Last weekend I hosted the loveliest spring garden lunch. It was literally perfect weather – 70 degrees, blue skies, with a gentle breeze – and the garden had just started to bloom. I invited some friends over for a casual lunch and croquet and we had the best time!

The Food

This was such an easy menu! I made a couple of chilled salads: Bacon and Pea Pasta Salad and Asparagus Salad with Aged Cheddar and Almonds. I also served the juiciest grapes and little hummus and crudité cups with radishes, snap peas, carrot chips, and cucumber sticks. It was such a light and delicious menu that went together beautifully!

For dessert, I served Chocolate Pecan Fudge Cookies. I absolutely love serving cookies for outdoor functions when it’s just warm enough to make chocolate chips a little melty. This was the perfect croquet dessert!

The Drink

It’s strawberry season, baby! I made a whole pitcher of Strawberry Mint Gin Smash with fresh mint from my garden. I miss my mint for the couple of months in the winter when I’m without it and man, it is delightful in a cocktail.

The Flowers

I haven’t mentioned this yet on the blog but for my birthday this year, my mom gifted me a Flower Club subscription with my favorite local grower, Paper Bird Flower Farm. It’s the gift that keeps on giving! Every other week for two months, I get to pick up a stunning, locally grown bouquet full of tulips, lilies, snapdragons, and more.

The flowers were the centerpiece of my garden party, paired with a white lantern and my favorite floral tablecloth seen first at my Bridgerton party. I used my Emma dishes from Pottery Barn and my shatter-proof wine glasses from Govino (Amazon link here) so we could safely walk around the garden with them.

Croquet

After lunch, we played croquet while sipping our cocktails. What is more chic than cocktails and croquet?! It’s such an easy game to learn. If you’ve never played croquet before but love lawn games, I highly recommend investing in a croquet set!

I hope this gives you inspiration for your own garden parties! You don’t need to wait for your garden to be in full bloom to get outside and enjoy gorgeous weather. Bake some cookies, make a couple of chilled salads, and bask in the sunshine.

Happy hosting,

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