It is almost peony time. The plants have gone from little red nubs poking through the ground to three-foot bushes in weeks. The flower buds are waxing fat, and my anticipation is mounting. I can’t wait! But in the meantime, we have peony tulips to help ease my impatience.
Soft yellow petals float in a feathery dance on this breakfast table set with Quail Blue, a pattern for whom life began at Furnivals of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, in 1913, the same year the company was acquired by John C. Bailey of Doultons. He bought the pottery as an independent business for his sons.
This collection started with the egg cups. We are enthusiastic consumers of “dippy-do” eggs in this house.
And I couldn’t resist the beguiling little quail on the small egg cup. So I started picking up pieces here and there on eBay.
The covered sauce bowl was next.
Shortly after that, a tea set comprising teapot, cream and sugar and half a dozen cups with saucers appeared.
Oddly, the salad plates were the last to join the party. They pair nicely with Aerin scalloped edge dinner plates, and I like the contrast of the clean white background.
Having used a gingham tablecloth, a plain napkin was called for. But we jazzed it up a bit with a bee embellishment (fridge magnets, no less) for the beaded napkin rings.
Fostoria’s Minuet Yellow (1930-33) juice glasses coordinate very nicely with the delicate yellow of the tulips.
Soft blue and white with yellow—a timeless combination.
Speaking of peony tulips, I came across this spectacular display not far from our home on the Cape. We drove by last evening when the light was favourable, so Glenn obligingly stopped the car, so I could hop out and snap a couple of pics.
The enormous flowering cherry tree formed the perfect frame.
The fallen cherry petals added a soft border.
We caught the blooms just at the peak—another day or so, and they’ll be over.
I’ll be interested to see if they come back next year. In my experience, tulips behave like annuals, despite the much-vaunted “long-lasting bulbs”. The squirrels make off with them; the deer chomp on the flowers (unlike daffodils, which they don’t touch. I’ve given up planting tulips and am very grateful to the owner of that house for planting these gorgeous blooms.
And to Trader Joe’s for stocking the ones for the Quail table.
The weather has at last turned warm here; we enjoyed a long walk on the beach at low tide for the first time this season. Finally, summer is around the corner! The pups get their final shots this week, and they will soon be romping in the waves with Churchill. They’re growing like weeds; this is Marigold just a week ago.
And here she is yesterday, sitting in front of the new puppy pen. The crate was getting to be a tight fit, so Glenn installed new gates, which worked like a charm. They withstand two enthusiastic little jumpers, and the door latch is a cinch to open. The gate swings inward and will remain open if desired so that the pups can go in and out during the day. They like to nap in there. The space is ample enough for them to play, and we can sequester them from the other dogs when they want to get down to some serious chomping on their chew sticks. (Churchill has been known to liberate their chewies for his own consumption.)
Have a lovely day. All!
Always enjoy your wonderful color combo of blues, whites and pale yellows!! I’ve copied it many times. So so pretty. Lovely juice glasses, I’m jealous. Glad gorgeous weather has arrived. Hope seasonal allergies have missed your household. A 98 degree record heat wave hit WI last week and it’s been a nasal congestion perfect storm as everything budded out and bloomed like crazy all at once!! Ahhh-choo
Thanks so much! I resisted blue and white for many years as the combination seemed to be everywhere. I succumbed after a while–can’t really resist it if you love china!
Allergies abound here, but Reactine works well for us. Our temps haven’t climbed quite that high, more the high 60s on average. The trees are leafing out and soon, there will be that ghastly layer of green pollen on everything. I’m waiting for it to come and go so we can get the windows washed. 🙂
Lovely overhead photo of the table and beautiful setting. Quail Blue is so charming and I love the shape of the teapot.
Love that you thought outside the box and used fridge magnets to adorn the napkin rings .
The peony tulips in the photo of the boulevard are gorgeous! I find where we live, the fancier tulips such as peony tulips, parrot tulips, and feathered tulips are not always reliable depending on what our winter was like. I do enjoy a variety of colours of other types of tulips though.
Marigold is utterly adorable ❤️ Puppyhood is such a precious time and seems to go by in the blink of an eye!
Cheers!
Rachelle
I’ve found the same with regard to the more exotic tulips, Rachelle. They just aren’t as hardy as the traditional red and yellow plain ol’ reliable. Angelique is probably the best of the doubles for staying power. But unless we’re prepared to haul them up and replant them every fall, we have to accept the fickle nature of the special ones! 🙂
Adorable Marigold is currently tackling her brother Spencer with a vigour that belies her angelic appearance. She’s one feisty little pup!
Beautiful flowers, beautiful china and beautiful puppies. Love them all, love your posts. We also have given up on Tulips!!!!
Thanks, Marilyn! Wonderful to hear from you.
Dear Helen, When I really feel spring is here, I drag out the Villeroy Casa Azul and blue-and-white embroidered cloth, but as yellow is not a staple in our garden, it’s paired with raging pink parrots and Angelique. I’m looking at those golf ball peonies with anticipation, too. Your palette is fresh, cool, and soothing enough to balance out the mayhem of young pups. When does class start? (I remember a few years ago Mary used bee magnets and Rub-and-Buff for rings; a clever idea that I immediately adopted for adding butterflies.) Thanks for a refreshing look I can copy!
Casa Azul has a very pleasing colour palette, doesn’t it? That feathery blue motif is beautiful. But then, I love almost all of V&B’s patterns. Such great quality tableware, too.
Puppies started class the day they got home. We’re great believers in continual, fun training with the odd correction here and there. I found a good online course for up to date information. It has reminders of forgotten bits and some wonderful ideas on how to keep them occupied (hence out of trouble).
Mary is an endless source of inspiration, and changing those gold bees to silver was genius!
I think blue and yellow are a favorite standard combo. These tulips are more than gorgeous. I never see them in people’s garden. They must attract deer! Bill was talking about getting tulip bulbs and I gave him the hairy eye. I’ll have him read all of this to dissuade him. Very ingenious idea with the magnets. You think of everything!! See you soon.
The magnets weren’t my idea. 🙂 Credit goes to Mary from Home is Where the Boat Is!
You just keep going with the hairy eye. Your bunnies and deer are already waxing fat from dining on your garden!