It's no secret that zinnias are my favorite summer flower. They're easy to grow, thrive in the summer heat, come in an endless array of colors, shapes, and sizes, make long-lasting bouquets, and are magnets for bees and butterflies. What's not to love?

Every winter I happily pore over seed catalogs, choosing my old favorites and a few new varieties to try. In late winter I start the seeds in the greenhouse and by early spring they're ready to be transplanted into the garden. You can skip the greenhouse part altogether and scatter the seeds directly in the soil--they don't require pampering in the least. Then comes the reward. By mid-summer, the border is absolutely bursting with cheerful blooms, and I can't imagine the garden without them.

I almost didn't write about this party because I took so few pictures—not a single one of the food! That's a shame because the meal was absolutely delicious. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized this party wasn't really about the food. It was about how simple entertaining can be when you plan ahead, keep the menu easy, and let your friends help. I'll share the menu, of course, but I also thought I'd pass along a few of my favorite stress-free entertaining tips.

Over the years I've learned a few things about entertaining, and the most important is this: your guests will remember how you made them feel far longer than they'll remember what you served.