Notes for a Garden Tea

The weather is starting to warm up – well, sort of – unless it isn’t! I’ve certainly recovered from the holidays. I’m getting the hang of managing some other family doings – which are starting to resolve, thankfully! So, naturally, I can’t help myself – I think it’s time to celebrate. Time for tea – in a big way – in a Garden Party, no less. Complete with finger sandwiches, Pimm’s Punch, and croquet. Besides, I’ve got the perfect napkins to complement the theme, so how can I resist?!

Invitations are easy (just printed vellum, cut to size, and attached to flowery cardstock):

Say Goodbye to Winter! (and Hello, Spring!)

Please join us for a Garden Party

(because the sun is shining)

Sunday, 3rd May, 1 pm

Afternoon Tea, croquet,

and your charming company!

Rsvp xxxxx or yyyyy 123-456-7890

Once those are sent, I’ll turn my attention to my favorite part – planning the menu!

Beverages:

• Pimm’s Punch
• Lemonade
• Iced Tea
• Hot tea (Yorkshire Gold, Early Gray, Good Earth Sweet and Spicy, Harney Bros. Almond Cherry Blossom
• Milk and sugar cubes, lemon slices

Savouries:

Finger Sandwiches:

• Roast beef with whipped horseradish on wheat bread
• Ham with mustard butter on rye bread
• Tarragon chicken salad spirals (white bread)
• Open-faced smoked salmon with lemon-dill butter on wheat bread with capers
• Curried egg salad in tomato cups
• Cucumber with mint-cream cheese on white bread

Scones:

• Devonshire scones, plain and fruited (with black currants)
• Lemon curd, strawberry jam, and Devonshire (clotted) cream

Sweets:

The next part really helps me stay calm and focused : planning my countdown for party preparations. I love to check off boxes so that’s what I do. I make a list with lots of boxes, and I note when (or at least which day) I plan to check off each box.

Some things have to be done the day of the party (like the scones, or sandwich assembly, or the party set-up – if it’s outside),

and some things must be done the day before (like the trifle, or the foccacia, or the flower arrangements), but many things can be done days ahead (like the shortbread, or the shopping, or the music selections, or the fillings or butters for the sandwiches). Having a plan keeps an ambitious menu from becoming overwhelming. It also allows me to accept help when friends offer to contribute – I know exactly what’s on my list so what they bring really relieves me of some of the workload. And I do love checking off those boxes!

I have to be honest – to me, the most gratifying part of any party is seeing the whole set-up ready to go, just before guests start helping themselves to the feast.

Then the next best part is seeing everybody enjoying my efforts – in the case of a garden party, filling their plates, pouring more cups of tea, and challenging each other at croquet.

I think I’m very lucky that my hobby is one that others seem to enjoy, too. So let’s spread the joy!