Heights Summer 2001

The long, lazy, steamy days of summer are here with a blast. No easing into it this year. Oh well, let's make the best of it and celebrate. Time for those great barbecues and impromptu get-togethers with ice-cold liquid refreshments to quench "the meanest of thirsts". Gatherings can be anything from very casual to elegant and formal. And they can all take place in your garden. All you need is a little imagination and some preparation. Use what you have available around your house and especially in the garden. Don't be afraid to move some of your furniture and even area rugs outside to create eating and conversation areas. Here are some fun ideas for entertaining outdoors.

• A meal requiring a lot of last minute cooking will keep you from your guests and enjoying the party. Plan a menu that you can prepare ahead of time: chilled soups, pasta salads, marinated grilled vegetables. Then serve buffet style so you can relax.

• Don't limit yourself to the patio. Move furniture under an arbor, by a pond, use blankets for a picnic or hang a candelabra under a tree for a formal sit down dinner.

• We can't forget the Houston bugs. Have plenty of Shoo for your guests to put on. This is a wonderful organic bug repellent that absorbs into the pulse points and smells great... but not to the bugs. We have citronella geraniums that will control bugs and don't forget the citronella torches and candles. We also carry net domes that can cover buffet dishes and keep the fly population down.

• Use your terra cotta pots filled with ice to hold the beer and wine and let them leak on to the lawn so that your guests won't have to stick their hands in a bucket of water or use anything galvanized that you have around and put some holes in the bottom if they don't already have them. They're nicer looking than regular coolers.

• I don't know about you but I prefer to eat from real plates even though there are cute paper goods to choose from. Surprise your guests with the good china and crystal. What are we saving it for! It keeps the food from winding up in your lap. But don't forget to comb the grounds for errant silverware.

• Your potting bench can be used as a buffet table and the birdbath can house iced shrimp. Hang baskets of snacks from tree branches. We have jeweled hooks that can hang from patio covers or tree branches.

• Decorate with cut flowers and herbs from your garden or cluster potted plants in strategic places. An idea we have used at weddings is to pot up individual herbs in four inch pots and give one as a favor to each guest as they leave. We carry a large selection of herbs at all times. If you are having a large group give us some notice and we can have them potted for you.

• For more ambience, string lots of lanterns and lights around. Some people leave them up year round because they love the effect.

The Backyard Gardener will be starting our third year in business at the Main St. location. We have lot's more creative ideas to share with you on entertaining, on creative landscaping, unusual plants, garden art, and fun gifts for your friends who love to garden.

We are located on N. Main and Norhill, near the Spanish Flower restaurant. You can't miss our 2-story purple building. If you haven't been to see us yet, I think you'll be in for a nice surprise. We also love to have garden club meetings at the nursery where we can give talks on lots of interesting topics. Give us a call at 713-880-8004 to reserve a date.

Thanks, April and Jim
Shop:	713-880-8004