Splendid Beauty ~ Magnolias

Magnolia ~ Harbinger of Spring

Each day as I take my morning walk,

the neighborhood is filled

with a very distinct lemony fragrance.

It announces the magnolia blooms

that are in abundance this time of year.

These splendid white beauties are named

for the 17th century French botanist, Pierre Magnol.

Native to both Asia and the Americas, the evergreen

tree has leathery leaves and gorgeous large white blooms.

Considered to be very primitive,

the blooms are similar to the very first flowers.

Magnolia blooms open in layers,

can be as large as 10 inches across,

and have as many as 14 tepals.

Both Mississippi and Louisiana

selected Magnolias as their state flower.

It's no surprise that these

blooms are associated with . . .

Beauty,

Perseverance,

Dignity and,

Nobility

Please click the links below to see what others are sharing this week.

This Week in My Garden @ Little Round Table

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

White Wednesday @ Faded Charm

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Fresh Cut Friday @ Rose Vignettes

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Also joining The Tablescaper to

celebrate her 2nd Blog-aversary with

Where do you keep it all? Part II

Click below to see the answers.

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper

Memorial Day All American Cookout

~ Memorial Day ~

Honoring Those Who Bravely Serve Our Country

Many Americans will perhaps

celebrate this holiday with a picnic.

Or set a table in 

red, white, and blue.

Perhaps something 

with stars and stripes, too.

Patriotic colors to 

show our pride in America.

An All Star Menu

Hamburgers and hot dogs 

cooked on the grill.

Mustards and Mayonaise

Compliment that juicy 

burger right off the grill.

Homemade Potato Fries

Pinto Beans

Healthy Slaw

Fresh Corn on the Cob

The All American Cookout

Ending with a sweet treat.

Happy Memorial Day to all Americans!

Joining

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally

Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Rednesday @ It's a Very Cherry World

Tablescape Thursday

@ Between Naps on the Porch

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Foodie Friday @ Designs By Gollum

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Pink Party Parisian Style

Celebrating

Pink Saturday

3rd Birthday ~ May 28, 2011

Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound

Pink Shoes Up in Paris by Fifi @ Fifi Flowers

It's time to kick up our heels and party

~ Parisian Style ~

Pack your bags, we're headed to Paris.

Irresistible Paris

Hosted by

Anita @ Castles, Crowns and Cottages

We'll see the sights in the

The City of Lights

Sacre Coeur Balcony by Fifi

No time for

lounging at this party site!

There will be plenty of pink flowers.

Luscious Pink Cake

And of course ~ plenty of

Pink Bubbly

Pink Champagne de France by Fifi

So put on your party hat!

Ladies with Fans by Fifi

Fashionable Party Guest by Fifi

You'll be the most fashionable guest there!

Lets Celebrate

Pink Saturday & Irresistible Paris

After all

~ Paris ~

Is always a good idea!

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Anita's Simply Irresistible Paris

@ Castles Crowns and Cottages

Special thanks to Fifi @ Fifi Flowers for

allowing me to share her beautiful images.

Click here to see a gallery of Fifi's charming work.

Pretty in Pink, The Horse Crippler

Horse Crippler

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

It's springtime on the South Texas Plains and Edwards Plateau and these pretty hot pink blooms can be seen popping up in this drought laden-land. Though the springtime blooms are pretty in pink, these cacti grow low. They hide among the grass and rocks making them difficult to see, thus crippling a horse that might step on the thorns of this plant. Hence the name, Horse Crippler.

Click the links below to join the

following hostesses for their weekly memes.

Pink Saturday @ At Sweet the Sound

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Mosaic Monday @ The Little Red House

Outdoor Wednesday @ The Southern Daydreamer

Barnyard Chic

~ Barnyard Chic ~

a table created by the

talented young women of Posey.

This charming farm-inspired table was created for a

special event hosted by i.thee.wed earlier in the year.

Let's take a look at some of

the clever and awesome details.

NESSAK Photography

A Graceful Layering of Linen and Burlap

Chair Covers of Casually Draped and Tied Burlap

~ Centerpiece ~

Hollowed-out Log Filled with Fresh Fragrant Yellow Stock

More Floral Details in Individual Long-neck Bottles

Place Settings with Oodles of Visual Texture

Burlap ~ Linen ~ Chicken Wire ~ Gingham ~ Florals

All Topped with Cute Little Chicks

Each Detail Plays Off Each Other

A Bird's Eye View

~ Barnyard Chic ~

Sophisticated & Elegant

Yet Not Too Serious!

NESSAK Photography

You can follow along with the very

talented Posey girls at their blog here.

Chicken Wire Chargers by Pottery Barn

Floral Plates & Linens by Tag

All photos by Hyacinths for the Soul except where noted.

Click the links below to join the following hostesses this week:

Table Top Tuesday @ A Stroll Through Life

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here

It's a Hodgepodge Friday @ It's a Hodgepodge Life

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Life

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Outdoors Ideas Party @ Centsational Girl