Make Your Garden Parties Stylish

There’s no need to undertake large-scale garden projects in order to create an outdoor environment suitable for entertaining. Even a small garden can benefit from simple makeovers that will make your garden an inviting place for friends and family. Imagination, not expense, is the key.

Start with a theme. Hosting a themed festivity in your garden will immediately elevate your party into something special. Themed affairs make it easier to plan menus, decorations and activities. Be sure and pick a theme the whole family can enjoy. Keeping children in mind when planning a party will not only ensure that the kids will have a great time, but will help parents relax and enjoy themselves, too.

For a stylish garden party with a real emphasis on children – or on the child in us all – consider a funfair theme. Start by collecting colorful sheets, either from your own closet or from a thrift store, to hang from clotheslines as "walls" for game booths. Party games needn’t be complicated to be enjoyable. Let kids "Go Fishing" by hanging a broomstick with twine attached over one of the sheeted walls. An adult (or older child) stands behind the sheet and ties inexpensive prizes to the ends of the "fishing poles."

Create a simple ball-toss game by assigning game points to empty tin cans arranged on the ground. Contestants toss ping pong balls into the cans. Gather together mismatched socks for a puppet-making booth. Have lots of brightly-colored adhesive paper and stickers to dress up the puppets. Allow participants to display their creative talents with an impromptu puppet show.

Using balloons and streamers, dress up a patio umbrella for a "big tent" food center. Plan your menu around carnival staples. Keep hotdogs on the grill and a tub of ice handy for lemonade. A popcorn maker is fun for fresh, hot popcorn, which can be served in paper bags. Ice cream cones make a great desert on sunny summer days. Arrange toppings in colorful baking cups.

Benches or folding chairs are fine for a funfair party. Spreading colorful beach towels on the lawn is another option. Be sure that shade is provided and that there are some toys to entertain the very young, too. For the grown-ups, set up a couple of tables for card games, board game or casino style games. Offer spicy chili or kraut as adult toppers for the hotdogs. Serve cold beer or cider to quench adult thirsts.



Learn more about how a picnic table can add to your garden dining options, as discussed by Simon Barnett. This article may be used by any website publisher, though this resource box must always be included in full.