I’m lifting my spirits with the Power of Flowers~ to banish the winter blues and brighten the table after some cold, rainy weather!
Dish gardening helps me cope so I’m enjoying blooming dishes and some bouquets from favorite books at the table . . .
Keeping company with the buzzing of the bees and fluttering of butterflies among the flowers on my Portmeirion Botanic Garden.
Studies have shown that flowers increase energy, enhancing your mood and feelings of well-being with their color and fragrance~ which my own research has verified :)
So I indulged in some flowers from Trader Joe’s~ easy on the checkbook and too hard to resist~ especially the heavenly scent of hyacinths and vibrant shades of iris!
I received Carolyne Roehm’s Flowers book for Christmas~
A big book, oversized with lush blooms, showcasing more than 300 images of the varieties in her abundant gardens.
A visual treat!
I’m also a big fan of
floral artist Paula Pryke~
I have several of her books,
Decorating with Flowers is one of my favorites.
A quick & easy 5 minute arrangement~ a potted Kalanchoe, available at most grocery stores, surrounded by Granny Smith apples, and long-lasting daisies, and green button mums.
Daisies will last 3-8 days and mums 7-14 as a rule.
Flower Power Details:
Dishes & Napkins/ Portmeirion Botanic Garden
Chargers/Deartis, T.J. Maxx
Flatware/ Napoleon Bee, Horchow
Goblets/Green, HomeGoods
Bee Highball/ La Rochere, Target.com
“More than anything, I must have flowers, always, always.” ~Claude Monet
A book & garden peak along
with Carolyne Roehm’s frolicking pups :)
Very pretty Mary! I think the gray quilt is a perfect backdrop for all of the great colors! I wish I had some of those spring hyacinths today, looks like we’re in for a bit of a wintery mix today and tomorrow. Enjoy:@)
Mary…I have been wanting to gather a set of those Portmeirion dishes for some time now…they are just such gorgeousl happy dishes…your table looks like an enchanted garden setting. I love Carolyne Roehm….
I have always loved those Portmeirion dishes, but I have never seen the matching napkins. Your table with all the flower power is like a breath of spring air! Enjoyed the Carolyne Roehm video, too!
I just viewed the video….her gardens are amazing…I have always admired her wonderful interiors using beautiful flowers and topiaries…A gorgeous book!
Beautiful post today and how did you read my mind?! I made me smile. I love Carolyne’s books as they’re are so inspiritional and her photography is top notch. Thanks for making my day and keep up the great work!
Beautiful post… Your florals are so pretty and Portmeirion botanical are perfect for a spring feel. I truly enjoyed my visit here.
~Clara
Mary – Your post was so timely for me after having just attended the Philadelphia International Flower Show yesterday…I have flowers on my mind! I will probably return to view your post again and again throughout the day as we wait for our storm to arrive.
Bring on the flowers. Bring on Spring! (Love Portmeirion)
I was just eyeballing these dishes at Tuesday Morning the other day. Such a lovely set, and so perfect for treating a bad case of the winter doldrums. Am I reading your sources list correctly, Target carries La Rochere??
Yes at Target.com!
Oh you are killing me… I saw this book at homegoods… Bottom shelf and I had a bulging cart in a tight spot… I never got my hands on it… I got home upset I forgot it and ordered 5 pretty books from my library with the same creative energy thought as you… Instead I can wallow in your joy :-) nothing beats flowers , books and dishes… Unless their is the addition of chocolate! So love we were of twin minds, spring is raging here, begging for colorful beauty and you have outshined me! Heck of a way to start my morning, the sun isn’t even up and you have me basking in your glory. Gorgeous as ever, perfect pairings, perfect pics, perfectly jealous you got the book!
Super post, Mary! :D The video was great….I think that peonies are the Mae West of flowers! ;P
Love Carolyne’s Westie babies….and that greenhouse is *to die for*
I love your tablescape. The dishes are so pretty, and those hyacinths are stunning, too. I cannot wait ’til spring…it’s so cold here!
Hurry Spring! All the beautiful flowers have certainly brightened this gloomy freezing day! Love the green apples mixed in with the blooms,
Thanks, Jenna
“Dish gardening.” I love it! Surely for those of us in the Midwest, that’s ALL we’ll be doing for quite awhile still. We’re still trying to punch our way out from under this massive blanket of snow! This is gorgeous, Mary! I love all the colors and textures!!!!!!! I’m a huge fan of both Carolyne Roehm AND Paula Pryke! Those gals sure know their flowers! It’s hard to resist Trader Joe’s, and it’s even harder to resist their fabulous selection of fragrant flowers!!! Hyacinth…the smell just transcends me!!!! Seriously my favorite flower scent. This is so beautifully-crafted!
Mary, this is the way to start a day! Beautiful flowers on plates……….I don’t even need to have breakfast now. I’ve had a feast on these gorgeous flowers! Love the sweet napkins that go with these dishes, and now I want to rush out and buy some irises and hyacinths to fill our home with their fragrance. The few I had growing in pots have long bloomed out. Time to refresh! Have a great day, Mary. I know I will just thinking about this lovely table. Thank you! ~ Sarah
Perfect wake-up message on a dreary and drippy morning!
Mary,
Your blog is always wonderful, but especially this one. I think the whole country has Spring Fever! Thanks for the beautiful post.
Your dishes are so pretty, Mary…what a perfect time to pull them out! Love the napkins, too. I need a trip to Trader Joe’s, I must be the only one who has never bought flowers there and I sure could use the pick me up after all the snow we got here in the Midwest yesterday!
XO,
Jane
Oh, thank you so much!
Hi Mary. Your table and the china and flowers are just beautiful, but your photography is outstanding. As I was scrolling down I’m thinking, “where did she get those lilacs” then realized they were a picture in a book!. Just beautiful..Happy Wednesday..Judy
Well, this is just such a beautiful tribute to some gorgeous flowers! Those are great plates and the flowers you were able to get are just stunning! I’ll have to check out that book you got for Christmas! Thanks for sharing!
What a breath of Spring you’ve provided, Mary! Flowers always make me feel better, too. Your table covering adds such texture to your beautiful tablescape.
Your table is as beautiful as the books! You are so creative with flowers!
Thanks for helping me also banish the wet rainy weather!
Mary, Carolyne’s gardens are gorgeous!
Lots of pretty flowers.
A breath of spring that is much needed here. We’re in for a bit more of winter tomorrow. Love the arrangement!
What a wonderful post, Mary…those dishes lift my spirits, too. I can’t wait for my flowers to begin popping up and blossoming.
Oh Mary, I must get that book!!! It will be awhile til I have flowers so your beautiful post has made my heart happy!!!! It is cold and rainy here, no snow though, thank goodness. I am so ready for Spring and to get outside and PLANT!!! Starting over won’t be easy but wil be fun. I LOVE, love those dishes and didn;t know they had matching napkins. Just gorgeous. You sure have a way with flowers too! Is there anything you CAN’T do???? I think not. XO, Pinky
No doubt about melting the winter blues with all of that color! So vibrant and fabulous.
– The Tablescaper
Oh Mary, the linens with those dishes make this such a gorgeous setting. I love everything about it, right down to and most especially the (real) flowers.
I love your post…one of my favorite sayings is the one by Monet…always, always flowers….lovely..
Mona
Such a beautiful set of dishes, love the dish gardening.
fondly ~Lynne~
I always love seeing that Portmeirion pattern — so perfect for Spring! And the matching napkins? Love that little extra touch!
I’m putting flowers on my shopping list today! Maybe that’s what I need to chase away these serious winter doldrums I’ve been having. Your dinnerware is so pretty!
As I am reading your lovely post I am drinking some tea in my most flowery tea cup trying to warm up from the chill in the air and I live in FL. All of our flowers are in full bloom so it is such a treat but I do love your idea of dish gardening. You always inspire me to do something pretty, fun or delicious!
I love those dishes, and the flowers are so pretty! I broke down and bought myself a beautiful little blue hydrangea with 8 blooms at the grocery. It will be worth the 9 dollars if it lasts a few weeks, the coor is so welcome with all this snow!
Beautiful table, Mary, as usual!
Thanks for linking to Let’s Dish, and don’t forget the 5th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Blog Crawl on the 13th! :) I know you won’t forget as I see my little leprechaun on your sidebar, thanks so much!
I would never have been able to purchase any Portmeirion at regular price, but one day I walked into a Savers’ (thrift store) and saw 6 Botanic Garden dinner plates for $23 for the six. Months later, I found a large rectangular tablecloth (no stains) in the same pattern for about $4. Yippee!
Your flowers and Portmeirion dishes really lifted my spirits. I think Botanic Garden is one of the prettiest patterns.
Your beautiful table scape sure makes me think of spring….
Thanks for sharing ~
Cheryl
Gorgeous!!! I love flowers, and you are right. They do lift our spirits – the thing we need right now while waiting for spring weather to join our spring. :-) Blessings!
Kim
Absolutely beautiful…you have certainly conquered the winter blues! Love those dishes and all the fresh flowers.