Hosting a Garden Party

A Garden Party is a perfect way to invite your friends into your garden to enjoy the beautiful sites and sounds of nature.

I love to be in my garden where I can enjoy the peace and tranquility of nature all around me. I am having cabin fever this time of year and have started thinking about all the plants and flowers I will soon be enjoying again this summer. I have decided it would be nice to share my garden this year by having a garden party. I have seen beautiful articles and pictures in magazines of other garden parties and it has always been a dream of mine to host one of my own.

Come along with me as I plan every detail of the event I will soon be hosting:

The first thing I must consider is the Invitations. I have a few ideas that I have been mulling over for these. I want to do something with seed packets or some pressed flowers that I have saved from my gardens or maybe incorporate both.

My theme will be butterflies, ladybugs and dragonflies and using the colors of pink and lavender. I want to use flowers, of course, and flower pots, candles and tulle in the table decorations, centerpieces and chairs. I will use mismatched china for the table and make napkin rings. I have a 10' x 10' canopy that will be the perfect shade cover for the tables. I plan on decorating that also. I want to use my outside fountain to incorporate the lovely sound of water.

Have each guest bring a potted plant to exchange, and make favors.

Here are the ideas I have for the food and the web sites for the recipes:

Beverages- fresh lemonade with mint sprigs served in canning jars.

Appetizer - Bruscetta http://www.allmyrecipes.com/recipes/282.html

Deviled eggs http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/001837deviled_eggs.php

Grilled herbed chicken http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=460010

Fresh Fruit http://southernfood.about.com/od/fruitsalads/r/bl90612f.htm

Edible flowers salad http://www.azcentral.com/12news/recipes/articles/Jansspringsalad03202006-CR.html

Cake recipes http://www.virtualcities.com/ons/0rec/03cake.htm

The planning has made me more anxious than ever. I am so looking forward to hosting the garden party early this spring.