Sunflowers & Bees

I’m easing into Autumn with a sunflower celebration this week~ inspired by an April Cornell tablecloth with its sun-faded palette and sunflowers from the Farmers Market.

What I really want to do is fling myself head first into fall. . .

. . .enjoying football weather under layers of blankets, hoodies, and a glorious canopy of changing leaves!

I’m imagining the idyllic fall scenario. . .where the color changes gradually from greens to  gorgeous golds & then rich reds~ not daring to fall until after Thanksgiving~  with someone (or lots of someones :) standing-at-the-ready, rake-in-hand to bag them and take them away. . .

Unlike reality, where the leaves change from green to brown seemingly overnight~ all falling the next day with weeks of raking & bagging to tackle  :)

Although I’m ready to embrace the season, it’s a tad early here in the South with summer weather lingering. We did enjoy a taste of Fall with a teaser of cool temperatures this past weekend. . . just enough to whet my appetite for pumpkins & pies, fires & s’mores, and comfort food in the crock pot~

I emptied my jars from the kitchen, replacing the dried pasta that normally fills them, with some seasonal botanicals found at HomeGoods for the table~

A bumble bee found its way from the basil blooms to the sunflowers at the table, as if by cue~

Too busy with its nectar gathering to realize that its arrival & appearance at my table was timely~ just like an invited guest :)

With a little bumble bee inspiration, I had fun with Tootsie Rolls, black sparkling sugar & sliced almonds~

 

 Sunflower table details:

Tablecloth- April Cornell/ HomeGoods

Napkins/ Bed, Bath & Beyond

Napkin Rings, Urn, Candeholder & Jars/Pottery Barn

Goblets/ Hobby Lobby

Dishes/ Oneida Westerly Basket

Chargers/ World Market

Wishing you an idyllic Fall Season enjoying Autumn’s Abundance ~

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

  34 comments for “Sunflowers & Bees

  1. Happier Than A Pig in Mud
    September 21, 2011 at 7:48 am

    Just gorgeous Mary! I love the tablecloth and glasses, all of the colors are so warm and comforting! Had to chuckle about the leaves:@)

  2. September 21, 2011 at 8:13 am

    That’s the cutest use of a tootsie roll that I’ve ever seen! How clever! Your table is so welcoming with your use of all those warm colors. Sunflowers are among my favorite flowers.

  3. September 21, 2011 at 8:35 am

    A wine bottle yet with sunflowers! Only you is going to get it right down to the last detail. As for changing leaves, hop on up to Maine where there are starting to be hints of color, and I have lots of dishes you could play with.

  4. September 21, 2011 at 8:45 am

    What an incredibly clever conversion from kitchen pasta holders to tabletop stars!!! That really is a neat idea, Mary, especially turning the lids upside down to accommodate the chunky pillar candles. This is a beautifully set table! Sunflowers are always such a happy addition, and most certainly when in large bunches! They just have such a relaxed look to them which is the complete opposite of all the fall yard work you described! :-) The sugarary bees are cute as….well, cute as a bee’s knees!

  5. September 21, 2011 at 9:01 am

    Perfection…right down to the wine label, Mary.

    Loving those cute bumble bees. They make me smile.

  6. Pondside
    September 21, 2011 at 9:34 am

    The last hurrah of summer – a sunny delight.

  7. September 21, 2011 at 9:40 am

    What a happy, sunny post. Fantastic photos. I love that wine. xo,

  8. September 21, 2011 at 10:32 am

    You are a GENIUS with food and presentation!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The bees are amazing! Then, you found those GORGEOUS goblets at HOBBY LOBBY!!!!!!!!???????? I LOOOOOVE them! We don’t have HL here in the north and I see so many things from there that I would buy! AAUUGGHH!!!! It is warming up again here, today and tomorrow. Just in the 70’s but hUMID. Have you ever had Apple Wine??? It is made here by Chadds Ford Winery and you drink it WARM. I have even put a dollop of whipped cream on top to be TOTALLY decadent:):) It is LUSCIOUS in the Fall! Your table is so inspiring. Love that tablecloth but then I don’t think I have ever seen an AC linen that I didn’t like! Hope you can wear a sweater soon:):) xO, Pinky

  9. September 21, 2011 at 10:36 am

    i still can’t get over your skills, all glossy magazine worthy little bits of art. a friend tried to give me a magazine, i said no thanks, i have my favorite blogs, thats all i need… well, and maybe some sugar ;)

    the vase and flowers are just perfection married together, such a bold strong anchor… and i see i need to go to homegoods today and check out their linens. if our dish pantries every married we would rule the world, titans of beauty!

    i have been wanting to do a sunflower table all year, i did wee ones but i wanted a grand full on bee fest, after i see you i always feel so inspired… but the reality is its been 100 for days and i can’t sleep in the heat and moving even a teaspoon into place sounds horrid these days! thank heavens lake life is soothing for me, and even better is you always share the beauty… right down to tootsie roll art!

  10. September 21, 2011 at 12:27 pm

    Leave it to you to find a bottle of wine with sunflowers on it to match your table! Lovely as always. I particularly like the idea of jars of seasonal botanicals on the table, topped with candles. Clever!

  11. September 21, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    Bravo! Everything about this is just so beautiful and appealing to me! Perfect for the very last day of a wonderful summer! Happy Fall!

  12. Dee Stephens
    September 21, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    I am going to get some sunflowers this weekend! We’re having an unexpected guest visit!

  13. September 21, 2011 at 5:26 pm

    What a cozy Fall table setting. That little bumble bee you made is about one of the cutest things I have seen! I am saving your post for future reference…the sunflowers..even a bottle of wine with the sunflowers on it. Just one of the cutest I’ve seen!

  14. September 21, 2011 at 6:22 pm

    Dear Mary ,
    you set the mood for AUTUMN perfectly …AMAZING ! You are a true talent ! Keep the energy up and enjoy the season ! (oh. I can hardy tell which bee is real and which isn’t :)

  15. Clare
    September 21, 2011 at 6:28 pm

    This is just what I needed after today’s dreary, drenching rain. Thanks for always bringing a little sunshine to us all! A beautiful post…..beautiful flowers, and those BEES!!!!! Oh my! If I just had one little ounce of your creativity……absolutely AMAZING!!!!!! xxoo,,,,Clare

  16. September 21, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    I’ll trade weather with you! Even though it is still gorgeous here, I would like it hotter :-) If we could go from fall to spring, and skip winter, I would think different. Ooh la la, that wine bottle with sunflowers! If I had to choose one flower, it would be the sunflower. Great tablescape!

  17. September 21, 2011 at 10:24 pm

    I know fall is here when I see sunflowers along the roadside…looks like like they found their way waterside, too! Your happy table makes me smile! Very pretty…

  18. September 21, 2011 at 11:03 pm

    Your attention down to the last minute detail absolutely fascinates me… You have the nack, Mary… I love sunflowers and have been trying to find the sunflower salad plates and charger/trays that Susan from Between Naps on the Porch used sometime ago and can’t find them anywhere…and Marshalls’ (where Susan got hers) doesn’t ship to Hawaii….!
    Love all of your photos and the ones of the flowers and bee are wonderful but my most favorite photo of all in this post is the third one from the top!

  19. September 21, 2011 at 11:10 pm

    Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.I love all your tables.JoAnn

  20. September 22, 2011 at 12:03 am

    Now THAT is a fabulous tablescape. I love every detail. You did a superb job here. SUPBERB. That bee in the sunflowers… cute… and the vase! Oh, the vase! The cloth, the setting… could it be any more picturesque? It’s just perfect. Thanks for sharing.

    Happy Tablescape Thursday to you…

    XO,

    Sheila

  21. September 22, 2011 at 12:20 am

    WoW the sun flowers are beautiful on your lovely table! And those little bees you made are adorable!! You just can’t beat that backdrop either!

    Please stop by and enter my Goodbye to Summer~Hammock Giveaway!
    ~Rainey~
    http://theprojecttable.blogspot.com/2011/09/goodbye-to-summer-giveaway.html

  22. September 22, 2011 at 6:04 am

    Gosh, what a statement that centerpiece makes, Mary! Sets the whole tone for this beautiful table. So pretty! ♥♥♥ the matching wine bottle…only YOU would hunt down such an *accessory*. LOL

    I need to find some “seasonal botanicals”…its time to change out the lemons around here!

    I have those same Oneida Westerly Basket dishes! You’ve set a gorgeous table with them.

    Thanks for sharing all your wonderful ideas.

    Hugs,
    Rett

  23. September 22, 2011 at 4:36 pm

    I tried coming to visit yesterday, but my computer was being naughty and wouldn’t open your blog up. How adorable! First let me say that I think sunflowers are just one of the happiest things ever and your arrangement in the center is so beautiful. I adore those lovely goblets and your little tootsie roll bee is killer. Wish I had seen how to make these when I did my bee table earlier this summer. It really looks realistic at first glance. What a pretty table and the setting can’t be beat. Keep enjoying!

  24. September 22, 2011 at 8:03 pm

    Gorgeous sunflowers, and a bee to savor! Beautiful photo!

  25. September 23, 2011 at 1:07 pm

    What beautiful shots of the sunflowers. Passed by an entire field of sunflowers in route this week. Gorgeous!

  26. September 23, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    Love your pretty table — what a Gorgeous setting! Love your “sweet” bee. Cute idea. You’re all ready for fall even if the weather isn’t. I love the feel, smells and beauty of the autumn season.

  27. Sue
    September 23, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    Two of my favorite things~subflowers and bees(not the real ones)! Beautiful flowers, and such cute, yummy bees!

  28. Sue
    September 23, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    Oops~SUNflowers:)

  29. September 24, 2011 at 11:09 am

    What amazing pictures! And I love your tootsie roll bee!

  30. September 25, 2011 at 8:59 am

    I love your Fall tablescape. The wonderful April Cornell tablecloth, lovely amber accents and the gorgeous sunflowers … beauty and abundance. Happy Fall!

  31. September 26, 2011 at 7:36 pm

    This is so pretty, Mary!! I love everything about your fall table, from the bee to the sunflower wine label! Perfect!!

    XO,
    Janie

  32. September 27, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    Yet another fabulous table. Love those sunflowers!

    Great to have you be a part of Seasonal Sundays.

    – The Tablescaper

  33. Pat
    July 22, 2012 at 8:35 am

    Mary,
    Lovely!!! Sunflowers and bees, too cute! I have the napkins that match your tablecloth, dear friend! Your pottery jar is the perfect hue for this centerpiece! Bee things are certainly not easy to find…I adore how you made your own! Creativity at its finest! Very inspirational!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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