As we begin our roll into summer, the days are warmer and longer. Summer solstice is marked as the midsummer point, and is measured by the earth’s tilt towards the sun, which results in the longest period of daylight of the year. This year's summer solstice is on June 20th, and you may be trying to figure out a way to put together your annual garden party with the on-going COVID-19 gathering restrictions and social-distancing guidelines. Lucky for you, we have partnered with Backyard Habitat to put together our top five tips to help you plan and host a VIRTUAL garden party for your friends!
- Email Invites: If you haven’t already, send out your invites now with a scheduled zoom meeting link. This way, your “attendees” will be able to easily find and access your party, without having to search through multiple texts and emails. Consider including the start time, length, topic of discussion or activity ideas, and any “supplies” that they should have ready like a webcam, food & beverage, or a festive outfit. We are hosting a LIVE online event on June 20th @ 2pm with Backyard Habitat, a local nonprofit organization focused on planting natives. They will be sharing some fantastic information, and raffling off some goodies with 100% of proceeds benefiting their nonprofit organization (Purchase a raffle ticket here) Consider tuning-in with your friends!
- Plan ahead: Have your equipment ready-to-go well before the event to avoid frustrating technical issues. Set everything up in advance to make sure you can see and hear everyone (and they can see and hear you!). You can keep it simple by just having a pair of headphones connected to your laptop or tablet, or get fancy by having a projector screen and projector, webcams, and mics. The key is to make sure whatever IT elements you decide to use will work in your backyard without too much hassle or frustration.
- Get Festive: Just because it’s a virtual party does NOT mean that you can’t still have fun with the decorations! Go ahead and prepare your yard with some beautiful native plants, a table with place settings and fresh cuttings from your garden, twinkly lights and candles for after dark, and a cover if it rains. You may also decide to spice it up and “theme” your event as well. We love the idea of hosting a 70’s-style “flower child” garden party!
- Wine and Dine: Why not go ahead and plan an exquisite, garden-friendly menu and set the table in your backyard with your best china? Father’s day is the next day, so a BBQ may also fit the bill. Choose food that can easily be enjoyed al fresco in your backyard. You can share your menu and recipes with your friends in advance so that you can all eat together (virtually!)
- Have Fun: The point is to enjoy the camaraderie of your favorite people. If you are looking for an activity to do together, we are hosting the live event with Backyard Habitat as a way to bring us all together for an excellent cause. We hope you will add it as an element to your virtual party!
