Let's face it; a party is even better when there's tea, delicate finger sandwiches and fanciful desserts. Bridal showers, baby showers, birthday parties and even a simple picnic can easily be transformed into a delightful, memorable event.

Under a grape arbor, in a sunroom, a porch or tucked away in a corner of the garden, there are many wonderful places to entertain for an afternoon tea and picnic. By combining the two and using your creativity, you will compose an afternoon of casual entertaining perfect for a hot, lazy afternoon to share between friends.

Consider incorporating all those antique and yard sale treasures you've found such as; watering cans, punch bowls, pitchers, clay pots, picnic baskets, serving trays, glassware, tablecloths, quilts, straw hats, pillows, old books or back issues of your favorite magazine, to create a soft, relaxed atmosphere.

Set up a table or potting bench as for a buffet. Use a tablecloth or quilt to cover the table and then create varied heights by using a picnic basket, three-tiered tray or whatever else you can image. Perhaps tip a picnic basket over on its side and have vintage linens and fruit spilling out, or perch a platter on several upside down clay pots or a stack of books. I use a three-tiered tray to serve cookies, petite fours, chocolates and garnish with flowers. Purple Violas and chocolate are a very pretty combination. I wrap warm scones in linen and serve them in a small wicker basket. The whole point is to get creative and use what you have.

I love incorporating flowers into the overall scheme. Not only do I use pesticide-free flowers and herbs in what I cook and bake, but I also garnish with them and use them to deocorate the surroundings. A clay pot overflowing with Johnney-jump-ups, or a mason jar arranged with a mixture of Roses and Raspberries make for nice additions. Other good items to use to display flower arrangements are old teapots, pitchers, tin or ceramic decanters, watering cans and wicker baskets. I'm sure with a little imagination you could think of even more useful items.