I’ve been all aflutter over lavender week and
The Novel Bakers have been buzzing with
activity and delicious and fragrant recipes!
I had plans for a lavender-inspired table for a couple of weeks. Mother Nature finally cooperated and the skies cleared in time to play at the table, rather than the kitchen . . .
I raided my Potting Shed for a wheelbarrow for a lavender centerpiece for the table. Previously red, it’s now a more lavender-friendly hue thanks to a new a coat of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Duck Egg Blue.
I wish I could say I harvested it, but lavender doesn’t like our humidity and clay soil. I planted some in pots and I’m keeping my fingers crossed it will survive despite all our rain. . .
I was able to harvest dried culinary French lavender here, to fill my wheelbarrow salt-cellar with Lavender Salt.
Birds, butterflies, and
bees having been buzzing
around the table. . .
Four assorted fledgling plates have followed their nesting instincts to return to the table for a harvest of lavender.
Lavender Tablecloth~ Couleur Nature/ Amazon
Wallace Napoleon Bee Flatware/ Horchow
Chargers/ World Market & Pier 1
Dinner & Salad Plates~ Lenox Butterfly Meadow Cloud/ HomeGoods
Bird Dishes~ Grace Tea Ware / HomeGoods
Napkins/HomeGoods
Napkin Rings/Williams-Sonoma
Stems~ Mikasa French Countryside & La Rochere (Butterfly)
Joining The Novel Bakers
for Lavender Week, July 22nd – July 28th~
a quiet life
Rattlebridge Farm
Once Upon a Plate
and special guest baker Sidewalk Shoes
Gosh I love this … been up since 1am, on cell so can’t expound, but so love this taking a stab at it! The tablecloth, arm loads of lavender, wheelbarrows , lakeside lavender never had it so good…
Love your table! Cutest bird plates and beautiful table cloth. Such a pretty color pallet. Thanks for sharing.
How you get so many interesting shots on one small table always amazes me. You do wonders with a camera.
Beautiful table in a great setting….Love it :-)
It’s all lavenderilicious, Mary! The tablecloth adds just the right touch of subdued color and those dishes… what a perfect pattern for your theme! What a cute wheelbarrow transformation for your centerpiece.
Everything is beautiful. Love the duck egg blue color for your wheelbarrow. I am wondering where you found the bundles of lavender? Also, should you spray with hair spray to avoid shedding? My DIL mailed a bundle to me and it was shredded when it arrived.
Capturing the butterfly was the icing on the cake for your post. Tres magnifique!
Thanks Bonnie! A dealer at a local antique mall had the bundles in her booth. Shedding is the nature of the beast for dried lavender. You could probably spray it but it might mask the fragrance.
What is that Bee silverware called and where did you find it? Your blog is beautiful… Patricia
Thank you Patricia! The sources are all at the bottom of the post, it’s Wallace Napoleon Bee Flatware from Horchow :)
Finally getting a chance to catch up on Lavender Week and loving it! This is beautiful, Mary.
~Mary~
Oh so lovely, what a spot for relaxing! Love the pretty “Bird Dishes” .
Thanks for sharing, and again I love everything you put together you are so gifted!
Paula
In.
This table setting not only looks pretty, but I’ll bet it is very fragrant as well. I had no idea that La Rochere had butterfly glasses. Don’t you just love La Rochere? I am completely enamored with your bee skep.
Mary, my heart always skips a beat when I view images of your gorgeous lakeside tables. The view is incredible. Makes me wish for a lakeside home every time. Glad you had a break in the rain so you could set this stunning table. We had an unexpected soaking rain during the night. The thunderstorm that rolled in was so loud that Sadie wanted up on the bed to sleep with us. Most nights she chooses to sleep on her own bed.
Back to the table…..your sweet little bird plates are adorable, and the bundles of lavender in the wheelbarrow create a perfect centerpiece. I admire the way your creative mind works. I’m searching for a bee skeep to add to one of my pots in the garden. Love that look! As always, thank you for sharing your incredible scapes!
Such beautiful photos! I feel like I can smell the lavender from here. Last year we had two beautiful lavender plants but they didn’t survive the winter entirely. The tops smell good but the bottoms got all dry. =(
Jeanine
Mmmmmm….such a lovely, relaxing setting…as soothing as lavender!
Wow that is simply stunning..and with a view to boot! Lucky you….
I have been wanting to try some of the lavender dishes you have shown this week and actually found a bag of culinary lavender in the drawer the other day that I had forgotten about. The little birdie dishes are precious!
Very pretty Mary, lovin’ your cute butterfly glasses! Your photos make it look like a nice day, not too sultry… After a couple cool ones we’re back in the soup here in Philly. Happy Weekend:@)
I’m so glad the weather cleared (it’s been rainy here, too, and overcast) long enough for your to work your magic. I am entranced by every detail, the wonder of the repeated elements, the exquisite imagery–just like a poem.
Your little wheelbarrow looks like it has always been lavender and makes the perfect centerpiece. Your images are breathtaking. I can’t wait to pin them! One more day of Lavender Week, and I’m missing it already. I’ve had such fun playing with, and discovering, this whimsical herb, through the nbs posts. xx
Is the butterfly real and you are a very patient photographer? Wonderful tablesetting as always, which gave me a nice study break!
Yes the butterfly is real but I’m not very patient, just lucky :)
Mary,
Your tables are always so inviting and beautifully set. I can just imagine people just out of sight wandering toward the table, glasses clinking, laughing, ready to sit down to enjoy a meal overlooking the water.
Earlier this week after viewing your post, I went online to find the culinary lavender and lavender cookbook to give as gifts to a friend who is an extraordinary cook. The culinary lavender arrived in the mail today.
Now, I am coveting the lavender tablecloth. Oh, blogging gets me into trouble all the time. If only you knew how many readers you inspire to create similar settings!
How a wonderful rest of the weekend.
Judith
SOOO glad I didn’t miss this! You weave a wonderful tale with your table posts and capture the BEST images: the bees and butterfly! I don’t know how you do that! LOVE the wheelbarrel. XO, Pinky
What a wonderful tablescape, and I simply adore the wheelbarrow filled with lavender. What a wonderful place to dine…between the lavender and the calming waters I’d say it’s better than a spa day!
Such a beautiful tablescape and how special that nature showed up too! Love your bird dishes, they are so cute! Hope you’ll hop over and share at Amaze Me Monday…
Blessings,
Cindy
(Are you as glad as I am that the sun is finally shining in Charlotte and at the lake!)
The “yellow swallowtail” butterflies are prolific this year! They make my spirit flutter. franki
hi Mary, I am totally smitten by your wheel barrow of lavender~I hope I will be seeing more of that wonderful piece :) All those natural elements are such a nice contrast to the crisp white dishes~and the bee glasses and flatware are simply charming!
Jenna
Love the lavender! Your tablecloth is so lovely with the different hues and is balanced by the pretty white china. The wheel barrow is a great container for the bouquet! Have a great week!
Pam
With your love of lavender if you ever in the far North Texas area there is a Lavender Farm that you would want to visit. They have anything and everything you might ever want made of Lavender. Outside playing is kind of out here as it was 105 today. Beautiful table and photos.
Cathy’s Cupboard Calamity <;)
Simply beautiful, Mary…I just knew your table would have some lavender this week! Lovely tablecloth.
Have a great week…
Oh Mary, this was yet another one where I scroll back and look a second and third time! I love the tablecloth the most of all this time, but the details all over the table of the lavender and the birds, bees, and butterflies are what takes this one over the top.
Still waiting for you to publish that coffee table book of tablescapes. I totally believe you could do one that would sell.
So my mother is looking over my shoulder checking out the White Tablescape Challenge and as I opened your post I said, “hers are always the best… you can’t compete against a tablescape with the water in the background.” Mom agreed and you totally surprised both of us with the lavender. I’m coveting. Love it! Hugs, Holly @ coconutheadsurvivalguide
So pretty, Mary! I love that tablecloth and all your lavender touches.
Beautiful job! And yes, who can beat that backdrop! :)
Thanks for linking to Let’s Dish!
Beautiful outdoor setting , Mary, along with your gorgeous sorroundings too! I love all your whites with lavender hues around it, along with the table topper that brings everything together so nicely! Happy Let’s Dish.
FABBY
I love every detail of this fantastic tablescape.
I love it when you use those pretty bird dishes!…I need to find one of those adorable wheelbarrows…it makes such a wonderful centerpiece!…Can’t imagine how fantastic it is sitting at that table by the lake…such a serene place to be!
So much beauty! Love it!
hi! I like your ideas and would like some suggestions. we are hosting our sons wedding rehearsal dinner in another town..ther will be 12 tables of 8. I want something I can transport and set up the same day…no flowers. .no candles..can you help??
thanks, sue
Hi Sue, When, in the fall? If you don’t want flowers or candles, you could fill a lantern with small pumpkins, leaves, and nuts.
http://homeiswheretheboatis.net/2010/11/03/harvest-hayride/
Beautiful!
Oh, this is just beautiful! I love that tablecloth! I always smile when I see the things we share on one of your tables and enjoy seeing how you put things together. This time it is both placemats (so clever to use them together like that) and the flatware. I love lavender so much and this table is just lovely.
Another fabulous table! I don’t remember seeing this before. Love the lavender. I’m hoping to visit a lavender farm today. That tablecloth is the best!