60th Surprise Birthday Dinner in The Garden

Don't forget that you can click on to any photo in the post to enlarge.

Last week I hosted a dinner party for a dear friends 60th. It was to be a surprise and I think we pulled it off. It was a group effort by many other friends who graciously brought the food. The menu was a somewhat Spanish dinner and culminated with a fabulous Chocolate Mousse Cake with very tall candles.

Here in N FL with our intense heat coming on I contemplated having the dinner outside in the garden. I couldn't resist having another Garden Dinner party. The weather was not forecasting rain but yet it was a little humid as it often is this time of year. My garden was still looking very good so it would have probably been the last time I could have conceivably pulled this off. I think it was a success.

The last time I had a Garden party I used round tables with burlap cloths. This time I chose to use white tablecloths and chairs and did burlap runners. I also mixed my plates with white and also my Vilroy & Boch toile dinner plates. I did use the same center pieces but this time instead of all white I used blue hydrangeas from my garden with small sunflowers coming out of the top.

These stumps were from a tree that my husband took down at our farm in S GA. He brought them home and routed out the center to fit some cylinder vases that I used inside the stumps. The moss came from trees in our back yard and I was given a tip from a floral professional, if the moss comes directly from the trees and not laying on the ground then it will NOT have red bugs in it. Soooooooooo, I used the moss at the base of the stumps.

It truly was an elegant evening.

The bar was set up in close proximity.

I had done this small table on the patio and my Apothecary Jar was to be placed on the silver plateau. Unfortunately, I did not get a pic of the jar on the plateau. However, there is a photo below that I had used at my daughter in laws home some weeks ago so just imagine my Apothecary Jar sitting on top of the silver plateau. I did in fact served the same Champagne Sangria and you can find the recipe by clicking here.

My garden was also co-operating. Thankfully there were other things blooming since the last Garden Dinner party I had had about a month prior.

 The patio was set up for a comfortable way to enjoy sipping on that Champagne Sangria.

 The birthday girl blowing out her candles.

I think a good time was had by all and it was such a JOY to host such a special event for my dear friend. Even my outdoor garden lighting was co-operating which was a good thing since our party went well into the evening.

Today I am joining the blogging party Outdoor Wednesday and also Tablescape Thursday.