Tea at the Unicorn Wine Guild

Okay. I’m going to show my age here. When I was little – as in kindergarten little – my family would faithfully watch the Ozzie and Harriet Show. I adored Ricky Nelson. I think he was my first crush. By first or second grade I was proudly wearing my Dr. Kildare shirt, but that’s another story. Years later little Ricky came back into my life with his grown-up name. Rick Nelson. His hit “Garden Party” was on the radio today. I know his lyrics have nothing to do with an afternoon tea garden party, except for the title. But, the ideas began to flow. A garden party. I remember my grandmother loved her rose garden. She had a back porch with trellises covered in ivy. We would sit on the wicker chairs and watch the birds and butterflies in her back yard. These times were often accompanied by iced tea and a cookie. Or Heavenly Hash. A favorite snack for me. Marshmallows, pineapple, maraschino cherries, coconut and whipped cream. Yum. (She usually left out the nuts.) Sometimes she would have a few blooms that had damaged stems. She would snip these off and bring them into the house to float in a bowl of water. Peonies often received this treatment, too, and would make a lovely table decoration for a tea.
While I thought about the garden party, I thought of one of the most famous ones – the annual garden party hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. Pastels, big hats, sun dresses. Finger sandwiches and Petit Fours. I looked at Pinterest and Martha Stewart’s website and found a ton of ideas. But, Mamo’s floating flowers were my favorite. Of course, on a sunny day a big hat is a help, but not the only solution to the sun in your eyes. If you had a garden party and didn’t have a trellised porch or a big shade tree or two then you might consider going a little more beachy in the theme and putting out beach umbrellas. Or you might make canopies out of pretty cloth and poles or even invest in a garden tent. If your party extends to evening, twinkle lights and citronella candles can add ambience to the event.
If it’s been raining as much in your area as in mine, then you might want to move the party indoors. Continue with the floating flowers, or fill bowls or glass cylinders with lemons and limes and add cranberries for a touch of color. Use the lemon and lime colors or even summery pastels and florals for décor, linens and china (or paper items. There are lovely paper plates and napkins these days.) Invitations can match the color scheme and theme. You’d still like it outdoors, but have no yard? Ask a friend or neighbor if you can use theirs (set-up and clean-up is your job, not theirs) or go to a park or public garden. Picnic baskets or hampers come in handy for these outings.
What to serve? Match the theme. It could be a theme as easy as just the two of us, girl’s get-together or fun in the sun. Or more formal such as a bridal or baby shower, a royal garden party, Mad Hatter’s party, Downton Abbey or Victorian, Secret Garden or a fundraiser for a cause in which case there may be a color association.
The food? Chilled soup such as Gazpacho or Vichyssoise, mini quiches or tea sandwiches, Petit Fours or individual fruit tarts. I thought of cup cakes or individual cakes, but on a warm day the icing may not hold so well and ice cream may melt if not properly cared for. Iced tea and lemonade would make wonderful beverages. Use your imagination. A garden party is basically a picnic. Pay attention to how you will keep cold foods cold and how to prevent spoilage of not only the food but the event. A garden party can be a fun dress-up event or even a great casual event. The choice is yours. The main thing is to enjoy.