Outdoor Entertainment in the Garden

Life is for living, splurge on it! Outdoor entertainment is all about creating a gathering space for friends and family. Is there a better way to express the joy of existence than luxuriating in your garden? I don’t think so. In California, we reside in the perfect climate to enjoy our gardens year round so why not create spaces that entice you and your guests to get out of the house and into the fresh air.There are so many ways to do this. Certainly a terrace and arbor is a good starting point or perhaps you’d like to go all out and build a kitchen complete with a sink, fridge, grill and all the rest. You can go as casual as a patio area with tables and chairs or as formal as an airy room fully housed beneath a solid roof with open sides. Holiday entertaining in the garden among the trees and flowers can be such fun.

“Life is short, break the rules. Forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably and never regret anything that makes you smile.”- Mark Twain

Selecting the Ideal Space for Outdoor Entertainment

Choosing from a myriad of designs, furnishings and features available can be a bit overwhelming. I suggest starting by listing out your ideal scene, and I do mean ideal. What would you do if you could have anything and everything you wanted? On this step get creative and allow your imagination to go unrestrained. Dreaming is free, so why not dream big? Keep dreaming until you run out ideas (If you need help on this step, call me).Now that you have your wish list, look at your available space. Then, modify the dream list depending on the area you have to work with for outdoor entertainment. Working with small or large space presents unique challenges. It is true that the smaller the area the more inspired you need to be in terms of creating an outdoor wonderland. But, you can turn even a small yard into a fabulous “garden of wonder” that you and your guests can enjoy. Moreover, if you have fairly expansive grounds you are limited only by your creativity. Outdoor rooms with connecting pathways give you unlimited an canvas for expression. This is even more effective when strolling the gardens becomes an exercise in discovery. Giving hints throughout the landscape design to what is in store without showing all you’ve got brings an element of surprise.

No Limit to Imagination or Ideas

If space is limited, consider creating a space that serves multiple purposes. The easiest way to do this is with crushed stone and very large pots that can be moved about depending on the need of the moment. If you don’t like crushed stone, use flagstone, pavers or any hard surface you like, the concept is the same. Then, fill the pots with a variety of citrus, shade trees and color such as Ivy geranium and Impatiens or get crazy with succulents and exotic plants. This area can then serve as a dining room when you move in tables and chairs, or a cozy living room complete with sofas and a large, comfortable loveseator it can become a place for sunbathing on your lounger. Add a fire-pit for chilly evenings, string lights across the top. Heck, move the furniture aside and you’ve got a dance floor!Alternatively, consider a meandering stream culminating in a koi pond, or if you’ve got the space, why not a swimming pool? You can tuck a gazebo into a cozy corner with hanging candelabra and an antique tea set, a bubbling fountain, a lemon arbor (go see the one at Lotusland), a redwood cathedral converted into an enchanting secret garden.

The Gathering Place

Make a space delightfully decadent by placing items in the garden that are traditionally used inside the home in your outdoor space such as couches, chandeliers, and pouf lounger. It’s another unexpected element you can introduce and perfect for comfortable outdoor entertainment.Picture a candlelit table surrounded by lush plantings of trees, colorful flowers peeking out from the foliage, their fragrance wafting on the soft evening breeze, the distant musical sound of water from a courtyard fountain and most importantly, the laughter of family and friends enjoying an evening of delight.

“You'll see your castles in SpainThrough your window paneBack in your own backyardYou'll find your happiness liesRight under your eyesBack in your own backyard” - Performed by Billie Holiday, Composed by Billy Rose and Dave Dreyer

Hopefully this helps inspire you to design your own outdoor retreat. Let your imagination run wild and I’ll meet you in the garden.Fill your garden with joy, Lisa