COEUR d'ALENE — Whether he was talking about potato salad or seating, Duane Hagadone let everyone know there was plenty to go around.

"I asked my cook, 'How many potatoes do you need to slice up to feed 600 people?' And he said, 'I've got enough,'" Hagadone said to a cruise boat full of visitors.

"Don’t worry about getting a chair," Hagadone added. "We have 650 chairs, so everyone’s going to have a seat no matter what."

Just over 600 guests arrived at Duane and Lola Hagadone's Casco Bay estate Tuesday morning to enjoy the Garden Party benefit event for the Cancer and Community Charities (3Cs). Guests were personally welcomed by Hagadone and his friendly staff.

"We had to cut it off at 600, and what amazes me is when you sell 600 tickets normally you get a 10 percent fall off, but on board we have a little over 600," Hagadone said. "It may be the largest fundraiser of this type ever held in the area."

He shook every person's hand as they disembarked from the boats and strolled up the dock.

"Our grounds, we're very proud of them and just wanted to share them," Hagadone said. "It's amazing how appreciative (our guests) really are, and we're very appreciative of them, both Lola and I."

Light notes of an acoustic guitar traveled on the breeze, greeting guests to the sprawling, colorful and fragrant estate. The sound of rushing water mingled with the gentle lapping of the lake, and visitors joyfully commented on how peaceful it was.

"Everyone is so happy," said Donna Webb of Post Falls, who attended the Garden Party with her good friend, Donna Monroe. "It's so nice to get away."

The ladies found a nice spot to sit where they could overlook the grounds, where other event goers meandered with glasses of wine and camera phones at the ready. It was Monroe and Webb's first time visiting the Hagadone estate.

"We are impressed," Webb said. "From looking at the house from the water, you don’t know that this exists back here, all the acreage. I didn’t know there were waterfalls, I didn’t know about all the flowers. This is amazing and we’re having a great time. And it’s a great event for charity. It’s incredible that Mr. Hagadone opens the grounds for the event, and a great thanks to him."

"That's the ‘wow’ factor,” Monroe added, referring to the water features and gardens. "And it’s wonderful that they’ve raised so much money for the 3Cs."

The event raised $30,000, with every penny going to the 3Cs, whose members spend the year fundraising for nonprofits and charities in Kootenai County. The Hagadones covered all expenses so even the tickets were tax deductible.

"We’re very proud to help and it’s important that 100 percent of the proceeds goes to the 3Cs," Duane said. "They're great and they do so many wonderful things for our community. It's really a pleasure."

A gourmet buffet-style meal was served, including salmon, fresh fruits, salads, rolls and cheesecake. A threat of rain and the rumble of thunder ended the event slightly early, but guests left refreshed, full and happy to have contributed to a good cause.

"It's unbelievable how we were supported in this fundraiser. The tickets literally flew out the door," said outgoing 3Cs president Judy Gardner. "Mr. and Mrs. Hagadone are so generous to the community and to us. This is really a special event."