It will come as a surprise to exactly no one that my love for cherries extends to tableware featuring the scrumptious fruit. But it’s pathetically thin on the ground. You’d think such a cheerful, colourful motif would be easy to find, but not so! 

I kept my eyes peeled, and Cherry Blossom by Tabletops Unlimited popped up on eBay one day. Four salad plates only, but enough for a cheerful setting.

I combined them with Homestead by Ralph Lauren—another elusive pattern. I’ve found plenty of uses for the red gingham dinner plate.

Keeping with the country theme that red gingham inspires, Pioneer Woman’s red barn cookie jar with salt and pepper shakers made a fun centrepiece. The cookie jar features farm implements, hay bales and wheat sheaves on the exterior walls.

And who can resist a faithful hound dog (he actually has his own cookie jar by Pioneer Woman, available at Walmart)? 

A pair of golden retrievers adorn the pepper shaker. I love the red and green collars, especially.

The table didn’t need much else. Fresh cherries fill simple, clear compotes—they’re great for parfaits, chopped salads or ice cream with delectable caramel, hot fudge or Luxardo cherry syrup. Yum!

Aqua bubble glass water glasses picked up the edging colour on the Cherry Blossom plates.

Button covered napkin rings hold bold gingham napkins in place. A lot is going on with two differently sized red gingham patterns, plus the striped edge and cherry pattern on the salad plates, but it works.

Fresh cherries make a perfect afternoon snack or a light dessert—no adornment necessary. 

The cream-coloured charger came from Pier 1 several years ago. They’re very sturdy and work well with any plate with an ivory background.

I can’t believe we’re into the 20s in July already. Soon we’ll be seeing back-to-school ads.

The happy days of high summer! Let’s enjoy them while we can. Hmmm…perhaps cherry pie or cobbler!