On November 30th, 2003 Buttonwood's founder, Betty Williams, turned eighty-five years old. We thought we would slightly part the veil of privacy that Betty lives behind and give you a glimpse of this wonderful woman.      On a recent visit to Buttonwood Farm, you might have seen her walking through the fields adjacent to the tasting room. She's a striking figure: tall and straight, hat on head, walking stick in hand. Or perhaps you've exchanged a word or two with her as she works her magic with flowers and greenery in the tasting room. Then again, maybe you've never caught a glimpse or stopped to chat with her at all. But if you've been to Buttonwood, you've certainly felt her presence because Buttonwood is very much Betty Williams' home and represents the fulfillment of her lifelong pursuits and dreams.            Although it's a comfortable fit, Buttonwood hasn't always been Betty's home. If you detect the remnants of a drawl in her voice, you’re sensing her Louisiana heritage. Betty's youthful days were flavored with a Southern pace of life, local politics dominated by Huey Long, and two strong individuals as parents. Miss Delphine, Betty's mother, was a creative and enterprising woman. Her creativity found expression through gardening, gourmet cooking (see "Miss Delphine's Cook Book" in our tasting room), interior design, renovating buildings in the Audubon District of New Orleans, and being a consummate hostess. Betty's father encouraged her to think for herself and never questioned the idea that her achievements wouldn't match her abilities. He also stressed the importance of social and environmental responsibility and supported her participation in the family business.            After receiving her Bachelors degree from Sarah Lawrence College and post-graduate work at Tulane University, Betty eventually came to Southern California. She raised three children, received a law degree from USC, became a wine appreciator, taught school, and served for many years on the Board of Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School. What sounds like a lifetime of achievement to most of us was merely preparation for Betty's next thirty years.            Like many others in Southern California, Betty wanted to get out of the hustle and bustle of city life. Since she had a long brewing interest in horses and a desire work with the land, a friend suggested she look in the Santa Ynez Valley where she found Buttonwood Farm. Ideally situated in what was then a much more rural community, Buttonwood became a safe haven for Betty's college age children, as well as the place where she could begin the connection to the land.      In 1968 Betty bought the property and slowly developed Buttonwood Farm into a Thoroughbred horse breeding facility. For many years horses and community activities dominated her life. She was actively involved in early discussions about shaping development in the Santa Ynez Valley and was co-founder of The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County. By the early 1980's she was aware that some very exciting things were going on with grapes and wine in the County. During this time Betty developed a friendship with a local vintner who convinced her that the higher "mesa" portion of Buttonwood would make a wonderful vineyard site. In 1983 she began a three-year planting process which eventually became the 33,000 vines of the Buttonwood Farm Vineyard. In 1989, having determined that our grapes were indeed very good, the next step was taken and the winery was built. In measured steps from that point, the winery has been nurtured and expanded to the mature business it is today.            In the early '90's she became interested in organic farming. What started as a small-scale experiment behind the barn ultimately pushed the horses off the property and grew to twelve acres of exquisite produce. Between 1992 and the end of 1995, Betty created an artist's palette of vibrantly colored fruit, vegetables and flowers for our tasting room. Unfortunately, organic farming would require too much money and energy before it would succeed, so with great sadness, Betty ended that project and moved on. Today she creates original displays in the tasting room using plants, sculpture, kitchen utensils and amazing flowers from the cutting gardens she continues to grow on the farm.            As Betty turns 86 she spends less time with the daily activities of Buttonwood. Although she has slowed down physically, her mind is quick and adaptive as always. She spends her days reading a vast array of fiction and non-fiction, investigating the Internet, becoming an e-mail junky and writing poetry. And her mind does not stop learning and investigating. She believes that education is a life long process and practices it to this day.