The sunflowers are out in the grocery stores, a sure sign that summer’s end approacheth. Soon the trees will don their brilliant fall colours, and we will reach for a jacket before embarking on our morning walk.

Spode’s Harvest figural leaf plates celebrate the joys to come, including individual gingerbread loaves baked in a Nordicware Harvest Mini Loaf Pan comprising six different shapes, including a cheeky squirrel.

These particular sunflowers are almost the colour of Kraft dinner (?!);  despite that association, they make a lovely arrangement with still-green acorns from our oak trees and Japanese Maple branches.

To frame the plates, I used the same plaid tablecloth that appeared in the Robert Burns Scotch Tasting Dinner several years ago. It’s very versatile.

This gingerbread leaf table features round dark willow placemats layered with large sage Cambria dinner plates, topped with creamy Spode Jewel plates and a final layer of the Spode leaf plates.

Not much else was needed. The amber twisted water glasses and sage napkins picked up all the shades in the exuberant centrepiece.

The hydrangea in the garden has adopted its fall colours after a hot, dry summer. I need to get out there and clip some blooms to store for future arrangements while they’re perfectly dry and crisp.

In the meantime, let’s have one of those Gingerbread Leaves.

Have a good week, all.