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Duck, Duck, Goose! A Fun-Filled Spring Social

A creative mom and entrepreneur takes a page from a favorite children’s game to invoke some magic for little guests set in the picturesque gardens of P. Allen Smith’s Moss Mountain Farm outside Little Rock, Arkansas
A flower-filled spring luncheon table set in the rose garden at Moss Mountain Farm, created by The Velvet Boxwood for duck, duck, goose-themed children's social

The Velvet Boxwood, duck, duck, goose spring social at P. Allen Smith's Moss Mountain Farm. Photography by Erin Wilson

Set in the rose garden, mismatched chairs around the table balance more formal elements like silver flatware. The child-friendly lunch menu included herb buttermilk biscuits with ham and apricot marmalade, honey fruit salad, and cheese straws.

Laurie Miller, owner of The Velvet Boxwood, has her hand in many creative fields—interiors, entertaining, and florals—and her talents shine in a whimsical spring party for her children and their friends. “The concept of the party was duck, duck, goose, a game I played as a child and play today with my boys,” Laurie says. “I knew the gardens at Moss Mountain were the most breathtaking, and I felt it was the perfect place to throw a feathered and webbed social, especially since there are a lot of geese and ducks on the farm.”

entry to The Velvet Boxwood for duck, duck, goose-themed children's spring social at Moss Mountain Farm

Hand-painted sign by Seanna Nickels | Photography by Erin Wilson

At the gate, handmade duck, duck, goose toys and a basket of spring blooms and vegetables greeted petite guests.

close up of the party entrance sign

The Velvet Boxwood, duck, duck, goose spring social at P. Allen Smith's Moss Mountain Farm. Photography by Erin Wilson

Seanna Nickels, a member of The Velvet Boxwood team, painted the sign.

Hand-painted invitations with charming motifs announced the day and theme. And, when the petite guests arrived, they were greeted with fresh mint sweet tea to begin their garden adventure, which included a sit-down lunch in the rose garden. Hand-painted duckling cookies, adorned with each child’s name, served as edible place cards. Drawing on the farm setting, Laurie set a table overflowing with blooms and a bounty of fresh veggies.

Lunch was followed by a vigorous round of duck, duck, goose, and then it was time for a treat—lemon cake with blueberry filling and ice cream sandwiches made using tiny blueberry pies.

A large spring floral arrangement on a drinks table in the garden. Rose-covered tuteurs bloom in the background

The first stop on the garden adventure was a table offering sweet tea with mint, highlighted by a bountiful arrangement in a terra cotta pot.

After the yummy repast, guests were ushered off to a potting table where each child planted their own rosemary, mint, or thyme and decorated it with a toy duckling. “That was our way of thanking our guests and sending them home with something to remember the day by,” says Laurie. “It truly was a scrumptious, waddling good time for all!”

Scenes from the Party

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The Velvet Boxwood duck, duck, goose themed invitation for a children's spring social
Custom invitations hint at the day’s fun. Laurie used fresh produce as a part of the décor in keeping with the farm setting.
place card cookies
Yummy handmade sugar cookies did double duty as place cards with each child’s name in icing.
portrait of Laurie Miller of The Velvet Boxwood and her son
Entertaining pro Laurie Miller of The Velvet Boxwood with her son Saddler
dessert table set among the rose garden at Moss Mountain Farm
The bounteous dessert table shows off a custom table skirt with hand-painted motifs.
lemon cake with a basket-weave icing design
Cakes, fashioned like baskets, covered in blueberries and with a duckling popping out, were a hit with the young guests.
slices of lemon cake with a blueberry filling
The children were surprised to find out the “baskets” were actually lemon cake, which was served on Juliska dessert plates.
tray of blueberry pie ice cream sandwiches
Ice cream sandwiches made to look like miniature pies were part of the dessert offerings.
potting table at The Velvet Boxwood's duck, duck, goose themed children's spring social at Moss Mountain Farm
A potting table was set up with pots of herbs for guests to take home along with their own homemade duckling as the party favor and thank you.
detail of herbs and toy ducks at potting station
A thyme plant appears like a toy duckling's tail when the two are nestled close.

 

PARTY RESOURCES

Photography by Erin Wilson

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