{"id":6854,"date":"2017-02-20T06:00:07","date_gmt":"2017-02-20T11:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/?p=6854"},"modified":"2023-05-09T10:37:47","modified_gmt":"2023-05-09T14:37:47","slug":"verdant-spring-equinox-party-ideas-transform-city-apartment-lush-urban-paradise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/20\/verdant-spring-equinox-party-ideas-transform-city-apartment-lush-urban-paradise\/","title":{"rendered":"Verdant Spring Equinox Party Ideas: From City Apartment to Lush Urban Paradise"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Floral brooches as party attire | Image courtesy Etsy seller AmiraliFelt<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I grew up surrounded by nature. Summer meant walking through the oak forests on the island where I lived, following a path to the ocean. Fall was a riot of orange, red, and yellow leaves, the crisp New England air reminding me that winter was coming. And nothing was better than looking for deer prints in the snow each winter, following their tracks in hopes of catching sight of the elegant creatures.<\/span><\/p>\n

But no season was more charming than spring, with new life rising up from the unlikeliest of places, like green moss growing under rocks, ferns unfurling on the side of the road, and tiny violets blooming\u2014even when there was still frost on the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now that I live in the city, it’s harder to feel so in touch with the seasons. But, determined not to miss out on the glory of spring, I decided to host a party in my small city apartment this year that would bring the spirit of the great outdoors in, if only for one night.<\/span><\/p>\n

Setting a Green Scene<\/h4>\n
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Flora and fauna | Image courtesy Etsy seller STANLEYprintHOUSE<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My apartment overlooks not one, not two, but three urban parking lots. Jealous yet? I couldn’t rely on the view to clue my party guests in on the spring theme so, instead, I decided to do an easy DIY project to spruce up my space. <\/span><\/p>\n

I headed to my favorite thrift store and hunted down a few vintage reference and coffee table books with beautiful pictures of flowers, greenery, and landscapes. When I got home, I used an Exacto knife to cut out my favorite images. Using painters tape, I hung the gorgeous nature photography and illustrations throughout my apartment, clustering a few on the wall in my kitchen to make it look like a little garden, then added washi tape to frame them like pictures. Suddenly, my small apartment was teeming with flora and fauna, without doing any damage to the walls of my rental.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sweet Spring Scents<\/h4>\n

Decor alone wasn\u2019t enough. I wanted to bring the fresh newness of spring indoors, and what better way to accomplish that than through scent? After all, it\u2019s considered the most potent of our senses, and closely tied to memories. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Vintage jars waiting to be filled with spring | Image courtesy Etsy seller thewhitepepper<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nothing beats the smell of rich soil, tree buds, and warm breezes, but a little simmering pot of herbs and aromatics can do the trick in a pinch. <\/span><\/p>\n

An hour before my guests arrived, I added a sliced Meyer lemon, a sprig of rosemary, and a handful of roughly chopped parsley to a small pot of water on the stove. I brought the pot to a simmer, then let it lightly bubble on low heat, filling my apartment with an incredibly fresh scent.<\/span><\/p>\n

I also blended a cup of baking soda, a handful of parsley, and the zest of one lemon in my food processor. I put the mixture in some pretty vintage bowls and jars I’ve collected over the years, placing them on tables and counters around the apartment. When I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, I felt like I was taking a walk through a green field on a warm day. The scene was finally set for my springtime soiree.<\/p>\n

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Treating Your Guests to Seasonal Treats<\/h4>\n

I love dreaming up recipes and refreshments to serve my party guests. I decided on an array of herb-infused foods for my party (think fresh <\/span>Green Goddess dip<\/span><\/a> with baby vegetables, <\/span>homemade rosemary crackers<\/span><\/a>, etc), but I wanted to do something a little extra special. I decided to liven things up by offering my guests two bubbly flavors of homemade soda. And ripe red strawberries, just coming into season, and soothing chamomile flowers, would make the perfect bases for homemade sodas. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Dried chamomile flowers delight guests | Image courtesy Etsy seller CoastandClearing<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Ingredients:<\/b><\/p>\n