one of my favorite things about owning a home is having my own garden and outside dining space. i’ve come to realize spending time outside, gardening and entertaining is one my greatest joys — i could spend all day out there puttering around and planting new flowers and now vegetables, too! i shared my container garden earlier this year, and now i’m planting a whole lot of fresh herbs. there’s nothing quite like inviting your friends and family over and making them a meal from stuff you’ve grown yourself — my pride is obnoxiously overflowing! i now pick fresh herbs on a daily basis, and am growing zucchini, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, kale and onions. Target invited me to share some of my summer entertaining ideas, and outdoor dining with what’s practically a fresh salad bar picked from the garden paired with BBQing is high on my list. gotta love eating al fresco with friends on warm summer nights!
to set the mood for entertaining i’ve hung these great globe lights around the patio and it’s created the prettiest dining ambience for nighttime parties (i put them on a dimmer switch for setting the mood just right!). for my overflowing herb garden i chose these really cute galvanized planters and trays from Target — and how cute are these herb stakes? and there’s also a matching watering can — and both match my container garden perfectly. i love this big wood tray for displaying fresh vegetables and herbs from the garden, or using it as a serving piece. growing your own herbs for summer entertaining is the coolest — add sprigs of mint and slices of cucumber to your water to make it taste great, and it looks so much prettier too. it’s so nice to serve your friends your own spa-like water and feels like you’ve taken that extra special step to make them feel pampered. so to get your summer prep started right i highly recommend planting your own herbs and veggies — it’s easy and so, so satisfying!
• photography by lily glass for sfgirlbybay.
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Your outdoor space turned out so beautifully. I have a small herb garden on my balcony and find it so satisfying to go out and snip off my own herbs as I’m cooking. I’m looking forward to the day I have room to grow more like you are able to!
thanks, kasie. it is the most satisfying ‘hobby’ i’ve had in a while. i hope you get more space one day, too!
Having my own outdoor space is pretty much the number one reason why I want my own place! Gorgeous garden!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Thank you, Kari!
Such a lovely setting x
http://jessicawoods.fr/blog/
This is beautiful – I love those lights!
Xx
Lovely! Your outdoor patio space looks so comfortable. Our garden is blooming too – we just started getting the first batches of red tomatoes from one of our tomato plants!
My mouth is watering looking at those fresh herbs!!! We are just starting to be able to grow them here in the Midwest. Lovely photography!
This looks great. I’ll pop round this evening, shall I, with pudding? Rhubarb fool all right? What a lovely place to spend your time. Enjoy the fruits (and veg) of your labours.
Your blog is my daily inspiration! May I ask what color exterior paint is on the background siding in all of these photos? We are looking to paint our home in a dark grey and this might be the one…. Thank you.
Thank you! Sure, It’s Benjamin Moore’s Oynx Black in Aura Satin. I love it!
Love those lights–they promise a lovely evening. So much so, that I had to make a quick shopping trip to buy a few strings for my patio too.
We have been the lucky beneficiary of your hospitality! We loved your outdoor space (and accompanying cocktails!)
come back soon! we miss you! xo
Love Love the little herb garden (and of course the lights, too)! It’s a nice touch that the watering can matches the pots for the plants, too.
Hi Victoria
I love your post and your great attitude to life. Your outdoor room is inspiring. I live in Sydney Australia and our climate allows us to enjoy al fresco dining year round. Thanks for sharing!
Love!!!!! We just redid our backyard and this table is stunning, where is it from?
Thank you! It’s from Williams Sonoma Home:
http://bit.ly/2m3nK9C