Becky and Steve Naylor love to entertain outdoors. In their case, in fact, there isn't any other option. When the couple bought their Rockledge home 18 years ago, they wanted a small mortgage that they'd be able to pay off quickly. The home matched the mortgage, 1,000 square feet and in need of updating.

They renovated the home and retired the loan in just eight years. But unlike other families, they declined to move up, instead raising their two daughters in the cottage-style home that still has just one 5-by-7-foot bathroom.

Despite the work they've put into the home, the structure is almost an afterthought compared with its setting. The front yard trellis and fountain, covered with a profusion of blooms, is a foretaste of the paradise that awaits behind the home.

In some ways, the yard is Becky Naylor's home. "I hardly go in the house. Who needs a house?" she said. She denies that the land-scape grooming and maintenance she does daily should be termed "work;" to her, it's an intrinsic nurturing of her surroundings.

The couple started the transformation of the backyard with their now-grown daughters in mind. "We wanted to have our children close with their friends, so we made a party area for them," Becky Naylor said.

Steve Naylor figures they were ahead of their time. "People talk about outdoor rooms," he said of current design trends. "We had that long before they came up with the term."

After the pool went in, the yard was about as blank a canvas as you can get. But that didn't intimidate them. "I think we have a way of looking at a spot and knowing what can be done with it," said Steve Naylor, who lays tile and does hardscapes professionally.

The party mood is set on the large, open porch that overlooks the pool and tropical surroundings. One end of the deck makes up the bar area, where guests know they're welcome to help themselves.

The landscaping flows from one area to another, but the Naylors can see separate gardens that they worked on, piece by piece. There's a whimsical area near the house, where the girls' old clubhouse has been converted to an orchid greenhouse. An angel statue prays by an orange tree, on the way to the outdoor cooking area.

The pizza oven is a custom creation of Steve's, built with the door at 63 percent of the oven's height to keep the heat rolling properly for optimum cooking. They've used the oven for the Thanksgiving turkey, and it does duty for the couple's Christmas party, a nine-year tradition.

The oven area gets toasty in the summer, but a lattice roof covered with bougainvillea provides some relief, as does a fountain set against a wall. Steve salvaged the concrete, six-sided fountain, and cut it in half to fit the space.

There's a fire pit with seating surrounded by tile and hanging plants, a pond stocked with decorative fish, a swing around the corner for a spot of privacy and romance. Street lamps add charming illumination, and everywhere there's something growing: impatiens, succulents, crotons, elephant ears, ferns and more. Artistic accents complement the natural décor, including a wall covered with crosses, stained glass by Becky and tile work by Steve.

"It's always been about enjoying it. We're not into perfection," Becky Naylor said. But don't let the casual attitude fool you. Even the broken pottery by the bromeliads is artfully arranged.

"God makes it grow," Becky Naylor said of the home's lush landscape. "He makes nice greeting cards in the morning. There's a new flower every day." And the Naylors are happy to share the beauty with friends and family.

Grilled hot dogs and hamburgers with watermelon on the side and apple pie for dessert might sound like an all-American summer party. For Tony and Jan Chalmers, that kind of party is England all over again.

Celebrating the Fourth of July with their British friends became a tradition while the couple lived in England, where they have business interests. Thanksgiving was another popular holiday for them to entertain.

So when the couple relocated to Lansing Island in Indian Harbour Beach, they wanted to add a British twist to their entertaining. They settled on Rabbie Burns night, an annual celebration of the Scottish poet's birthday and a nod to Tony Chalmers' Scottish roots. The setting, however, is Florida all the way.

Glass doors from the home open up to an expansive screened porch area, easily exceeding 1,600 square feet in size. There's a pool as a centerpiece, but more dramatic is the view of the Banana River. The outdoor area has undergone a transformation that started inside and is continuing through other areas of the home, helped along by decorator Vickie Sperry. The Chalmers' started with PVCbased outdoor furniture that provided function but wasn't inviting. "This makes you want to come and enjoy the space," Sperry said of its more elegant replacement, a collection of furniture done in wood and dark wicker.

The couple hosts a few large and many small gatherings every year on the patio, and enjoy the space when it's just the two of them, as well. "From the fall to early summer, you can live out here," Tony Chalmers said.

The height of summer is hotter, but no reason to suspend entertaining. With some adjustments, the parties can go on. For more elegant occasions many homeowners seek assistance with preparations. The Chalmers' event called for a caterer and some help with floral design.

Seafood is particularly popular in the summer in Florida, so caterer Bill Farina likes to offer a variety of seafood hors d'oeuvres. At the Chalmers' party, Creative Catering by the Farinas prepared volcano shrimp: shrimp stuffed with crabmeat, wrapped in a wonton, then coated with panko crumbs and sesame seeds and deep fried. "A little goes a long way," Farina said, which is important when it comes to an expensive ingredient such as shrimp. Guests will be satisfied after one or two volcano shrimp, whereas steamed shrimp are not as filling.

People want unusual hors d'oeuvres, Farina said, not the same raw vegetables or cheese trays. He likes to offer conch fritters and crab cakes in the summer, as well as an always-popular bacon-wrapped beef and bleu cheese bite. Ground beef, bleu cheese and spices are rolled into balls, wrapped in bacon, anchored with a toothpick and then baked.

The treat has the added advantage of being easy to make ahead, a key to stress-free summertime entertaining. The same goes for the chicken, pineapple and bell pepper skewers at the Chalmers' party: The skewers can be made ahead; left to marinate then either grilled or baked. Guests then can sample the skewers without having to juggle a fork and knife while standing and chatting. Fruit goes with summer, but it should have a special twist, Farina said. He likes to remove the tops and hollow out oversized strawberries – California varieties work better than the meaty Florida strawberries – and then set out a variety of liqueurs for guests to pour in the berries. Or, make an interesting dip by stirring pina colada mix into yogurt and sour cream, then adding rum and honey to taste. He also makes a berry tart, filling a sweet crust with a thin layer of custard, and then topping with berries and pastry latticework. He used raspberries, blueberries and blackberries at the Chalmers' gathering, but any seasonal fruit would work. Even better, the tart is a perfect foil for summertime ice cream.

Summer salads are a top request during the hot months. Farina likes to use a shallow dish, rather than a bowl, and cover it with a variety of baby greens. He adds toasted candied pecans, which can be made in different flavors, such as maple or caramel. Top that with fresh fruit, feta cheese, and finish with a citrus or raspberry vinaigrette. Flowers make a perfect accent for outdoor settings, but require extra care in the summer. "Heat and wind are a flower's worst enemy," said Sara Petrosky, an owner of Thallo Floral Design Studio.

Fight back by choosing hardy varieties. Those that can stand up to the heat and are easily available in summer include: Hydrangeas – Choose from blue, white or green. Roses – Rather than wilt, they'll open more in the heat. Orchids – Blooms last a long time, Petrosky said. She likes the cymbidium variety for high impact; though not prevalent in the summer, it can be obtained through a floral retailer.

Arrangements will last longer if done in a low, compact style. "It helps them last longer because they support one another," Petrosky said, and are better able to resist wind gusts and ceiling fans.

She also likes using herbs for foliage in fresh summertime arrangements. "It offers a nice fragrance and looks beautiful, too," she said.

At the Chalmers' home, floral arrangements tie together the different sitting areas on the large outdoor terrace. Guests can relax under the pergola, or sit down at the oak dining table to enjoy the feast offered by Creative Catering by the Farinas.

The arrangement accommodates small and large groups. On Rabbie Burns night, the party happens inside and outside with Scottish dancing and a fiddler. "It's basically an excuse to celebrate, drink some Scotch and eat very well," Tony Chalmers said. Sounds like a party.