past president Margaret Garakian. The event at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills honored volunteers and raised nearly $75,000 for the medical center.

Thomas Neerken

(5) Mandy Viole of Glendale models a winning headdress designed by Kevin Claywell of Pasadena at the Las Floristas Floral Ball held at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills.

(6) Doing the party scene at the Las Floristas Ball are Anna and George Dulcich of Glendale.

Lee Salem