WELCOME TO MONDAY MORNING BLOOMS.
This Monday we're highlighting the outdoors with our floral therapy. Just being outdoors in summer is therapeutic. Add in some beautiful flowers, maybe a guest or two or more, and you've got a joyous celebration of the season!
Before I share the table, let's take a peek in the back garden. Our garden is practically the whole reason I wanted to buy this house! Because I knew that the garden would give me a large entertaining space here in Southern California three-fourths of the year. After our garden update last year {visit by clicking link "garden" above} it is coming along nicely.
The scheffleras are covering the wood fences so that eventually there will just be a wall of green as the back drop for the borders. The little boxwood hedges are filling in, and we were able to find the cutest little garden lights that make evenings so lovely back here.
The back garden is where we host most of our friends and family, especially in the summer. The best part of entertaining in summer is that you can make it as elegant, as casual, as elaborate or as easy as you want to.
For this summer table setting with a French twist, I began by layering one of our favorite summer linen tablecloths in a subtle very light blue-green called Ocean on our outdoor table. The plates are my inexpensive new black matte plates, layered with antique ironstone smaller plates.
Each place setting has a linen napkin tied with baker's twine, and a little sprig from the garden. I love how the gently frayed edges of the linen napkins add casual sophistication to formal or informal entertaining. Rustic antique wood bowls are perfect to serve up artisan French breads, summer salads, and add to the overall country casual look.
The centerpiece couldn't be easier! The antique French apothecary jar is holding a few branches from a flowering bush in the front garden, and I cut a few hydrangeas in light blue and white for the short glass vase. An antique round serving board visually ties them together.
Can you almost hear the clink of wine glasses, the laughter? Best part, as the sun goes down, no one is in a hurry to leave, the fire pit can go on, little lights overhead, and conversations linger into the evening. How perfect is that?
It doesn't take much to set a special mood for the evening; a delicious cocktail or two, some simple food, a pretty but casual French style table. Throw in hugs {YAY! They're back!!} lots of laughter, and people you love and you're in for one of the most fun times ever.
Thanks so much for your visit today! I hope you will pin this for future inspiration.
Visit my garden friends by clicking on their links below! See you in their gardens!
SHIRLEY at Housepitality Designs
and me, LIDY at FrenchGardenHouse
What are you planning to do to Embrace the Joys of Summer?!
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 above all uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com
26 comments
Thanks so much for your visit. It is such a blessing to make plans again, summer plans, isn’t it? Hope your week is glorious.
Thank you Sarah. And you entertain al fresco beautifully! Happy Summer to you, too, friend. xo
Thank you Alice! Happy Summer!!
Cheryl, I bought these quite some time ago wholesale for the shop, we no longer sell them. They have them at Serena & Lily, and similar styles on Overstock. They are black and white. They’re really nice!
Lidy, your setting is perfect for alfresco dining and entertaining. Like you, entertaining outdoors in the garden is my favorite, though our current heat isn’t all that inviting. Your flowers and table are sheer delight. I love the casual, but sophisticated feel of your tablescape. I’d love to pull up a chair and join you. Happy Summer!
Simply lovely perfection! Where did you get your bistro chairs? Brown or black? I want to have a similar look on my back porch. Thank you!
I agree! It’s nice to feel like we can make plans…summer plans! I love your pretty outdoor space. We have a lanai here in Florida and spend our time there instead of in our courtyard. But it’s nice to have a place to get away. Happy Summer!
French flair indeed. Lovely.
Rita, thank you for your visit today, and your always sweet compliments. I have to tell you, I bought two of the hydrangea topiaries at the nursery this month! I have never seen those (although Shirley says they’ve had them in their area for years!} I love them…so interesting. Here’s hoping they do well. Happy Summer, friend! xo
Mary, oh how I loved your post today. Those day lilies changed my mind about perhaps planting some. We got a butterfly topiary this year for the front garden, can’t wait to see what it does. {It is the sterilized kind, I’m sure.} It’s always a joy to meet you in our garden, friend. And Happy Birthday!! xo