Summer is slipping away
and we’re on the cusp of fall. . .
I’m ready to make the transition!
I had hopes for a picnic with the sunflowers here, but it was much too hot.
Instead I’m enjoying the hint of fall in the air with a Sunflower Picnic on the Porch!
And enjoying Archer Farms
Sunflower Honey Loaf .
I cut some grasses to add to a vase with sunflowers from Trader Joe’s~
a blending of fall and summer, symbolic of September weather here.
The 1 gallon size glass jar was perfect for a layered salad of baby spinach, roasted chicken,
sliced apples, blue cheese crumbles, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds.
I like keep small cans of pineapple juice on hand for tossing apples or pears in, to keep them from oxidizing, if I’m cutting slices in advance for a salad or serving with brie.
Sunflower bowls and napkins were ripe for the picking at Pottery Barn recently.
Sunflower Picnic Details:
Sunflower Bowls & Napkins/Pottery Barn
Vase/Pottery Barn, several years ago
Woven Chargers/ Pier 1
Flatware/ World Market
Goblets/ Anthropologie
Salad Servers/ HomeGoods
Wishing you Picnic Weather as you
enjoy the transition of the seasons!
Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:
Metamorphosis Monday
Mary, I shudder to think what damage WE could do shopping together! You like the same places I do! I love Archer Farms at Target — all the different breads and I’ve found their produce to be fresh and good each and every time I go. I should go more often! Lovely sunflower picnic on the porch. I’ m ready for fall — bring it on!!! (PS … MY Trader Joes opens this weekend!!!)
Hugs–
Goodness, Mary….I don’t know where to begin because there is so much here to love….
First of all, I love sunflowers. I love how their little faces follow the sun. I think that’s so cool. I love how you used sunflower seeds on your salad and bread. I love sunflower seeds!!! And then your napkins are so, so pretty, and so are your plates and glasses. Your floral arrangement is the perfect transition into fall….so pretty!
GREAT post, and I wish I could drive my Crest over to your place and share that delicious salad with you, but, darn it! we don’t live on ths ame lake *sadface*
Enjoy your Wednesday!!!
xo,
RJ
Just gorgeous! Your setting looks so relaxing and like a perfect way to spend a lazy early fall afternoon Mary! Thanks for the pineapple tip, it’s a much more mellow flavor than lemon:@)
Around internet everyone seems to be asking “what makes you happy?”. Sunflowers make me happy. And your creative posts send me directly to cloud nine.
Everything so gorgeous and happy that it must be illegal in some places ahahahah
Thank you for sharing your beauty and happiness.
Mary,
I just love sunflowers, so this post was just for me. :)
Mary,
Perfection in making the transition from Summer to Autumn, dear friend!!! I adore Sunflowers…and yours are gorgeous!!! “Mr. Ed” and I ate our lunch on the deck yesterday…didn’t even mind a bit of sun with the change in temperatures here on the Prairie! Your salad looks delicious! Autumn is in the Air! EnJOY!!!
Fondly,
Pat
I love it all! The Sunflower dish is sooo cute! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
This is just beautiful to me…It lookes relaxed, yet so detailed. I love the vase and I can taste that salad. You are very inspiring.
Mary, I adore this beautiful setting. Everything about it speaks to me and I, too, love Target’ Archer farms and Pottery Barn!! The sunflowers are gorgeous. Your photography is amazing!
I am so ready for fall and your darling picnic makes me even more so. I love those bowls and the napkin. been eyeing them for a bit now. The backdrop is so perfectly orchestrated, too. It’s just so pretty. xo marlis
Mary, I just settled in with a cup of coffee and my laptop after some morning work in the garden. Your feed email was the first I opened. Wow, what a beautiful way to start my day. This post does make one smile!
As always, not a detail is amiss. You hit the ball out of the park with every post. ;-)
I saw the sunflower bowls at PB. Think I even took photos of the table that they had set to display them. Nothing even close to the charm of your porch picnic. And that salad………….I’m making that for dinner tonight. Perfect for a September evening on the terrace. Thank you!
~ Sarah
I love that salad layered in the large container like that!!! It really is different, and it looks so cool! I am always trying to come up with different, fun ways to present food, and I think I will add this little ditty to my artillery! :-) You chose the perfect spot for a virtually ant-free picnic. The porch is so nice, and you can get a bird’s eye view of everything going on from the comfort of your cool Adirondack furniture. As always, you have mixed everything together to perfection! I love the floral arrangement (in one of my favorite floral vessels of yours!) with that little touch of green popped in for color and variety. Summer isn’t quite gone altogether, so that was a great touch. I love the way you displayed the bread with the sunflower seeds tossed on, too. Just gorgeous!!!!!!!
Beautiful post, Mary, and the salad looks delicious. Wish I had more storage space for dishes and glassware. xo
I never get tired of looking at your gorgeous photos! Your attention to details astounds me! This is another lovely post! I would sit right down to a glass of wine and salad with you anytime!
This is such a lovely “Picnic on the porch”. Thanks so much for sharing it with me. Your salad looks simply delicious and the decorations are perfect!
Sunflowers…such a happy flower and you have made such a “happy picnic” on that fabulous porch….Just adore the sunflower bowls with that beautiful salad presentation…the apples give that petal/pinwheel effect..I love it!!…and that beautiful vase…oh so beautiful!!…Is that a houndstooth throw on the bench…love it!!
I loved this post. The salad is a great idea and loved the sunflower bowls. You have a great eye.
I love sunflowers….and I love how you always find all kinds of little details to fit your theme….I remember the Girasole wine labels from a previous post and wished at the time I could find it here!
I have been in search of sunflower salad plates (not bowls) for a couple of years and haven’t found the ones I want yet…they used to sell them at Marshall’s but we don’t have them here…and apparently they don’t have mail order.
Funny we use the same pineapple tip…except I use it to prevent sliced apple bananas from turning dark when I make my Tropical Ambrosia Salads…This past Monday I turned in an article for my Ambrosia for the Holiday issue of one of the magazines for which I write…Will come out the end of October…
So stunning! I adore your sunflower them! The vase is gorgeous and the sunflower arrangement is lovely. Nature provides some beautiful natural gifts for us to use! Your charming porch setting is just perfect for your Sunflower Picnic! Your photos are gorgeous!
Oh Mary! What a beautiful post. I love all the golden colors of autumn, and I am really digging those sunflower napkins! The temperature is just right today for a meal on the porch. Wish I had your salad and that bread right now!
So pretty Mary. I love it all including that wonderful wine label!
I just love how you coordinate everything, Mary…the wine, the loaf of bread, the bowls, the flower-shaped salad…sigh! What loveliness!!
Oh my goodness, what a warm welcoming table…and that salad has me salivating.
You did such a beautiful setting here! Everything looks so inviting!
Wow! This is stunning! What a beautiful setting!
Mary, you always have so many great inspirational ideas. Love the idea of the layered salad in the glass canister. It sure beats what I use mine for. I haven;t tried Target’s bread. Looks really good.
Thanks for more great ideas,
Babs
Just gorgeous!! I absolutely love this, just have to pin it!!! I think you need to write a book= the art of pinicking.
I have to say that I love your blog! You have a beautiful way of presenting everything you do. As a Mom of 7 (4 still at home), and an emergency foster Mom to 2 pre-schoolers (at the moment), I haven’t had much time to spend online in the last few months. I’m so glad I took the time to visit your blog, though, as it always reminds me of the beauty around us. It also helps me get through this busy time. In this season of life, I may not have time to spend decorating or setting up tables like I love to, but I can look at your lovely photos and enjoy your talents. Thanks for sharing them with the rest of us.
Pineapple juice? That is a new tip for preserving the color of pears and apples. I hope it wasn’t too warm on the porch for you to sit and enjoy the beauty you created.
I love sunflowers! Great table! You are such an artist at putting your tables together. Very inspiring.
So pretty. Love, love, love the rustic charm.
Beautiful presentation. Love the use of the Tuscan vase and the Sunflowers with grasses! The salad looks yummy and in the jar it’s so attractive! We have a lot of restaurants up here that use dried cherries in their salads and with nuts its a wonderful combination!
beautiful colors! That salad looks delish! I am also ready to cool down and enjoy autumn
I’m so delighted you are sharing this beautiful inspiration at Potpourri Friday!
Oh my word, what an amazing post – WOW!
It is magical! What gorgeous photos, oh my goodness I could practically feel, smell and taste it all – wish I was there…THAT is how well done this was. Loved it. I am SO inspired!!!!!
What a gorgeous sunflower tablescape, Mary–I love the sunflower bowls, and the black-handled serving utensils! How appropriate that today is the first day that started to feel like fall–it is rainy here!
Mary, this is one of my favorites! Love the pottery vase you used for the sunflowers. Happy almost fall!!
Mary, I keep meaning to ask you….is that a Uwharrie Chair that you have?
Cranberries in a salad are a wonderful, happy thing. Add sunflowers to the table, and you have me dancing for joy!!
This is such a happy setting! The sunflowers are great! Just love it all.
Blessings My Friend,
I love this and couldn’t wait to pin a portion for inspiration. The sunflowers have been beautiful around here this year, and I had taken a bunch of pictures to inspire me to some sunflower decorating. Unfortunately, we were hit with a family problem so I got derailed. I’m glad to be able to enjoy yours instead.
Yellow looks beautiful on your porch (but then, almost every color scheme you use does)! I’m so glad to read your tip about the pineapple juice. I’m adding it to my grocery list. Your salad is calling my name! Love the chardonnay bottle and cork :)
Hi Mary, Where to start with all the beautiful inspiration here. I love sunflowers and your arrangement is gorgeous! The food is perfect and the place setting lovely. I would love to sit and enjoy this feast with you……..
Happy Fall
~Emily
You never, ever, ever disapoint!!!!!!!!!!!!! How do you do that??? I can’t list everythig that I love, I love it ALL! The flowers, arrangement, napkins, everything! 6 more days til we move!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEN I can blog again:) XO, Pinky
What beautiful pictures. I love sunflowers. Thank you for sharing!
Your porch is a perfect place for such beautiful things. The salt glazed vase with the yellow pillow and sunflowers are gorgeous. What a splendid mix.
S
Love this! Such a wonderful amber glow.
– The Tablescaper
Great job! Seems you have a wonderful weather all year round.
Jars are smart to use outdoor, right? I used my mason jars in my dessert. And I see that we have almost the same flatwares. Cool, indeed.
Happy TTT,
/CC
Your porch picnic is absolutely stunning!
Love your sunflower picnic on the porch!! The flowers are beautiful and your salads look yummy. Such a lovely spread with all your attention to detail.
Mary Alice
Wow! Gorgeous! Everything is perfect. I love the huge sunflowers. Very pretty. Karie
So very beautiful!!! I saw those bowls at Pottery Barn and fell in love with them too, but could not justify more dishes. At least I got to see yours in the loveliest of settings. Love those napkins too, they are beautiful. You look like you’re set up for a wonderful fall picnic ~ wish I was invited.
Cindy
What a great picnic on the porch! Love the sunflower plates and napkins.
That bread looks great. I will have to check it out!
I have 4 of those yellow Anthropologie glasses from the 99 cent store. They had a lot of green, but only 4 of the yellow. I love the color.
Thanks for linking to Let’s Dish!
Oh my, Mary, your picnic tables cape is so charming. Sunflowers are my favorite flower. I make almost exactly that same salad — we love it!
Such eye candy!! Beautiful. Your salad and bread looks delicious. I love the gorgeous yellow sunflower bowls.
Hi! You have been featured this week at Potpourri Friday!
This display is PERFECT! I see your things pinned all over Pinterest! You have such a great eye with arrangements and vignettes! Thanks! Christie Three Pixie Lane
Love your cozy porch ~ you have awesome photography skills!! Just stunning.