Bringing the Garden to the Table

Nothing appears as lovely and crisp as a cheery flower garden or orchard in bloom. You can bring the garden party look of foliage, fern and flowers to your next gathering whether its on your patio, porch or inside your home with a few creative yet easy ideas. Don’t feel that you have to use all of these suggestions. Instead, select your favorites to incorporate into your next tea or dinner party.

- To the underside of a glass top table on the porch or patio, tape long fronds of fern.

- Bring fresh pressed flowers to the table at your next luncheon. You’ll need two clear glass plates for each guest being served. Place a fern and a flat flower such as a daisy or pansy on top of a clear glass plate. Top with another glass plate to seal. Plates can be made a day ahead and refrigerated until ready to use.

- Use fresh lovely evergreens down the center of the table. Boxwood, magnolias, gardenias, citrus tree leaves, long fern fronds and ivy are all excellent choices. Add touches of color to the greenery with fresh flowers or whole fruit such as lemons, pears or pomegranates and candles.

- Decorate a straw hat with colorful flowers and a beautiful bow. Hang on the door to welcome your guests.

- Using a toothpick apply craft glue to the back of ivy or tiny flowers and affix on the base of pillar or taper candles.

- Select floral printed cloth napkins or tie a rose bud to each napkin.

- Serve lemonade with fresh citrus slices or herbal teas.

- Freeze dices of fresh lime, lemon or oranges with water in ice cube trays.

- Serve pudding, sherbet, fruit and yogurt or Jell-O in fresh, hollowed orange or tangerine cups.

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