Tim Morozgalski of Tim's Garden shares tips for outdoor entertaining this summer.
Whether you’re hosting a large gathering or sharing a mid-week meal with friends, eating outdoors in summertime can be tricky to get just right. We try to consider all elements when designing outdoor spaces, particularly the sun and wind. Nelson’s sunshine can often be too hot, so we design spaces with fixed or temporary shade to counteract the heat.
Bringing in fixed structures like pergolas can be great for making areas weatherproof for winter use or just having dappled light through the rafters or slats or can help cool down a space. Sometimes, we incorporate natural vines to grow over the pergola to provide shade. If your house struggles to get enough winter sun, then we consider deciduous vines for winter light and summer shade. These can be hops, kiwi, grape, or non-fruiting options such as clematis, trumpet vine, wisteria or Virginia creeper. Shade sails and umbrellas can be a great addition for seating areas which can be too hot in the day but collapsible for high wind zones or when not in use. We have integrated these into decks to pack away in colder months. Windy properties often come with great views, for sites like these we like to bring in staggered screens and hedges to help buffer winds and keep seating in the best spot for the views.
Outdoor spaces need to include or be close to the kitchen for food preparation. When the indoor-outdoor flow works well, it’s usually linked to extending the areas where we like to eat and host.
In our designs, the kitchen is usually extended into the garden and surfaces added which are durable and easy to take care of, plus have a space for cooking. Preparing ingredients – whether it’s produce from the garden or from hunting or fishing – can be much more enjoyable when you’re outdoors.
If you have a fixed seating area, a fixed pizza oven or built-in BBQ can work well, otherwise it can be nice to have a moveable BBQ for flexibility. We are seeing more gardens featuring sunken or circle seating for gatherings, these are a nice shape for parties and conversations, especially with fire pits for evening warmth. When planning hosting and dining areas, it’s important to define the way you like to cook and make a feature of it.
Any full garden design and landscaping projects scheduled in before the end of March 2025, will receive a $500 voucher to spend at Big Trees on Lansdowne. T&C’s apply. timsgarden.co.nz
