Happy first day of March!
I’m joining my Monday Morning Blooms’ friends for a little flower therapy today.
You’ll find my blogging friends’ links to their blooming creations at the bottom of this post.
I’m welcoming March with a little whimsy and flowers! Join me at the table with a few good friends who are also anxious for spring . . .
Animal friends have donned their party hats and gathered at the table in celebration of March! With temperatures reaching 70 degrees yesterday and hovering in the 60’s this week, it feels like spring is right around the corner here in North Carolina!
A warm plaid tablecloth took its cue from our landscape, with stripes of blue and yellow reminiscent of the hyacinths and daffodils that are blooming, providing the first bit of color and sign of spring.
To create a centerpiece for the table, I started with a favorite garden urn. It’s not watertight, so I placed a plastic container inside and secured it with waterproof floral tape.
I started with a favorite tool, chicken wire, to support the flower stems for easy arranging. Chicken wire is an eco-friendly alternative to wet flower foam as it is reusable.
I had some flowers that I recycled from my previous Monday Morning Blooms arrangement that have lasted two weeks thanks to Crowning Glory! Crowning Glory is an anti-transpirant that seals in moisture and is safe to use on all flower types. I highly recommend using it to prolong the life of your flowers.
The roses and delphinium join mums and lisianthus, along with grapes, kale, apples and an artichoke in the centerpiece. Adding fruit or vegetables to your floral arrangements is a great way to add interest, texture, color and helps your floral material go further!
Use bamboo skewers or floral picks to add fruit to the arrangement and support it in the chicken wire. To add the grapes to the arrangement, I used both a floral pick and a bamboo skewer for both extra stability and length, to attach the grapes, secured with stem wrap.
Curly leaf kale provides texture and contrast to the flowers and arrangement. I gave the kale a spritz of Crowning Glory in addition to the flowers to help keep it from wilting.
Fanciful portraits of animals by Vicki Sawyer provide some whimsy and bring smiles to the table.
Artist Vicki Sawyer was inspired by an idea she had one day while walking–
“If birds can build nests, then they can make hats”.
Let me introduce to my animal friends joining us today. . .
“Willie The Warbler & Guests” . . .who says asparagus doesn’t make a perfect spring hat ;)
“Party Friends” and birds of a feather are no longer social distancing, sporting fancy headdresses of veronica, pussy willow and seed corn necklaces.
“There’s Always A Showboat” in every crowd. . .we’re looking at you Mr. Mallard. . .
And “A Few Good Friends” are wearing celebratory strawberry and carrot top hats!
Vicki Sawyer’s art was inspired by the natural world:
“I grew up in a charming 1850 home we shared with my grandparents near Pittsburgh, PA. My grandfather, who farmed the land and raised chickens, taught me how to identify plants on our hikes together. My mother’s joy in painting and the arts taught me to be visually aware, and my father’s love for birds kick-started a lifelong curiosity for the expansive beauty of the bird and animal world.”
Place settings are layered symbolic of the season and landscape, with animal plates atop cabbage leaf plates for a little March green with St. Patrick’s Day around the corner.
They’re stacked on woodland berry chargers and rattan chargers, framed by natural jute placemats, providing some warm texture.
Table Details:
Vicki Sawyer “Group Chat” Plates and Assorted Mugs / PPD Designs, Amazon (affiliate links below)
Cabbage Leaf Plates / Bordallo Pinheiro, Tuesday Morning
Woodland Berry Chargers / Williams-Sonoma, several years ago
Jute Placemats / Target, several years ago
Rattan Chargers / World Market, several years ago
Napkins / Pottery Barn, several years ago
Twig Flatware / Pier 1, several years ago
Tablecloth / Amazon (link below)
Visit my flower friends to see their beautiful floral inspiration today:
Pam at Everyday Living
Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse
Our friend Shirley at Housepitality Designs was unable to join us today as she is taking care of her mom. We look forward to her joining us next time.
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Thank you for your visit, sharing with:
Between Naps on the Porch
Good Morning! Your duck plates are so cute but the bunny mug stole my heart. Happy one day closer to spring!!
You always havwe the most fun tables! I appreciate the detail you shared on how to for your beautiful arrangments.
Good morning, Mary! It is raining here today also.
What a delightful MMB post. You are the attention to detail queen. Vicki Sawyer’s whimical plates and mugs are adorable and her bio was so interesting. Our parents and teachers influence our lives don’t they? My love for birds and flowers came from my parents and all my elementary teachers.
Your floral urn arrangement is creative adding fruit to the flowers and the darling mugs arrangements compliment so well.
I love the addition of the kale and thistle. Your color scheme and plate stack is artistic and your addition of a variety of textures is so effective.
Have a very nice week.
Mary, your table and flowers make me smile on this rainy first day of March. The Vicky Sawyer plates are adorable with their darling hats and I love their blue background. The plate stack is perfect. Your floral arrangement is a showstopper with the addition of fruit and green kale. I love lisianthus and don’t often see it.
We reached 80 degrees yesterday and then had storms most of last night. March always comes in like a lion. It is always a pleasure to join you for flower therapy and Monday Morning Blooms. Happy first day of March!
Love this post Mary, which is redundant, because I love all your posts. I’m off to find Crowning Glory to have on hand when the flowers in my garden start to bloom. Bring on Spring…I’m ready.
The Group Chat plates are adorable! Your table settings are always fascinating and your floral arrangements are exquisite.
Thanks for that “ray of sunshine”…3 days of continuous rain & fog…hope when it clears we can spot a flower…franki
You have so many gorgeous items for tablescaping! And your photography is amazing!
Absolute fun, Mary! I bought those plates also, so we could literally have our “Group Chat” in table talk! Your colorful flowers are so fresh and full of spring vibes. This makes me smile from the top of the post through the end. Definitely a fun way to start March. Cheers!
So cheerful, love the roses, they are perfection, the addition of kale and artichoke is so eye catching! Those bold sky blue dishes scream spring! While you have a pretty floral spring I’m out daily working like a donkey spreading 150 yards of mulch with a pitchfork, pruning on step ladders, schlepping pavers and have 75 plants positioned and waiting for me to get up and out and plant them! Yep spring has sprung indeed! Loved visiting your pretty before I hit the dirt 😊
Happy March Mary! Your fun table and flowers celebrate all that is spring so beautifully. The plates always bring a smile to my heart, how could they not?! And your flower arrangement looks lush and filled with beauty, the added fruit and vegetables take it over the top. You are so very talented and inspiring, always. Oh, to sit at your table, what fun we would all have! Happy March to you – it’s always a blessing to join you for Monday Morning Blooms. xo Lidy
Mary, this is such a happy table to welcome March! Love Vicki Sawyer’s art! The dishes make a darling whimsical statement! You flowers are gorgeous and love the tip about adding the curly kale. I’m going to pick some up to add to my current arrangement.
I want to join you at this beautiful table with your delightful temps. It’s bitter cold here again today!
Happy first Monday of March!
What a beautiful arrangement Mary! I love the combination of flowers, fruits and veggies. The plates and cups are so colorful and fun! The tablecloth is so pretty. I think we’re all ready for Spring! You arranged a lovely Spring table for us to enjoy and it indeed brightened my soul. Enjoy your week! Clara ❤️
I love your cardinal napkins too! Clara❤️
Those plates and mugs made me chuckle and smile this morning, Mary! Your arrangement of gorgeous flowers and fruits is so pretty. The color of the roses is so beautiful. Thank you for the morning lift!
I am absolutely crazy over your Vicki Sawyer dishware! Her designs have inspired me to create my own animal kooky characters that I’ve been drawing and needlepointing. Your “edible” arrangement is not only stunning but the perfect whimsical centerpiece for the Party Friends~it’s all so much fun, I feel like I’ve been to a party!
Jenna
I love those whimsical plates and your beautiful flower arrangement! I must get some Crowning Glory to prolong the life of my hydrangeas.Thanks for all the beauty you share. Happy March! KathyP
Mary, Your arrangement is beautiful! I especially love your addition of the kale with your flowers and your VS plates definitely deliver smiles this morning. :) Teresa
Love your table with the Vicki Sawyer plates.
This is gorgeous Mary! I love your combination of flowers paired with your fruit and veggies. I love the creativity and whimsy of your table and those plates! Happy March! Jerrie
I love, love your tablescapes! I’m so ready for spring and happy that I got to spend time outside in the yard this past weekend. Your photos always inspire me – thank you!
I love, love your tablescapes! Thanks for always inspiring me.
Hi Mary! I LOVE this one so much! Whimsical indeed, and Spring-on-a-table! Beautiful job!
Fun plates and they always bring a chuckle. Even the little hummingbird has her own special hat! I really like that urn ( and the darker bird one too) and of course the arrangement looks like it should be in a “Masters” still life painting. Happy Spring Mary. Enjoy your warm weather, we still have lots of snow on the ground, but we will have sunshine all week so I’m pleased. It will be a good 4-6 weeks before we see any daffodils, enjoy them for me. I love their bright yellow faces!
Such a lovely post. The flowers are gorgeous with their added veggies and fruit. The plates definitely caught my eye. They are so colorful and so cute. This looks like spring and I am happy to embrace it. Your posts are pure joy and make me smile. Happy March Mary and your cutie fur babies.
That table sure made me laugh…not at them but with…love the whimsy…and, I finally got the name of that Flower Spray. Missed it before! Thank you and it all reminds me of spring !!
Mary, this post is a definitely one for the smiles from beginning to end. Love how the talented Vicki Sawyer can make us look forward to Spring using her wonderful depiction of her feathered friends all adorned with their Spring pretties from Mother Nature. The table is fabulous as always and I am swooning over your urn of flowers, fruit and the surprising element of kale!!
Yes, that Crowning Glory Spray is amazing!
Have a great week Mary!