So, here we are already – at the August Bank Holiday and the last hurrah of the summer holidays before we get properly back to work, school and the slog towards Christmas.

It hardly seems possible, and I swear that it comes earlier every year.

Anyway, the three-day break is the perfect opportunity to enjoy your garden at its best – at least, I hope so as I am writing this a few days before publication, and the Met Office forecast for the weekend isn’t too pretty.

However, looking on the bright side (and we have to, don’t we?), this long weekend is an opportunity to entertain family and friends, preferably al fresco. For me the perfect summer’s day would definitely feature at least one meal outside, preferably all of them. You can’t beat starting the day with freshly squeezed orange juice and a good cup of coffee on the patio with the sun shining – as good as any on holiday. A rumbustious family meal with everyone gathered round the table chatting long into the afternoon; a picnic tea of home-made lemonade, tea, cucumber sandwiches, scones, strawberries and cream; or supper with old friends and a good bottle of wine late into the night. This is the essence of nostalgia for summers days past, and hopefully present for this coming weekend.

As a garden designer, I love making the garden beautiful, not just for aesthetics but for good living. Areas for cooking, eating, sitting, reflecting and playing football are as important as the planting. Last year I designed a pergola for a client in Combe, planted to flower throughout the summer with a succession of blooms which provide colour and scent. Starting in the spring with a beautiful clematis alpina followed by a purple wisteria, and a scented jasmine for summer early flowering alpina, together with a vine for autumn colour. A stunning centrepiece for the garden, the pergola is also a delightful dining area, giving natural shade.

I often plant herbs near the barbecue and dining area – the aroma wafts beautifully over the garden and their flavour can help make fare produced by even the most macho barbecue king more palatable. But for all this talk of entertaining outdoors, I am mindful that we are approaching a UK bank holiday! So, you need a plan B: a parasol can be pressed into service as an umbrella, an awning provides shelter from rain as well as sun, and a gazebo can be turned into a party tent with some inexpensive lighting and decorations. If it turns chilly, the garden centres still have some lovely firepits, and chimenas, all at sale prices.

Enjoy the holiday.