an evening birthday dinner party in the garden

to celebrate our loveliest friend melinda, brittany and i got back into dinner-party-planning mode and put together a sweet fancy picnic in elizabeth gamble garden in palo alto {our previous garden party here}. the set up was about the splendidest setting ever - the old wood table with benches under the biiiig oak tree and the dappling evening sunlight - and we brought along some fresh-cut dahlias and some colorful, delicious food. some of our very closest friends, most of whom had never been to one of our dinner parties!, made the best company, and we enjoyed the perfect cool of the summer dusk.

 
on the menu: –fresh berries, artisan cheese and pita crackers – heirloom caprese salad – mango coconut and edamame quinoa – green salad with pesto chircken – honeydrop, salted caramel and powdered lemon cookies.
    

there is something so special (trite word, but fitting) about entertaining like this. just to enjoy some finer things and to create beauty and share it with others - it makes me really happy.

and i am so so glad melinda was born – she really is the loveliest friend.

{previous dinner parties: st. patrick’s day / good friday / midsummer night / pioneer day /fall fete / saint lucia day /springtime in paris / garden party / yuletide}