Moments that we share with our near and dear ones helps us create memories that we cherish throughout our lives. And one of these memory making places is the outdoor garden or backyard of the house that we live in. Be it a holiday where all the children and adults of the family come together for picnics and celebrations or a gathering of friends, if there is a long list of guests coming over to your house, you may want to consider hosting them outdoors in your compound. The open space and the lack of furniture provides a peek into nature while you enjoy the time spent with your loved ones in your property.
So why not transform your mundane garden, deck or patio setting from the ordinary into the extraordinary if you are planning to host an outdoor gathering?
Garden Outdoor Gathering
- Generally, our gardens are at their premium use during the lush, sultry last days of summer. Keep this in mind when you are planning your special day entertaining “stage”, those end of summer barbecues and ‘al fresco’ entertaining.
- An essential ingredient in creating your “entertaining stage” is the creation of a casually elegant and comfortable sitting/lounge area that can accommodate everything from “dinner al fresco” to lounging with a good book and your favourite cocktail.
- Always make sure to include a tilt-able sunscreen umbrella, an expandable outdoor-table, a variety of adjustable chairs, several loungers, and numerous folding side tables. Teak furniture works especially well in all climates due to its naturally inherent resilience to pests, rot and its incredible durability.
- Your entertaining area should also include a variety of personal accessories such as lanterns, seat cushions and rusticated garden ornaments and should always provide a stimulating and beautiful view of your “piece of heaven”.
- When putting up your late summer “showstopper” perennials, make sure to keep them where they will be seen to their best advantage. Pale blossoms will glow in a shady location, whereas they become “bleached” out in full sun. Vivid blossoms are intense in full sun, yet become muddy or lost in the shade.
Planting Suggestions for Decor
Try planting a bold clump of rudbeckia (coneflowers) in a prominent full sun location. Their spectacular display of brilliant yellow and gold blossoms will flower throughout the summer and fall, and will attract a variety of birds to your garden as well. Other late summer garden musts include:
1. Campanula (bellflower) – a hardy and prolific spreading perennial that comes in a variety of blue, white and pink tones.
2. Linum perenne (perennial flax) – a stunningly beautiful perennial that should be grown in a large clump. These come in a variety of colours.
3. Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) – an incredibly fragrant and beautiful plant that thrives in full sun, dry soil locations and rock garden settings.
Always strive to work “with” nature by growing a variety of plants suited to your geography, while being aware of where your entertaining, playing, gardening and wildlife areas are to be located on your property.
Additional Tips for Outdoor Entertainment
1. A candlelit garden for evening entertaining will leave a lasting impression with your guests. An inexpensive method for creating the “look” of dozens of hurricanes in your garden is to purchase a 2 dozen box of mason jars and place tea lights within them.
2. To give them a more “designer” look, buy bags of black sand and lay a 1″layer on the bottom of each jar. Then insert the tea light into the sand. In the evening glow they will look incredible.
3. Remember, nothing ruins a party quicker than harsh lighting.
4. Always use linen napkins and tablecloths when entertaining outdoors. Do not buy take out and plastic use and throw containers for your guests. Place a series of citronella candles around the periphery of your garden prior to the party. Make sure to light them at least 20 minutes prior to your soiree to ensure that you will be “pest free”.
And, remember, the key to a successful outdoor gathering is planning.
