Spring has finally sprung, and it feels like the whole world is waking up after a long hibernation. Why not jump-start the warm weather social scene with an afternoon garden party that celebrates the bounty of the season?
>> The best gardens are a riot of color—replicate them with your party setting. Set a long buffet table with a fresh, white tablecloth. To bring in tons of color, use greenery and bright, delicate flowers of the season: tulips, lilac, peonies and hyacinths. Arrange the flowers in a variety of vases— mix-and-match for a vintage, thrown-together feel.
>> Pay homage to the May Day festivities of old. Tie colorful ribbons on a fishing line or twine and hang as a decoration behind the food table. If you have a column in the party area, wrap ribbons around it to create a maypole.
>> At dusk, start a bonfire and light votives. Have s’mores ingredients on hand so hungry guests or kiddos can have a sweet snack.
[sips & savories]
>> Greet incoming guests with a flute of champagne garnished with a fresh strawberry. Have pitchers filled with homemade lemonade, iced green tea and water with lemon. Freeze tiny edible flowers with the water in ice cube trays to add a whimsical, unexpected twist.
>> Serve a menu that highlights spring produce: cucumber, salmon and watercress tea sandwiches, buttery fingerling potatoes sprinkled with parsley, pickled asparagus, a salad accented with edible flowers and goat cheese, and pea and pesto crostini.
[sweets]
>> The best spring ingredients don’t need much embellishment. Serve small bowls of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries and homemade whipped cream alongside mini frosted cakes. For youngsters in attendance, serve an old-school playground favorite: dirt pudding (chocolate pudding and crushed Oreos) with plenty of gummy worms.
[something special]
>> Keep kids entertained with a spring-themed scavenger hunt. Have them search for a variety of plants, flowers and trees. Hide a few whimsical garden ornaments around the yard, such as miniature gnomes, animal figures and fairy furniture. The Garden Gate Shop at the Missouri Botanical Garden sells a ton of fun accessories.
>> Send guests home with a garden-themed gift. Inside a small clay pot, nestle a seed packet, cute garden shovel, jar of homemade pickles or jam, and bar of fragrant soap, such as Herbaria’s (2016 Marconi Ave. on The Hill) French Lavender, Rosemary or Gardener’s Hand Soap.