An Invitation to the Garden Seasonal Entertaining Outdoors

In this indispensable entertaining guide, Michael Devine, a well-known tastemaker, shows how the garden can be a perfect and easily transformable setting to stage enchanted events in every season. Michael Devine shares the joys of outdoor dining in his exquisite garden, presenting several get-togethers throughout the year-from breakfast and lunch to cocktails and dinner. Included are easy-to-prepare recipes as well as lots of ideas for creating festive tablescapes and decor that befit each occasion, from an iridescent butterfly-themed summer luncheon to a Christmas Eve feast in his cozy candlelit garden folly. Each garden event is chic and infused with whimsical effects. This small backyard garden has clipped bushes, trellised climbing roses, potted containers, and raised sprightly vegetable and herb beds, which serve as the source for many of the fresh ingredients for his mouthwatering menus. An array of sensuous blooms for the table is ready for the picking. A charming bagatelle with a thatched roof and a gravel terrace enveloped by the lush garden function as intimate seating areas for his chic parties. This book provides expert guidance and inspiration for readers looking to create their own stylish outdoor parties with ease, whether they are city dwellers with a small plot of land or the owners of country property.

Michael Devine has an internationally recognized line of hand-printed fabrics. His textiles and gardens have appeared in numerous print and online magazines, including House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Traditional Home, and the Peak of Chic. He is a weekly columnist for Lonny magazine. A celebrated prolific designer and author, Charlotte Moss most recently wrote the successful Charlotte Moss Decorates and A Visual Life. John Gruen is a lifestyle photographer.