All the Best Ingredients

An Intimate Garden Party at Home

At least once a year, LeAnn sets a beautiful table for 30 of her nearest and dearest under the portico of her home. She has a relaxed style, and LOVES flowers as much as I do. 

I get a call a few months out and then we’ll check in the week before. She’ll tell me a little about the occasion and what’s blooming in her garden.

I go to the flower market and collect all the best ingredients. Whatever inspires, and because the party is relatively small, there’s no need to preorder in bulk. Everything gets hand selected and I can taste the soup as I go. It’s kinda like like being a private chef, but with flowers not food.

The Bordeaux Anemones were especially pretty that day, and the Lilac was perfection. I grabbed some mandarin colored Ranunculus, add to that, a dash of acid green achemilia, some mango madness dahlias, a touch of mint, and bunny grass. You will have have a pretty yummy combo. 

As a designer, I like to taste the soup as I go, something really special happens with a bit of improvisation and good ingredients.

The morning of the party, while I was walking the dog, I harvested 5 little stems of lily of the valley that were trying to escape from under the neighbors fence. Even though they didn’t match the scheme, I tucked them in, just because.

I feel fortunate to work with people who notice all the little details. LeAnn called the next day. She loved everything and thanked me the for the lily of valley. I still get emotional when I think of that.

It’s all about family and friends for hostess like LeAnn. She generously orchestrates the best ingredients, food, fun, and flowers, to make delicious party.