Summertime Garden Entertaining Using Roses and Citrus

Midsummer weather is the perfect time to gather in the garden. When entertaining outside, I love to design around the season’s colors. August is the perfect time to use vibrant colors from roses growing in the garden and add a little surprise to my table.

I had this gorgeous array of pink, yellow, and white roses that I thought would make an enchanting spray along the center of my table. Laying flowers in the middle of a table looks fantastic if you group them in bundles, leaving very little negative space between them. As with a garden design, your flowers do not have to be perfect on your table. I simply placed a few bundles here and there along the center of my table and filled the negative space with citrus and other flowers.

Since living in California, I have become much more aware of all the citrus in this region. Did you know that vineyards will at times grow lemon and lime trees? Weather is a huge factor in growing grapes; the grape is affected by the climate changing faster. Using trees will cool down and shade and increase the moisture in the soil.

Climate change has raised average temperatures, which speeds up the ripening of grapes. This leads to lower acidity and increased sugars in the fruit, yielding higher alcohol levels in wine and altering other compounds in grapes that affect aroma and flavor.

“The growing of woody perennials like trees in combination with annual crops and fruits, in a system that increases cooling and moisture levels while sequestering atmospheric carbon — from wine grapes to grains and fruits. ”

— Earth Island Journal

““Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” ”

— – Luther Burbank

These English roses are just so beautiful to look at. Why not make them the centerpiece of a garden party table design?

Creating a table design using white on white can be elegant. You don’t need to put a ton of color on your table if you use contrasting dishes that have different textures and patterns.

Layering your dishes on top of one another and adding a napkin in between one of the layers is a great way to bring color to your tablescape. Take one of the colors from your flowers and use that color ON your napkin. It will bring a more cohesive look and feel TO your tablescape.

These imported French champagne glasses are absolutely adorable. I first saw them when going to lunch at a restaurant in Santa Barbara, CA. I ordered a Prosecco, and they served it in this glass. I had to have them. They gave a little bee on the side of the glass, which I love! The presentation was adorable and fun to drink out of. I looked high and low for them the next day and finally found them. I ordered six of them and plan to add them to my inventory in my boutique as soon as they are available again. Hopefully soon!

Before serving, I place the glasses in the freezer to get them super cold. Once they were filled with a sparkling Prosecco, they became frosty on the surface. Perfect for a gathering in the garden on a warm summer day.

““I try to greet my friends with a drink in my hand, a warm smile on my face and great music in the background.”

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— Ina Garten

As with everything I post on my blogs, please feel free to comment or if you have any questions, please email me through my contact page. I welcome it anytime!