It's so easy to assume that September means that summer is over, but that really isn't necessarily the case in the UK.
But I think we are far too quick to give up on our gardens.
Some of the loveliest mornings of the year happen now. That tiny hint of a mist which quickly clears, that wonderful low autumn light, a little dew on the grass and, if we are lucky, days that become surprisingly warm. And the early evenings can be completely magical.
So please, don’t pack away your gazebo yet!
A garden gazebo isn’t just for summer
One of the things you report loving most about our patterned gazebos is that they create a proper little room in the garden.
In high summer, they give you shade and shelter. But come September and October, that same sense of enclosure becomes wonderfully cosy.
Add a table and chairs and you have somewhere for lunch on a bright autumn day. Put comfortable chairs underneath and it becomes the perfect place for drinks at six o’clock. Lay the table for supper, light some candles and suddenly an ordinary evening at home feels like an occasion. We are so lucky that we very often hear owls hooting on these evenings, but if the young are at home, they have their music on and a different vibe prevails. Whatever, the garden gazebo makes for a much longer outdoor season and a great deal of joy.
This is exactly what I mean when I talk about outdoor entertaining. It doesn’t have to involve twenty people, complicated food or perfect weather. Sometimes it is simply deciding that rather than going inside, you are going to stay outside for another hour.
Add a little warmth
And I don't mind being the first to admit that the evenings CAN be quite sharp. A really good outdoor infrared heater can completely change things - you can see them here.
We hear again and again from customers who have put heaters into their gazebos and say what an enormous difference they make. That little bit of warmth can turn an evening when everyone would otherwise have disappeared indoors into another couple of hours outside, and they also give a rosy glow which might be lost in a bog-standard gazebo, but in a really beautiful patterned gazebo such as those sold by Parasol-UK, they contribute to a gorgeously cosy atmosphere for the evening.
Obviously, any outdoor heater needs to be suitable for the setting and positioned and used according to the manufacturer's safety instructions.
And then there are blankets.
Our all-cotton, machine-washable quilts are wonderful for this. Fold a couple over the backs of chairs so that they are there if anyone gets cold. They add another layer of pattern and colour to the gazebo and, because they can simply go into the washing machine afterwards, you don't need to be precious about using them outside. We have different ones arriving all the time and sell these so fast, that we rarely get round to putting them on the website but if you are at one of the fairs we attend, there are always some there see our news
Although on one of those glorious September evenings, you may find nobody needs one at all!
Make the most of the darker evenings
I know many of us dread losing light, but this is where autumn starts to become wonderful, if only we can train ourselves to appreciate it. By September, you don't have to wait until bedtime for it to become dark enough for lights to look magical.
Wind tiny warm fairy lights around the gazebo frame, hang a few lanterns, put candles on the table or add festoon lights around the garden. Suddenly the earlier sunset becomes part of the pleasure.
I particularly like Sparkle Lighting, who have some really pretty outdoor fairy lights, festoons and lanterns. The trick, I think, is not to make it too bright. You want pools of soft light rather than something resembling stadium floodlights.
Our block printed gazebos take on a completely different character after dark. The pattern, the fabric and the gentle light underneath make them feel wonderfully intimate, almost like a little jewel box sitting in the garden.
Have supper outside, even if supper is very simple
One of my favourite garden party ideas for autumn isn't really a garden party at all.
Invite a few friends for early drinks and tell them to bring a jumper. Or have Sunday lunch outside on one of those beautiful clear days. Or put a big dish of something warming in the middle of the table and have supper under the gazebo before it becomes properly cold.
It doesn't need to be elaborate.
In fact, I think there is something particularly lovely about autumn entertaining being slightly impromptu. A bowl of soup, baked potatoes, a bottle of wine. Add napkins, candles and a few dahlias or whatever you can find in the garden and it immediately feels special.
And because you are under a garden gazebo, a slight change in the weather needn't bring proceedings abruptly to an end.
Layer it up
Autumn is also the moment when you can have much more fun with layers.
In summer, you often want everything to feel light and airy. In autumn, more is more.
Tablecloths, cushions, quilts, candles, flowers, china, lanterns and pattern all come into their own. Our hand block printed fabrics work particularly beautifully at this time of year because all that colour looks glorious against the slightly faded greens and browns of an autumn garden.
It is a very particular sort of British garden style: not pretending that we live somewhere with guaranteed sunshine, but making something beautiful out of the season we actually have.
Don't wish the garden away
Perhaps that is really the point of all this.
We spend so much of the year longing for summer that it seems to me an unnecessary pity to abandon the garden the moment September arrives.
There is still that first cup of coffee to be savoured outside in the morning. There are lunches to enjoy out there, making the very most of our beautiful seasons. There are early evening drinks, Sunday lunches and suppers under fairy lights.
There will be plenty of time for sitting indoors in January.
For now, put on a jumper, light the candles, pull a quilt around your shoulders if you need one and enjoy it.
The garden isn't finished with us yet.
Thinking about a gazebo, garden tent or parasol for next year?
If you are beginning to think about your garden for next spring and summer, now is actually a very good time to start the conversation.
Whether you are trying to decide between one of our luxury garden gazebos, an Indian Garden Tent or one of our Garden Parasols, do get in touch. We are always very happy to talk through the different options, sizes and designs with you. You don't need to have made any decisions before you contact us.
Sometimes it is much easier to work out what would suit your garden simply by having a chat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use a garden gazebo in autumn?
Absolutely. A gazebo can make a wonderful sheltered outdoor room during the milder days of autumn. Add suitable outdoor lighting, warm layers and, where appropriate, a safely positioned outdoor heater and it can considerably extend the time you spend outside.
How can I make a gazebo feel cosy in autumn?
Think in layers: cushions, cotton quilts, a tablecloth, candles or lanterns and warm fairy lights. As the evenings become darker, lighting makes an enormous difference to the atmosphere.
Are garden parasols only for summer?
Not at all. A garden parasol is useful whenever you want shade or a defined sitting area outdoors. Bright, still autumn days can be some of the loveliest times to sit outside, so there is no need to put your parasol away simply because September has arrived.
Next Week:
Next week's blog
What Is Hand Block Printing? The Story Behind Our Block Printed Garden Parasols