By Kerri Williams
With Labor Day weekend behind us, it’s easy to put away the idea of outside entertaining until next year. After all, school is back in session and August vacations are over. But, with some of the nicest weather of the year still ahead, why not extend the season with a garden get-together or porch party?
September weather in Westport is ideal for an outside get-together, especially in the afternoon. The temperatures are often in the 70s, and the late-summer garden and patio planters are the perfect backdrop for a gathering.
If just the thought of outside entertaining has you overwhelmed, I have two words: think small. You don’t have to host a large event to get outside with friends. How about a family dinner on the porch or a Sunday afternoon tea with a couple of friends?
Last weekend, I invited my in-laws over for an ice cream social on our patio. They brought homemade whipped cream, and I made chocolate sauce. I put a festive tablecloth on our patio table, and I used a small, outdoor plant as a centerpiece. It was an easy way to get outside and make some memories.
For Westporter Elise Meyer, who is involved in the Westport Garden Club, September and October are her favorite months to get outside and entertain, whether it be a tea party or a brunch with friends.
She also enjoys hosting events in a sukkah, a structure that commemorates the Jewish holiday during the traditional harvest time, which takes place this year Oct. 6-13. Each year, she invites family and friends to celebrate with her in the outdoor building where they can look up and see the stars.
From another garden club friend, Joyce, the best advice she has for entertaining outside is to plan ahead. She suggests first deciding on how formal or informal you want your gathering to be and then doing everything you can ahead of time so you can focus on your friends that day.
As part of the planning process, Joyce suggests checking the yard, the gardens and outside furniture. Before my recent get-together, we spruced up the patio and moved some flower pots to create a better arrangement. You also might want to gather flowers to use for arrangements around your outdoor space. Hosts should also plan for weather alternatives, such as a rain date or bringing the festivities inside or to a covered porch or patio.
For preparations inside the house, Joyce recommends making as much of the food ahead as you can. I like to focus my dishes this time of year on things that can be made with local produce from a farm stand or my own garden, keeping in mind any preferences of my guests. One of my favorite entertaining dishes is a pasta salad made with fresh herbs and vegetables. You can even ask your guests to bring a dish or appetizer using their favorite summer recipe.
Keeping the menu simple is the best advice from Elise. She recently held an outside tea on her porch where the menu included homemade scones. Other recommendations she has for late summer outdoor dining are an apple cake or a salad with roasted squash. And don’t forget to take advantage of prepared foods from your favorite supermarket to make your menu easier.
Transporting food outside is another consideration. I like to have a couple of sturdy trays on hand to carry everything I need to my outside space. Also, decide if you want to use disposable utensils. As much as possible, I like to use my own dishware, especially for smaller gatherings. I feel it adds class to my event, and it’s better for the environment, as well.
For me, setting the table is the most creative and fun part of the preparation. Coordinating the tablecloth with dishes and a centerpiece can turn your outside space into a special spot that will make your guests feel at home.
Consider using things you already have on hand to make the table arrangement unique to you. I collect colorful, small vases, so I used them recently to hold bouquets of herbs from my garden, putting one by each place setting. I also created floral place markers using some of my scrapbooking supplies.
However you plan your event, keep in mind that making your guests feel comfortable is the most important part.
So, before you put away the outdoor furniture, why not use it once more for a garden get-together this September? You could create some warm memories to get you through the cold months ahead.
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Kerri Williams
Kerri Williams is an award-winning writer and journalist. She has worked as a reporter at the Norwalk Hour, as Living editor at the Darien News-Review, and managing editor for the Norwalk Citizen-News. For Westport Journal, she is a reporter as well as a gardening columnist, writing “Cultivating with Kerri.” She recently published her first children’s book – “Mabel’s Big Move,” based on her daughter with special needs.
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