I feared for the Lilies of the Valley when we elected to plant a fledgling pink dogwood tree in the middle of the patch last year.
I needn’t have worried, apparently. We had a bumper crop. Despite their delicate appearance, they are one tough plant.
Mrs Alice produces a series of plates with this scalloped edging, and I was thrilled with the Lilies of the Valley version. There is just enough coverage of the plate, though I will acknowledge that the leaf depiction is faintly reminiscent of a marijuana plant.
She has another set this year; to me, it’s just too much of a good thing. Somehow the heaviness of the green edging overwhelms the delicacy of the branch of flowers. Oh well, to each their own—different strokes and all that.
I chose Sophia dinner plates by Ralph Lauren from the late 90s as the base; the clear porcelain chimes with the ceramic of the salad plate.
All are placed on scalloped-edged linens atop a Nira Blue blue tablecloth by Amanda Lindroth (discontinued).
The glasses are Cleo Blue by Cambridge depression glass. I used the footed tumbler for water and the water goblets for wine.
A combination of Delphine blue glass vases (Mrs Alice) and a Mason’s Quail Blue jug held small bouquets of lilies of the valley.
Gilt-edged blue and white open salts joined in for fun.
We’ve had a patch of lovely spring weather. A bit cool, but that has extended the life of the valley’s lilacs and lilies, so I’m not complaining.
It’s always a happy day when I can set up outside and enjoy the sunshine.
We had heavy rain last night, so it’s a perfect day to do some weeding. Just before the storm hit, I got the peony supports in place yesterday, so they’re safe and sound from any onslaught. They’re just about to burst into bloom. I can’t wait!
Happy Sunday, all!
Very pretty! I like lily of the valley but my plants are not doing so well in upstate New York.
I’m so sorry to hear that Maureen! It was cold, quite late in the spring, wasn’t it? We had a dreadful cold snap in the Cape and it killed off a lot of the hydrangea buds. We are all having to cut off all the dead wood – there will be few flowers this year. .
So nice that you have plates to match your flowers. All so pretty to look at. The scent of the lillies at that table must have been amazing. Lovely Spring table setting..
It’s too bad the lilies of the valley don’t last, isn’t it? Makes them all the more special, though. 😉
Cleo blue stemware here is gorgeous! Perfect for lily of the valley season table theme. I applaud you, Helen, well done!!
Thanks so much! It took a while to amass the Cleo collection, but eBay proved a valuable source.
Dear Helen, such a watery summery table with beloved LoV. Of the 20 pips I planted last year, only 9 came up and, only one bloomed. I can find no excuse, as my neighbour’s patch is chockablock. Our cold weather extended tulipmania, so I shouldn’t complain, but tulips will grow as high as they are given time, so some are almost 80 cm (!) I wonder why they didn’t highlight the striations to make those “weed”-ish leaves look more like they belong to convallaria. If your photo is true, the new plates are a very odd green (and I agree, too busy). As usual, your choice of glassware and napery is perfect. Onward to peonies!
I wonder what went on with your LoV pips? Too wet? They may just be burrowing their way still underground. They do spread like mad once they’re happy, so keep heart.
As to the plates – I wondered the same as you about the leaves on the ones I have. It wouldn’t have taken much to make the crucial distinction. And yes, the green on the new ones is very odd – almost olive. LoV leaves are deep, clear green in real life.
Peonies are hovering on the brink—the bulbs grow fat as does my impatience to see them.
Delightful and dainty table setting.
Thanks so much, Rachelle!