Grilling season is finally here once more. After a chaotic and long year, we know you are eager and ready to reunite with your friends and family over the greatest sizzling BBQ. While the food and menu are important parts of a fantastic cookout, it is also imperative to gather the perfect collection of party essentials and create an atmosphere that sets the ideal mood and tone for your backyard bash. Here at QG Floral + Landscape / Flowers by Mike, the top florist in Oceanside and East Rockaway, we are lending a hand and sharing the ultimate recipe for a flawless BBQ.

Our Favorite Ideas to Spice Up Your Cookout Decor

Choose a color palette

If you are celebrating the 4th of July or Labor Day, choose flowers that are red, white, and blue to enhance the patriotic feel. Or, you could choose flowers in an earthy tone such as lavender, blue, and green. Summer colors of orange, yellow, and pink add bright pops of colors while a monochromatic selection of all white flowers makes a sophisticated statement.

Display flowers in a unique way

Place a bunch of flowers in a tin can or buck for a rustic feel, or place several buds in clear bottles and hang them from tree branches. Fill mason jars with colorful blooms and place them on tables. Get creative with the vessel – use an old teapot, spray paint old cans, or fill wire baskets, lanterns, or unused birdcages with fresh blooms to add instant style to your event.

Infuse your beverages with flowers

For a delightful surprise, add fresh flower petals to drinks. Make sure the flowers you use are pesticide-free. Go ahead and wash them with water if you like before adding to drinks. Flowers that work well in drinks include violet, roses, nasturtium, hibiscus, and lavender. For drink recipes that include flowers, go here.

Dress up everyday items with flowers

Add a single stem flower to a stir stick for an elegant touch. Or, place stems in a pair of rain boots. Create a floating bouquet by placing blossoms in a bowl of water. Instead of throwing away the eggshells you have leftover from making deviled eggs, place small blooms within each egg half shell for a unique and delightful display. For guests, place several flower stems in a paper bag tied with twine to place all about and then to give to guests as a parting gift they’ll love.

When choosing flowers for your backyard event, make sure to select hardy stems that can hold up to the heat and stay fresh and vibrant all day. Good choices include:

Sunflowers

Eucalyptus

Carnations

Wax flowers

Daisies

Lisianthus

Delphinium

Succulents

Nothing can beat catching up with friends, laughing with family, or enjoying delicious BBQ hot off the grill. However, your recipe for a fantastic cookout is incomplete without the summer’s hottest flowers. Spruce up your outdoor space with quality seasonal blooms and plants from QG Floral + Landscape / Flowers by Mike.

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