I t’s been hot and dry in my hometown, so my garden is brown and crunchy. And there are restrictions on water usage. So no late summer dahlias, red hot pokers, or zinnias, just a few bedraggled geraniums and some very hardy English roses, as well as the ferns on the front porch. The Macho ferns are massive this year. It’s all rather sad, but just what happens occasionally.
Unfortunately, this year I had committed to several late summer events in the garden, including two luncheons on the verandah, one for friends and another to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. These two events were followed by an open house for some garden club members, along with an afternoon tea. Somehow, I even committed to a September picnic in the garden for a local arts organization that I love.
I figured that I could put some tables and chairs in the back garden, buy some pumpkins, and barbecue some ribs. No big deal. Besides, I love to entertain, especially in the garden.
Vibrant celosia and a tasty cranberry orange cake shaped like a pumpkin help make a late summer garden party a
success.
Unfortunately, I discovered that my boy Bruno had excavated half the back lawn and removed all the plants from the big...