Our bedside clock got a jump on us. Maybe it thinks 2023 is a leap year because, unbeknownst to me, it moved itself ahead overnight on Friday. I rose Saturday morning at what I thought was 4:45 am, ridiculously early enough as it was. My decaffeinated brain did not register the discrepancy until after I’d fed the dogs and settled at my computer with a steaming cup of coffee. What? Is it 4 am? How can that be? The dogs were ecstatic (we can’t believe she fed us so early!); I was less so. But I used the time profitably and made great progress on The Cathedral Project; Mary Plumstead and I are getting very close to launching. I can’t wait to share it with you!
Now, onto today’s table, shot outside in the unflatteringly bright sunshine of mid-day, the only time it’s warm enough to linger in these early spring days. I’ll take it, regardless.
There were two inspirations for this table. The first was the cheerful floral napkins in shades of purple and pink.
The second was this little enamelled honey pot by Tupton, featuring pansies in typically plummy shades. There is something so homely and soothing about it. Long-time readers know I’m a big fan of lidded containers—tureens, soup bowls and the like; I have a small collection of honey pots, both vintage and modern.
It’s too early here for pansies, so I gathered some tulips and hyacinths from Trader Joe’s and a couple of pots of early lavender, which I will coddle indoors until I can put them into the garden.
Deep purple Colette water glasses and dessert plates from Juliska added a further splash of colour. Sadly, they’re both discontinued, but Replacements seems to have quite a few of the glasses in stock (at the price they’re fetching, I should have invested in those – yikes).
The dinner plate is Jewel by Spode. That pattern had a good 50-year run—from 1925 to 1975. I use it often, below in Pier 1 Geese.
And The Follies of Distraction.
I can’t even remember where I sourced the napkins. There are only six of them, so likely eBay.
Meanwhile, let’s enjoy the sunshine.
I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.
And have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day this week. It will be Easter before we know it.
Cheers!
Nice touch of spring. Tulips are one of my favorites but also a favorite of our resident deer. My snow drops are up so it’s feeling like warmer days are ahead, we hope. See you soon!
I don’t even try to grow tulips in the garden—as you say, deer’s favourite food! I stick to daffodils, which they leave severely alone. But they’re great in bunches and inexpensive enough to be had in satisfying abundance. The snowdrops are really lasting this spring due to the prolonged cold, soggy weather. They’re truly deightful.
Helen, this is a lovely table! And after our horrid weather here lately, it is an absolute delight to see the sunshine and no snow. The honey pot is adorable and the napkins tie everything together so nicely. I love how the salads and the goblets seem to be a perfect match and what a lovely glow they give off. The tulips are gorgeous. Enjoy your sunshine!
Thanks, Kim! It has been a messy time. We’ve been largely snow-free in the Cape, but they’ve been buried back in Canada. It’s been relentless. Like you, I adore that deep purple glow in the goblets and salad plates. I don’t know why Juliska did away with them—they also came in a luscious blue. Thanks for visiting! Hope all is well in your world.
Enjoyed your Spring table and tulips. Here, 10 inches of snow has fallen today and still falling.
Thanks! We’ve been digging out as well. Ugh. Finally, finally melting. There’s hope!
Dear Helen, I must have missed this posting while tax season (ugh) called and we traipsed across a snowy Europe. I have a soft spot for purple, so I love the Juliska plates and goblets. And what adorable pansies! I look forward to returning to the Alps when the snow has departed–I will be greeted and uplifted by the 200 tulips planted last fall, the purple wisteria that fronts our south-facing balcony, and the picotee-edged lilacs Happy spring!
Velvety purple pansies and silky pastel tulips are a heart-warming combination, aren’t they? A sure sign spring has arrived.
Same with tax season, though much less fun!
Are the tulips you planted mostly the double pink Angelique?
Truth be told, I ordered so many different varieties last summer that I”m sure there will be some surprises–Double Angelique, Ice Cream, Amazing Parrot, Apricot Parrot, Mariage, and China Town join the previous ones that have proven very vigorous and are on their third year without many failures. I”m a sucker for parrots, as you can see, because they blo0m between the narcissus and wisteria, and along with the lilacs–I have some fab pics of Amazing with lilacs, a combo not to be beaten. This company is the one I”ve talked my neighbours into using, after they saw my efforts the first year (2018). We get together and pool-order around 400…never been disappointed.
https://order.eurobulb.nl/145-tulips-double-flowered?page=1
What a fabulous selection you planted, Beatrice! I’m with you on parrot tulips – they’re the absolute best. So much more to them than singles. I must check out that supplier, though I suspect there would be problems bringing them into the US or Canada. One never knows, though! Thanks for the link.