Midsummer Garden Party

Midsummer, or the summer solstice is on or around June 21, the longest day of the year and the shortest night. Decorating ideas are seashells and starfish arranged across your altar or mantle. You could really be subtle and go Americana—use architectural stars and folk art in country colors of blues and reds.

Midsummer is celebrated at my house by barbecuing, going to the pool, camping, or the occasional fishing trip. Some other ideas for celebrating the solstice are midsummer garden parties, going on a picnic, or taking a trip to the lake or beach.

To create an inexpensive midsummer garden party, keep the menu fresh and light. Decorate a picnic table if you have one, or drag your kitchen table out to the garden. Use a tablecloth in any pretty pastel shade and either use floral theme paper plates or your good dishes. I like to mix and match glassware and plates for a more informal look. You might try picking up some plastic tumblers in bright shades of hot summer colors.

How about creating individual tussie-mussies for your guests, or, better yet, have everyone make their own while they are at the party? Put a pretty book on the table explaining the symbolism of the flowers, set out some supplies and flowers, and turn them loose.

If you are having your magickal friends over, try a solstice/celestial theme: gold suns with blue and gold plates and napkins. Sprinkle some glittery stars and moon confetti on the tablecloth. If children are invited, you could make it a faery party. Let the little ones dress up as faeries—the adults, too, if they wish. Embellish place cards with glitter pens and floral, faery, or celestial stickers, depending on your theme.

Snip some blooming roses off your bushes and use garden flowers and blooming fragrant herbs for a centerpiece. For faery lights you can use old glass canning jars with a tea light inside and set them in a row down the center of the table or place them throughout the garden. After the sun goes down, light up some sparklers for the kids and the adults. Have an enchanted midsummer’s night!

Excerpted from Garden Witchery, by Ellen Dugan