Gardening Sweet Spots
By Donna Hessel
When creating an inviting outdoor space, the main consideration is to make your guests feel comfortable. Outdoor parties are more casual and simple compared to more formal indoor dinner parties. You can set a playful mood for a daytime event, or make the atmosphere more magical or romantic with special lighting in the evening. The furniture you have (chairs, benches, tables, etc.) can be the basis for your outdoor style. Create a vignette by placing freestanding furniture far enough apart for breathing space, but close enough for easy conversation. Adding an outdoor rug can help to define an area. A wheeled bar cart or semi-permanent counter will facilitate serving beverages or food and can be a convenient spot for guests to refill their own drinks. Other festive ways to make drinks readily accessible are galvanized tubs filled with ice or camping coolers.
Creating a theme for your party will make it easy to coordinate plates, napkins, table coverings and accessories. Encourage guests to dress in accordance with your theme. No imagination? Just walk around any party store or search “party themes” on Pinterest.com for more ideas than you can ever use. Something you see will feel just right for the occasion you plan. You will even find suggestions for food and beverages to serve that complement your theme.
If your party is during the day, make sure you provide adequate shade and protection from glaring sunlight. Portable umbrellas on stands, a vine-covered pergola, fabric panels attached to overhead beams or a geometric canopy of translucent fabric attached to poles are all good options. At an evening party, it’s important for guests to be able to see each other without bright patio lighting. To help set a romantic mood, utilize string lights, lanterns or chandeliers to create a cozy ambience. Candles in lanterns and tiki torches may work with your style as accent lights. Spotlights on trees or shrubs around your patio or deck provide excellent and subtle background lighting. If your party area is on a hard surface, a portable fire pit will be an added attraction, as well as a source for making s’mores or roasting marshmallows.
Select music that fits with the mood you are creating – relaxing or energizing. Thanks to wireless technology, you can install speakers around your space that connect to a smart phone or Bluetooth device. You can even purchase speakers that look like decorative rocks that blend into foliage.
Not enough trees, shrubbery or other foliage around your deck or patio to make it feel like an outdoor room? Accessorize with containers filled with a variety of plants, either borrowed temporarily from other garden beds or created just for the garden party. Include some mosquito-repellant plants and citronella candles to keep the bugs at bay. If you are using tiki torches, fill them with non-toxic citronella oil.
Keep the food summer-y, fresh and simple. Perhaps a salad for lunch; something grilled for dinner. Serve a cool dessert. My favorite is fresh cantaloupe with vanilla ice cream and a sprig of mint. Mint chip ice cream would be good, too. I love serving mint iced tea with lunch. I’ve included the recipe below. In the evening or for a cocktail party, sangria is favored in the summer and there are lots of ways to make it. Check online for flavors and ingredients that will enhance your menu.
Conversation with friends, delicious food, refreshing beverages and soft music appropriate to your party theme should be adequate entertainment. However, if your guests are restless or there are children invited, you may wish to set up a corn-hole game, croquet (if you have lawn space), or any of many commercial lawn games available. Don’t forget the real reason for your party – to show off your garden(s)! Offer your guests a tour, or let them stroll on their own. But, ultimately, remember to relax and enjoy your garden party. You’ve earned it!
Fruited Mint Tea
Ingredients
3 cups boiling water
4 regular-size tea bags (I use decaf, but regular black tea bags are fine also)
12 fresh mint sprigs (spearmint or chocolate mint are good; other flavors will also work)
1 cup sugar (1/2 cup is adequate if you don’t like really sweet tea)
¼ cup lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
1 cup orange juice (fresh or bottled)
4 cups water
Preparation
Pour boiling water over tea bags and mint sprigs; cover and let steep 5-10 minutes.
Remove tea bags and mint, squeezing gently.
Stir in sugar until dissolved. Stir in next 3 ingredients.
Serve over ice. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs or orange slices, if desired.
Image courtesy pexels.com
