Throw A Garden Party
A fun way to hang out with friends and family is to throw a garden party in your backyard.
When you're planning one, be sure to check the weather. Prepare a backup plan in case Mother Nature doesn't cooperate.
Many people have the option of a screened-in porch or canopy, but you can even have a successful garden party indoors.
Items that will help you throw a great garden party include:
PARISIAN PARK TABLE
The first step for a garden party is to make sure you have the right outdoor furniture. There are several options out there. One is a classic bistro table. You can find these at any gardening or home store. You want to make sure the furniture is weatherproof, so it can stay outdoors all year-round. Weathered woods or rust-resistant steel coated in enamel can create an intimate and inviting spot on a garden terrace, bricked courtyard, or breakfast nook. The enamel-coated steel table Nickell displays can be folded for storage during inclement weather. Also, make sure the furniture is comfortable.
Price: $159.00 Availability: smithandhawkin.com
PARISIAN PARK CHAIRS
Nickell also shows chairs to match the table. They fold up as well.
Price: $129.00 for each chair Availability: smithandhawkin.com
TABLECLOTH
The polka-dot tablecloth Nickell uses is so much fun, it basically lets your guests know right away that they're in for a great time. The Round Green Polka-Dot Tablecloth is 60 inches.
Price: $12.99 Availability: HomeGoods
Another appealing one is Crate and Barrel's 60" Square Azure or Chartreuse Tablecloth
Price:$39.95 Availability: crateandbarrel.com
CITRUS TABLECLOTH WEIGHTS
If you have a square tablecloth on a round table, a cool idea is to take garden tools or pretty stones or buy some table weights, and attach them to your four corners. The citrus slices with gleaming metal "rinds" and chains Nickell has are a picnic-perfect way to weigh down your outdoor tablecloth. The weights clip around the corners to resist wind and make a beautiful and stylish decoration.
Price: $13.95 Availability: crateandbarrel.com
SOLID AND FLORAL ACRYLIC DINNER PLATES
Flowers in the garden can dictate the color palette. These plates have huge graphic flowers and are available in multiple color combinations. Turquoise, orange and magenta are hot colors this season, and Better Homes and Gardens loves to show people how to mix and match. On hand are solid and floral acrylic dinner plates that are available in a variety of colors at any major department store. Acrylic plates are inexpensive, fun, and extremely family friendly. They're much more durable than paper or plastic disposable plates, and won't break. Make sure your acrylic plates are dishwasher friendly: It just makes cleaning up that much easier.
The solid Acrylic dinner/charger plates:
Price: $2.99 each
Multi-Floral on Green Background Acrylic Floral Dinner Plates:
Price: $1.99 each.
Availability: Target and Wal-Mart
To display the plates, first put down a charger plate with a solid rim. On top, place your favorite flower and alternate colors around your table.
PAPER/PLASTIC PLATES
They can be mixed and matched as well, to create a fun and festive look. But they tend to cost about 50 cents a plate, and you can only use them once. Nickell also has some great samples, in case people want to stick with disposable.GREEN CLOTH NAPKINS
Cloth or paper napkins are also available at any home or department store. We use hose-green to bring out the color of the herbs, but we also suggest that you mix and match your favorite colors.
Green Cloth Napkins:
Price: $11.99 set of four Availability: Target or target.com
NAPKINS HOLDERS
They can add the perfect touch to any garden party. You can buy them at any hardware store. To spice them up, you can put fresh flowers or herbs with a nametag on each napkin ring, so people know where they are seated. Individualized napkin holders make a great party gift for your guests.
ACRYLIC FLATWARE
Flatware is a great idea because, unlike plain metal, it comes in so many great colors and patterns. Nickell opts for a clear pattern to go with the busy plates. But if you have festive flatware, you can match them with solid color plates.
Duplex Clear 20 piece Flatware Set:
Price: $19.99 Availability: Target or target.com
PITCHER AND TRAY
When throwing a party outside, it's always a good idea to have plenty to drink. The pitcher and tray Nickell has are both lightweight, so you can carry them back and forth from outside to the kitchen.
Clear Island Pitcher
Price: $16.99 and is available in many colors Availability: Target or target.com
Nickell displays an acrylic turquoise tray, which makes for easy trips back to the kitchen. It has a clean design and features abundant surface space and cutout handles. It's available in many colors. It's break-resistant, has multiple trays stack for storage, and must be hand-washed.
Price: $14.95 Availability: crateandbarrel.com
GLASSES
Bright, busy tumblers are a great accent to any garden party and are perfect for serving herbal iced-tea or pink lemonade. Throw in fresh fruit and herbs to add some garden flavor to any beverage.
Bar Code 4-piece Tumbler Set
Price: $12.99 Availability: Target
Crate and Barrel Highlight Acrylic Barware
Price: $2.50 - $2.95 a glass -Various Colors Availability: crateandbarrel.com
RIPPLED TEALIGHT LANTERNS
As the sun sets and the bugs come out, lighting can affect the entire mood. There are so many lighting options. Versatility is important. Nickell features rippled multi-colored tealight lanterns that can sit on the table and form a centerpiece or hang around your garden fence or on trees, porch railings or sides of the house. The flame is protected from the wind but, more importantly, these are very kid-friendly. Always use unscented candles: They don't attract bugs.
3 piece set of rippled tealight lanterns
Price: $10.00, in various colors Availability: Pier 1
POTTED HERBS
Potted herbs make a good centerpiece instead of flowers. They give the table a nice garden feeling and are a lot cheaper then flowers. They're also a fun gift to give your guests to take home. Nickell printed simple tags on cardstocks and secured them in a slit made on one end of a bamboo plant stake. Each card offers suggestions on how to use the herb.
Lavender: Use the flowers for potpourri, sachets, or bath and massage oils
Mint: Use in salads, deserts and beverages
Thyme: Add to meat, fish, salads and sauces.
Sage: Use for flavoring in any stuffing, sauce or marinade
All these herbs in oil form will help keep bugs away.
Herbs are available at your local nursery or grocery store and essential oils are available at any organic market or grocer.
Q-AND-A WITH NICKELL
WHAT ARE THE GARDEN PARTY TRENDS RIGHT NOW?
The biggest trend is using garden parties to entertain formally. You don't need to be indoors. It can be done anytime of year.
WHAT SHOULD YOU CONSIDER WHEN PICKING OUTDOOR FURNITURE?
Furniture must be able to endure all kinds of weather. Comfort is important. Spend some time sitting in the furniture before you buy it.
DOES IT MATTER IF THE SHAPE OF YOUR TABLECLOTH DOES NOT MATCH THE SHAPE OF YOUR TABLE?
Most table clothes are going to be square, but you can still put it on your table if it's round. Use table weights to make it work.
HOW SHOULD YOU PICK YOUR COLOR SCHEME?
Mother Nature makes every color look good. Think about your garden and the colors that will look best against it. For instance, if you have lots of yellows, use some purple.
WHY DO YOU LIKE ACRYLIC FOR THE PLATES?
Acrylic is inexpensive, durable, can be washed, and is child-friendly.
HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPICE UP NAPKINS?
Get napkin holders and rings from an office supply company, add little nametags and flowers to personalize them, and your guests can take them home and use them.
WHAT ABOUT LIGHTING?
The idea of having lighting outdoors is very nice, but candles can be tricky outdoors.
WHY ARE YOU ARE USING POTTED HERBS AS A CENTERPIECE?
Centerpieces can cost a lot. Potted herbs are under $12. And they smell and look great.