Your CartI’m sharing Summer Entertaining French Style with a beautiful and easy table setting today.
Summer is the season when we usually entertain the most at FrenchGardenHouse. Eating in the garden, al fresco, is magical anytime, but especially in summer.
In this unusual year, eating outdoors also does allow for social distancing.
Welcome to Monday Morning Blooms.
I am always so thrilled to join my good friends Shirley, Pam and Mary and all of you for our flower therapy Mondays! The links are at the bottom of this post. You won’t want to miss even one.
While I love to make the most of any table setting, when eating outdoors it often means I opt for a fairly simple table setting. Because the table is set in nature’s lush surroundings, it’s a delight to create a tablescape that reflects its garden setting.
The table is set outside in the back garden, on the long patio, since there is some filtered shade there.
My summer tables are simple, but I do use French antiques together with French table cloths from Provence.
The French Cotton Tablecloth with cheerful blue and yellow colors and bright happy lemons is always a favorite! It reminds us of long summer days spent in Europe. A whimsical linen covered in bright lemons, it offers a fanciful backdrop accented by fresh, bright colors.
Of course what would any table be without flowers? Usually at this time of year I cut them from the garden. Most years this has been easy, but this year we had a total garden “re-do” so the ones that are blooming I’m trying not to cut!
I filled this antique ironstone pitcher with white alstroemeria, purple lisianthus, a yellow hydrangea, and a few remaining bright green viburnum. In a perfect world, I would have found blue flowers. This year, I’m grateful to have found beautiful lisianthus in any color. {And, this is much more in keeping with a French style, the French do not color co-ordinate half as much as we do!}
Our little lemon tree in the front garden is producing lemons, and they are delicious. Somehow fruit you grow yourself tastes better, doesn’t it?
For this table, because the cloth is so bright and colorful, I opted for a mix of antique French and English ironstone, and inexpensive white plates.
I usually provide a couple of glasses per guest. That way guests can can enjoy wine, but also drink as much iced water or lemonade as they wish.
Antique French and English ironstone pieces are my favorites on any table.
The best ones have signs of patina and are what the Europeans call “buttered” – which means they have darkening and/or spots. When I find these at antique and brocante fairs, I hardly ever hesitate to buy them. Between clients {you} and myself, I never seem to be able to find enough!
My outdoor summer tables are easy going, but I always try to add a bit of fun.
There is a little tin mold filled with the most delicious sour lemon candies at each table setting. { My grandmother used to buy these in France, she had a habit of dropping one candy her cup of afternoon tea! } I found {!} and imported them from France and will offer them soon on the Gift Collection at FrenchGardenHouse.
The gilt bee place cards with a hand written name make it a personalized treat.
The salad is served from an ironstone bowl with antique French salad servers, French style.
19th century French linen napkins with monograms are always at our table. They are big, they are forgiving because they wash like a dream, and they have history.
An antique silver wine coaster protects your tablecloth from drips. In hot weather, if you are serving chilled white wine, it will also catch the condensation and keep your cloth from having a wet spot.
Summer meals are so easy, aren’t they?
A fresh salad with baby greens, a variety of beautiful summer fruit, and something from the barbeque and you have a feast fit for a king. At meal’s end, relax and enjoy the beauty of the garden in the sun’s dwindling light.
Thank you so much for joining us today. Here’s hoping you enjoy some of your own Summer Entertaining, French Style this season.
I’d love for you to leave a comment so we know you have joined us in the garden.
Monday Morning Blooms to See:
Shirley at Housepitality Designs
and me Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse
A BIENTOT
Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com
Sharing with Pieced Pastimes, BetweenNapsOnThePorch
I enjoyed your flowers and table setting today. It looks very inviting for a lovely lunch outside or evening meal. Here in Florida in the summer it might have to be breakfast or late evening because of the heat and humidity.
I always enjoy your blog posts.
The other ladies had beautiful flowers and settings also.
Nancy, thank you so much for your visit! We are so fortunate with our moderate climate, although at times, even in summer, it’s chilly in the evening here by the ocean. I love breakfast, or even just a coffee hour outside, too. Anytime we can all get outdoors to enjoy sun, birdsong and flowers or just green is a lovely time. Wishing you a beautiful day!
You always make me want to travel back to France every time you present your most exquisite pretties. What can I say. I am in love with each and every piece that is on your stunning summer table. Yes, definitely a summer table with the most wonderful sensation of being in Provence. I am loving the peeks of your beautiful new gardens. As I have said, I am now living vicariously through my Blooms friends hoping my new yard will be filled with pretty blooms soon!….Happy, happy to join you for so much flower and garden inspiration today. Have a beautiful day Lidy!
Shirley, always such a joy to join you and our other two flower friends on our special Mondays. I can’t wait to see what your garden will look like once it’s planted and grown, you live in such a gorgeous area! Happy day, dear friend, to you!
What a lovely way to start the day and refresh my beliefs. Thank you to all of you for the time you take to post such dazzling beauty. Forever grateful.
Thanks so much for your visit, Joan! I wish we could all gather at the table in the garden. It’s a joy to have you join us, at least virtually. Wishing you a lovely day.
Love the idea of a lemon drop placed in the tea cup It’s such a small thing that brings pleasure. Your statement about the French not color coordinating as much us is fascinating. Maybe one of the many reason I love anything French. I know you are loving the redo of your garden.
Alice, as a little girl I was so enamored with that little lemon candy! My grandmother always put one in her tea cup. Now as an adult, I’m sure it’s a lot of sugar, but it sure did make a cup of tea with Grandmama especially sweet!
Lidy, I would love to join you at table in your beautiful garden. The Provençal tablecloth sets the mood for a joyful occasion and its colors make me happy, I love lisianthus and your arrangement is so beautiful, perfect for a table surrounded by those you love. Your stunning table brings back memories of our trip to Provence…truly a magical place with its lovely light! It is always a pleasure to share Monday Morning Blooms with you my friend! xoxo
It’s always a pleasure to share our special Monday Morning Blooms with you too, dear Pam. The weather here in Southern California is quite similar to Provence, so this year, with no traveling really, I’m pretending! xo
Lidy, I so love seeing your French wares and style on display. The casual tone of mixing and matching pleases me, and so many nice little details. I am so jealous of zones that can grow lemon trees. What I wouldn’t give to have my own, as I consume them year round. Sweet little candies and story of your grandmother. And I don’t blame you for sparing the new plantings’ blooms! I’d do the same!
Thank you Rita, I have to admit I do love our little lemon. It’s only a small one, in a huge pot. Oh, you should see some of the lemon trees in our neighborhood! They could keep both us supplied with lemon goodness all year round. I love lemons in everything too, especially sliced or squeezed in my water. Hope you are off to a wonderful start of the week! xo
I love the effortless look of your table Lidy, and the lemon tablecloth is so welcoming, it seems to say, sit down, relax and enjoy! The lemon candies are a wonderful touch, as are the fresh berries, cherries and salad…cold wine and a pitcher of fresh flowers, a perfect summer al fresco experience!
Jenna, I love the freshness of the cloth with the lemons too. That we can grow our own little lemons is so special, it’s a little miracle each time I pick one! I hope your Monday is beautiful.
Such a pretty table! And wonderful inspiration since I’ve been thinking of creating a French table here. We had planned a trip to France this spring, but alas. Maybe next year? By the way, your new garden looks lovely.
Thank you so much Janet. Since we can’t travel, we just have to bring France home to us, right? I hope we all get to travel again next year, I think we will cherish it even more, don’t you?
So pretty! I hope that your garden is growing in nicely! Ours is coming along slowly. We are enjoying al fresco meals often in this lovely weather!
Oh, so happy to hear you’re enjoying your garden and the outdoors too Donna! Our garden is growing too, but it will take some time. I cherish every little flower that we’ve received this season. 🙂
Lidy, your table is lovely and looks so inviting. Anyone would be thrilled to have a seat at your table in your beautiful garden.
Have a wonderful week.
What gorgeous details for summer entertaining and alfresco dining Lidy! I adore your sunny lemon and blue French tablecloth, handsome collection of ironstone and beautiful bouquet of flowers! Those monogrammed napkins are to die for. The dappled and filtered sunlight in your courtyard looks so inviting and I envy your CA weather. We have very little shade in our back yard and it faces west so we’re rarely outdoors on the patio past noon when the summer heat and humidity arrives. As always it’s a treat to join you for some flower therapy. Happy Monday <3
Oh Lidy, how fun it would be to dine in your gorgeous garden! Your table looks so beautiful with the French table linens and the pretty floral arrangement. I hope you have a most blessed week, dear friend!
I would love to have you join me here, Shannon! Thanks so much for your visit, I hope your week is off to a fabulous beginning! Xo