At 6 p.m. on a Wednesday, a clap of thunder booms over the Charlotte, N.C., home of Janice and Jack Rose.

Casting an eye toward the graying sky, Janice presses on, through the screen door and into the garden, bearing a tray of silverware, napkins and glasses.

She's expecting 25 people in an hour. But the sky is looking worse by the moment, threatening her plans for an appreciation dinner in the garden to honor her church choir.

All is ready, tables for four, six and eight people await, set amid the lush flowers and foliage on the patio and by the swimming pool; the food is warm in the oven and cold in the refrigerator.

Best of all, the garden is ready. Now, on a mild evening, it glows with color, the rich hues of tropicals that remind the Roses of their favorite vacation spot: Hawaii. Golden yellow allamanda, bright pink mandevilla, orange-red ixora, red fuchsia, purple verbena, soft pink lantana and rosy-pink oleander all contribute to the tropical flair of this garden.

"It's the water and the flowers; they're peaceful and calm," says Janice. That's exactly what she wants, whether it's supper for her and Jack, a brunch for a few friends or a large dinner party for two dozen guests at their home.

During the past five years or so, she's worked hard to create this lush environment by hand, one small area at a time with, as Jack added, "about 5,000 bags of mulch."

First there was the pleasure of making a garden, one that will draw hummingbirds and butterflies to amuse and delight. She did it, she admits, by trial and error, by moving things around and learning something every day.

Second was the pleasure of creating a place perfect for entertaining friends and family.

At 6:20 p.m., there's that matter of the thunder, still rumbling overhead. "We just keep on truckin'," Janice says with confidence, knowing that if rain falls, she has enough space inside to move the dinner party.

Mary Tribble, president of the Charlotte-based event planning Tribble Creative Group, says a back-up plan for wet weather is vital, both for the success of the party and the peace of mind of host and hostess. Such a plan should also strive to bring inside the ambience of the garden party. Tribble wasn't involved in the Rose party, but says Janice applied many principles that professionals use for outdoor events.

Spring is popular for garden parties, Tribble says, but the weather can be risky in April and May.

Midsummer is lovely, but usually feels too hot for a late afternoon or early evening event. Late summer into autumn is milder, the annuals and tropicals are in full bloom and the soft light at dusk is lovely.

Janice collected small outdoor tables and chairs and arranged them beside the pool, in leafy niches and on the porch.

That's an arrangement Tribble says is effective for garden parties, because it encourages meandering and discovery of interesting plants and places within a garden.

"Encourage people to wander, so they can see what you created," says Tribble.

Janice loves birds, butterflies and flowers, so they became her motif for place cards, plates and napkins.

Instead of plain votive candles, Janice put citronella candles on the tables to ward off mosquitoes.

At 7 p.m. there's been no thunder for a half-hour, the sky is looking clearer and guests arrive for a Southern dinner. As a nod to the tropical theme, mango flavors the spreads and dips on the appetizer table.

Pat Springer, a guest, enjoyed eating in the garden. "You can smell the flowers, see the flowers. It's a magnificent feeling. ... There's just so much pleasure in looking at these blooming plants, all this greenery." n

Garden party tips

- Use citronella candles for light and mosquito control.

- Try festive touches, such as floating arrangements of flowers or clippings on Styrofoam bases in a pool or pond.

- Avoid using glassware on hard surfaces, such as pool decks and brick or paved patios and terraces. Shards of broken glass are hard to get up. If the party tables are on grass, glassware is less likely to break.

- Try to decorate and set your tables to reflect the garden. For example, use cut garden flowers or topiary with an English garden, tropicals with a bright tropical garden.

- Find ways to tie colors together, such as inexpensive watercolor-blue glasses that reflect pool water.

- Even if most of the food is on a buffet, invite family members or close friends to pass things on a tray and keep glasses filled.

- Let people know that it's a garden party, so the guests will wear proper footwear.

Sources: Mary Tribble and Janice Rose.

- Knight Ridder Newspapers

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