It’s the day after Epiphany, and Christmas is officially over. The trees are down, ornaments packed away, and I’ve done the seasonal turnover in the kitchen cabinets. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to skip winter and move right into spring. Let’s avert our gaze from the sprinkling of snow outside and look at a table set with Sarah’s Garden, a Wedgwood pattern named after founder Josiah Wedgwood’s wife, Sarah.
Wedgwood produced the pattern from 1997 through 2006, and though it’s discontinued, the design is described on their website.
The English Country Garden is an image ingrained in the British identity and serves as inspiration for Sarah’s Garden. This earthenware whimsical dinnerware pattern is characterised by motifs and borders in delicate pastel shades reminiscent of floral herbs like lavender and thyme.
It was one of the first patterns I began collecting. The serving pieces are particularly beautiful; the oval casserole is one of my most loved tureens.
Its lid features plums (prunus domestic) and
pears, the same fruit that adorns the large blue mug—perfect for soup, latte or hot chocolate.
When the pattern debuted in 1997, it was one of the few to have salad plates in different colours. Here, I’ve set them with Hartley Greens Pierced Creamware.
But I often combined them with Villeroy & Boch’s Country Heritage (discontinued in 2010)…
…and Mikasa’s English Countryside (still active).
Of the plates, I have only the salad. The serving pieces caught and held my attention throughout the almost thirty years I’ve owned the pattern. There is a pleasing harmony in the four colours of blue, green, terracotta and pale, creamy yellow combined with the variety of botanical species so beautifully rendered.
Some pieces, such as the storage jars, have a recipe included.
The green jar, which features pears on the front, gives an old-fashioned recipe for Pears poached in perry. I had to look that one up and discovered that Perry is a fermented pear juice, not called cider, as that term refers only to apples. But it’s the same principle.
The smaller blue jar has a recipe for Apple and cinnamon scones. Yum!
I used the pieces in the kitchen refresh this year, as I did in 2020.
When I was placing the large platter, I noticed the brown transferware bowl containing the pears for the first time (only took a couple of decades…) and then noted that all the pieces had an element of brown edging.
That got me thinking that combining Sarah’s Garden with Wedgwood’s Williamsburg Aviary pattern or other brown transferware might be fun. Don’t you love it when you see something you’ve owned for aeons in a whole new way?
Back to our present table. I initially set this for Entertablement—Much Depends on Dinner and baked the Backyard Bugs Pound Cakes to go with it.
After all the sweetness and chocolate excess of Christmas, I think some plain pound cake might be in order.
I have grandkids visiting this afternoon, so I think I’ll get cracking—get out the butter and eggs so they can come to room temperature. The smell of freshly baked pound cake will make everyone feel welcome.
One last look at our Sarah’s Garden table.
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, and I wish you all the best for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
I remember that pattern and I may have bought a piece for my sister -in-law. Thanks for the memories!
Thanks, Maureen! It’s worn well with time. I hope your sister-in-law enjoyed the gift.
Thank you for bringing us all some early spring!
You are most welcome, Linda! I thought we could all do with a little cheer. Hope you are well.
Thank you for giving me ideas for layering my Sarah’s Garden tea set Helen. I’ve loved this pattern since the 90’s, but sadly we didn’t get many of the pieces here in Australia. I have the green and blue tea pots, tea cups, saucers and mugs, along with several of the serving pieces, and some of the Christmas red plates and cake stand. It is a very versatile pattern I think, which can suit all four seasons. I’ve teamed the tea cups with 1930’s lime green Royal Albert plates in the past, and it really highlights the green fruit on the cups.
Hi Linda,
Isn’t it a lovely pattern? One of Wedgwood’s nicest modern patterns, I think. It sounds like you have some beautiful pieces! I agree, it works on all four seasons. Still hankering after the jelly mould…
Best,
Helen
Spring fever hitting me this year. Drooling over deals at home stores and trying not to get anything but the older I get; the more floral and pastel colors are calling.
There has been a resurgence in popularity of florals and pastels with the grandmillennial trend and you can see it in the offerings at home stores. Personally, I’m thrilled, as I never did like the dour dreariness of farmhouse/industrial greige. But like you, Robert, I’m trying to resist the lure of acquiring more! Here’s hoping spring comes SOON.
This is my wedding everyday china! 🙂 Celebrating 25 years this month and we still use it everyday – and it still makes me smile like the first time I used it.
Happy Anniversary, Shelley! I can’t believe it’s been 25 years since that pattern first emerged, but you’re right! It seems like yesterday. I’ll bet Josiah Wedgwood would be delighted to see how a modern pattern based on his wife’s favourite flowers resonates with today’s tableware enthusiasts.
I am so glad I inherited Sarah’s garden from my mother. it’s a really beautiful collection I have adored since young and it brings me good memories of my childhood. Always a special moment with Sarah’s garden. I love how you decorated the table with herbs
Thanks! I loved the pattern from the moment I saw it. The creaminess of the background, the blue, green, soft yellow and terracotta colour palette. But I really loved the many serving pieces! Still a favourite – great at this time of year.