Have you been slaving away in your back yard and garden, planting those brilliant blooms and wonderful herbs? Why not show off your hard work and beautiful landscape by hosting a garden themed party. Spring is the perfect time to host a garden party regardless if your garden consists of a yard full or roses or a few window boxes of bright blooms. Use the spring season and colorful backdrop of the outdoors as an excuse to gather a few friends and have an enjoyable day in good company. Start by sending out an invitation. These can be as simple or elegant as your style suits. Even a handwritten note with a dried pressed flower enclosed would be wonderful. Regardless if you choose a formal, handwritten, or even online invitation- be sure to set the mood of your garden themed event by including floral designs or flowers themselves.
With typically pleasant weather, you can choose to host your party indoors or out (or maybe a combination of both). A Garden Party can be a bit fancy or completely laid back-- up to you. However formal you choose to be, consider dressing up your decor a bit by using lacy table linens, real china, and of course lovely floral centerpieces. The use of formal table top décor does not require you have a formal sit down meal, rather, elegant décor can compliment your gorgeous spring blooms and laid back garden theme.
If your guests will also be hanging out outside (maybe in your.. uh hum.. garden area), make sure shade is plentiful. You can always set out beach umbrellas or canopies if your natural shade is minimum. If your guests will be outdoors in the evening, consider wrapping white twinkle lights around tree trunks for a little sparkle. Also, be sure to have places where guests can sit, stand, or lean both inside and out so that they are comfortable and freely move throughout your party spaces. Set out citronella candles on your outdoor tables just to avoid any insects pestering your party guests.
When deciding what type of food to serve, anything really goes. Try to keep your menu simple and seasonal like fresh green salads and hand held appetizers. Serve what is fresh meaning foods that are in season and available in your local area. Of course a refreshing cocktail would be appropriate as well. Apart from water, iced tea, and lemonade- mix up refreshing cocktails like mojitos which taste like spring with their fresh mint leaves. For dessert, place mini desserts out on a small table (indoors if it will be warm outside). Mini tarts, short bread cookies, and fresh fruit would be fitting for any garden party.
If you feel your guests might need to be entertained and want to offer an activity, organize a table where they can arrange blooms and make their own bouquets to take home. This will serve double duty as both an activity for your guests and a party favor for them to take home. Before your guests arrive, place several water filled vases in the middle of the table filled with different single stemmed flowers. Depending on the size of your garden, these can be flowers you have grown and plucked or fresh flowers from your local florists. Be sure to place ribbon, shears, and any other tool you would use to cut and arrange flowers. Let your guests know about the activity area and encourage them to enjoy making a bouquet sometime before they leave.
