Don’t you love a versatile china pattern that is skilled at transitions? Enter vintage ironstone Apple Blossom by Ridgway,

The name would have you believe it’s a spring pattern. But have you ever seen a yellow apple blossom? Or a blue one, for that matter? The vibrant blue, sunny yellow, cheerful cherry and clear green floral depictions didn’t whisper “spring”; they shouted “summer to fall”.

I think it’s the background transferware pattern in brown that sealed the deal for me. Yup. Summer to fall it is.

I was thrilled to get a chance to haul out my electric blue antique Fry Optic glasses. They rarely go with any pattern so well. That was the easy bit of the table composition.

Weirdly, the flowers were the most challenging. I stumbled around looking for some paler yellow flowers and then finally decided to give black-eyed susans and sunflowers a chance with clear blue hydrangea. Bittersweet vine, still in its green state, provided a solid foundation for the lush flowers.

The inherent grounding properties in the brown centres of the (admittedly) almost Kraft-dinner-orange black-eyed susans and sunflowers does the trick.

The napkins are closer to the actual yellow on the plates. Just goes to show that the exception proves the rule of  don’t mix yellows. Sometimes you can mix yellows!

The April Cornell napkin rings (discontinued) add just the right touch of brown and green to the mix.

The original impetus for the Apple Blossom table was two covered vegetable dishes that found me on eBay. Judging by the mark on the bottom of the bowls, they were produced between 1891 and 1920.

I loved the chubby little finials and pleasing sculpted shape.

Their arrival sent me hunting for plates in the same pattern. There was almost nothing on eBay, but Replacements proved very fruitful. I awas able to snag six dinner plates and six salad plates, all very reasonably priced, and in beautiful condition. Happy dance for a very happy pattern.

All I had to do was wait for a sunny day, arrange the flowers, set the table and enjoy.

My little wheelbarrow open salts from Pottery Barn a number of years ago were pleased to be included. They love it when their humble brown features can star in a table setting.

If the open salts are humble, the flashy Fry glasses take up all the space with plenty of boasting: “We are the TRUE stars of this table. Ironstone plates and iron wheelbarrows – pah!”

It’s enough to make you roll your eyes.

I hate to shatter anyone’s ego, but to me, the flowers carry the day.

The ones on the table AND the ones in the garden. 🙂 

Happily, we don’t need to pass out participation awards for the stars of the table. Every piece does its bit to make a harmonious whole.

Have a great week, dear readers! 

I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.