Ember and Mystery are allowed to keep me company in the gardens.
They each have a harness and a 'flexi-leash'.

This is how we go outside:
I put a tall garden stake in the ground in an area that is half shade and half sunshine. And located where I can see them as we have hawks that will pick up a cat in my area!

Then I go inside and get their harnesses and leashes on.
Karissa holds the door open for me and I carry both of them outside.
Once outside I drop the flexi handle over the tall garden stake and they can wander around in a huge circle watching me and rolling and exploring and bug hunting to their hearts content safely. (I also stake them were they can see the birds, but not get at them.)

Just have to make sure the stakes are far enough apart that they don't get tangled.
I also put out a bowl of water for each of them.

This year we have to teach Miss Indy about the harness and leash and then Asia when she gets bigger. I never use a collar for our outings. The harness is safer. I take the cordless phone outside or turn on the answering machine. They are never ever out of eyesight!