Garden Parties Are All Abloom

Summer is finally here and your garden is beginning to show off all your hard work. So now that it is done you certainly don’t want to keep all this beauty to yourself, right? Why not host a garden party?

For years, just when my garden is at its peak, I pull out the summer recipes and invite friends and family to my annual garden party. I cannot think of a better way to say I love you than to share what I love; food and gardening, with my favorite people.

And although I look forward to this annual event, throwing a garden party is very hard work! To keep the enjoyment in the word “party”, I employ a few tricks in order to not overwork myself and allow time to enjoy the company of my friends. So, if you are planning an outdoor gathering, here are a few good tips to help you keep the enjoyment in entertaining:

Create a theme. This will help to determine how casual or formal you would like the gathering to be.

Choose a color scheme. Begin now to gather serving items for the event. Make it interesting by not choosing items that are “matchy”, but are complimentary to your overall design.

Plan the menu. Consider asking each guest to bring a dish in order to cut down on the amount of work you will have to do.

Create a list of everything you will need. Do this at least two weeks prior to the event and then make up a calendar of what you will do each day leading up to the day of the gathering.

Choose stone and glassware as well as stainless flatware for the event. Just because it is outdoors does not mean it can't be special. Also plan to use linen cloth napkins or linen-like napkins rather than paper. I have found some of the coolest stuff at a good price at local thrift shops. When planning your table scape, be sure to think outside the box.

Make a grocery shopping list. Use the recipes for dishes you will prepare as a guide.

Begin prepping your menu items two-three days before the event. By doing a little each day, you will find the overall event to be less stressful.

Check linens a week before the event. Remove stains and make repairs and iron days before the event.

Prepare dishes and flatware in advance. Wash dishes, glasses and flatware and set aside three days before.

Set up tables and serving areas a day before. Leave table linens to be placed on the tables the day of. To make for interesting seating, create small entertainment areas around the yard.

Hire a few teenage helpers and pay them the going rate. This is a great way for them to earn extra money over the summer.

And last but not least, when additional help is offered accept it!

Because life should be good! How good is that.....

Copyright Bonnie McDaniel, Farm Girl In The City™ 2017 All rights reserved
I'm Bonnie McDaniel of Farm Girl In the City™ a contributor for Patch, writing about gardening, cooking, flowers, good living, urban gardening and more!
Connect with me on social media on Twitter and Instagram for your daily dose of food and garden inspiration. You can also find me on Facebook, and check out my blog here. Stay tuned for the release of my new cookbook, the first of the Farm Girl In The City cookbook series, due out later this year! And coming soon, my online Farm Girl Market with all kinds of goodies for homesteaders and foodies.