WELCOME TO MONDAY MORNING BLOOMS! We're excited to have Bonnie of Living with Thanksgiving join us this time, I know, that if you don't know her already, you will love this sweet and talented friend!
Our theme for our flowers in June is watering cans. You may know that I love antique and vintage watering cans! Whenever we can get some antique French cans, I snap them up for the shop. {And have serious discussions with Mr. FGH who thinks every watering can that arrives here from France should be his to keep!}
It's the beginning of summer and outdoor entertaining, so I set up our little black potting bench in the back garden for cocktails and appetizers before a summer BBQ.
I filled my antique watering can with pink peonies and a new kind of wax flower that I've never seen before but isn't it so pretty? It has bigger clusters of the little pink flowers.
The cocktails are so good, they're French Lavender Cocktails. They are easy to make, I'll share the recipe at the end of this post with you. You can make them with or without alcohol, either version is refreshing and very good!
I froze some of our garden flowers in ice cubes, such a pretty look in drinks in the summer. {Keep reading for my best tips on how to make them.} Everything fits into the large French gathering basket, including our favorite linen napkins.
How fun are these little charcuterie cups I made using our antique French seedling pots? Simply lined with kraft paper, each little pot holds some almonds in the bottom, a long square piece of white cheddar cheese, some peanut butter filled pretzels, a few strawberries, and salami rolled up and skewered on bamboo sticks.
Antique and vintage flower frogs are a fun way to add a little card with a saying to your potting bench drinks station! I used an oval flower frog and added 'WELCOME SUMMER' with stamps to our gold bee name cards.
HOW TO MAKE FLORAL ICE CUBES
Floral Ice Cubes are so pretty in summer drinks! Here is how to make them. It's super easy.
Use Flexible Ice Cube Trays.
To make the large square ice cubes, I used a large silicone ice cube tray. These trays are flexibile which makes it easy to remove the ice cubes. You can get these at different stores, I bought mine at TJMaxx but Target should have them, and any other kind of store that sells housewares.
Vintage Barkcloth Pillow Cover
French Lavender Cocktails on the Potting Bench
FrenchGardenHouse Lavender Lemonade Cocktail A grown up lemonade with a French twist. Even though this is special, it's surprisingly easy, It makes a great mocktail without the alcohol too!- Water – 3/4 cup {you can use sparkling if preferred}
- Juice from 1 lemon {about 4 tablespoons}
- French Lavender Syrup
- 2 oz. good quality Vodka
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup regular fine sugar Sugar
- 1-1/2 tablespoons fresh organic or dried culinary Lavender
Do you use garden antiques when entertaining?
Be sure to visit my blooming friends:
Bonnie at Living With Thanksgiving
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 above all uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com
22 comments
Thank you so much Bonnie, for your visit, and for joining us this month for our beloved floral therapy. I love your watering cans, each one of them! And those blue hydrangeas, oh my, so beauiful. Wishing you a gorgeous and blessed month of June, friend. xo Lidy
Alice, thank you for the visit. Having a little nibble before dinner in the pots was fun, and so easy since everyone could just hold their own little snack. Wishing you a gorgeous and blessed month of June! {ps. don’t encourage my Mr. FGH!! haha}. xo Lidy
Thank you so much for your visit Jenna. I love peonies, if only we could grow these here….but I’m more than excited to be able to buy them when they are in season here. Wishing you a beautiful June. xo
Happiest June to you Donna! I hope you love it. I use the lavender syrup in lemonade sometimes, too!
Looking forward to trying your cocktails!
Good morning Shannon! Thank you for your visit, I’d love to have you join me for a garden party this summer!
Good morning, Lidy! I have so enjoyed my visit today! Your floral arrangement in the antique watering can in absolutely gorgeous. I adore the way you have set up your potting bench for cocktails and appetizers. The French Lavender cocktails sound so refreshing. The charcuterie in the sweet clay pots is such a lovely touch. You inspire me to want to host a party in my garden. Happy Monday, sweet friend!
hi Lidy, your peonies are gorgeous! They look so pretty in the vintage watering can surrounded by the little pink flower clusters~ such a creative spot for cocktails and apps. The charcuterie pots are such a cute idea, perfect for your garden setting and the flower filled ice cubes are an extra special touch! I would love to sip on a Lavender Lemonade cocktail and stroll around your garden!
So pretty and fun. I like the charcuterie cups in the antique French seeding pots. Unique. I feel Mr FGH’s pain. I would have a problem however with everything you bring us from France. Thanks for the reminder to first boil the water to keep the ice cubes clear. It’s the little things that make our world so precious.
Lidy, You always inspire! I love your watering can arrangement. Peonies thrill me, and the pretty clutters of wax flowers are delightful! Yes, I love your antique watering can. I’m not sure of the age of my watering can. I bought it at Scott’s Antique Market in Atlanta over 25 years ago. I believe it came from England.
Your potting bench is so pretty and styled with a charming basket of pretty linens, French Lavender cocktails, and charcuterie. The floral ice cubes add just the right festive touch. Thank you for the instructions. I am pinning it for future reference.
I enjoyed being a’ guest bloomer’ today. You, ladies, are great flower-loving friends.