Steve and I spend some of our favorite moments sitting outside in the
evenings after work just talking and enjoying our garden. This has to be the
perfect time of year for outside dinner parties. Invite a few friends and
celebrate fall.
Just like when you entertain indoors, entertaining outdoors requires some
sprucing up as well. Take an objective walk through your garden area and
decide where you want everyone to congregate. The garden or landscaping
should be the backdrop for this spot.
You will need to pull out large weeds, clip out dead branches, remove dead
plants, repair, remove or replace anything damaged and dead head plants with
spent blooms. Just like inside, adding a few well placed splashes of color
such as newly planted containers, mums that you just found at the farmer's
market or sunflowers in tall containers or baskets will make a huge
difference. If you can't find fresh cut sunflowers, don't feel worry about
picking up some silk ones from your local craft store. The newer silk ones
are looking quite real these days and it's the color and atmosphere that
you're going for anyway.
Sweep or hose off any stone, wood or concrete walkways, patios or decks the
day of the gathering. If you don't have time to put down a fall layer of
mulch, pick up a large bag of aged compost from the hardware store a day or
two before and put a few handfuls here and there where the ground is
visible. This will give the garden or landscape a fresh, well kept
appearance and will really make the plants stand out more.
A folding table or two will be perfect. No tablecloth? Use an old sheet or
burlap and tie off the corners at the table legs. Quilts work nicely too.
Some potted herbs on the table make for interesting and wonderfully fragrant
mini-centerpiece spread throughout the table.
What to serve. Keep it simple and quick. Fall is the time for singe pot
dishes such as chili, hardy soups, coq au vin or beef daube. A few
garnishes, bowls and spoons allow the guests to help themselves. And, what
better way to end a hardy fall meal than brownies, apple pie, pumpkin rolls
or spice cake? Hmmmmm. I am such a foodie.
Here are a few suggestions for bringing to life some of your empty flower
pots. All you need to do is select one plant from the first group, one to
two plants from the second group and one to two from the third group. Do be
mindful of your selected colors when pairing though. Try to select plants
with contrasting colors and textures.
Group 1 (Spotlight Plant): green giant, Hameln ornamental grass, Karley Rose
ornamental grass, Morning Light ornamental grass, Magnolia Jane, Barberry
Sunjoy Gold Pillar, Boxwood, Russian Sage, Nandina Firepower, Japanese Red
Maple, Sambucus
Group 2 (Filler Plants): Hellebore Ivory Prince, Heuchera Lime Ricky,
Heuchera Hollywood, Heuchera Plum Pudding, Autumn Brilliance Fern, Japanese
Painted Fern, Ameria, Sungold Cypress, Spiraea Magic Carpet, Dianthus,
liriope (both variegated and solid), Ogon Grass
Group 3 (Draping Groundcover): Angelina Sedum, English Ivy, Baltic Ivy,
Creeping Rosemary, Elfin Thyme, Golden Thyme, Corsican Mint, Red Creeping
Thyme
Especially in Group 1, these suggestions are based on younger plants. After
a couple of years in the container, they will be ready to be transplanted
into a permanent location.
Oh, and don't forget to add some twinkle lights. The clear ones with a
golden tint are almost like candlelight. And a few well placed candles are
also great. Put some tiny gravel or sand in the bottom of some old glass
jars and then steady some chunky candles in them. If becomes a little
breezy, they won't blow out.
I hope this gives you a few ideas on making your garden and your fall
evening special.
Don't forget to visit our Falltacular Page for specially priced plants on
grower's surplus and close-out items.
See you on the Greenwood Nursery Facebook page!!!
Until next time...Cheryl
