Thursday, April 25, 2013

Spring in the Texas Hill Country






Little Blanco River

Welcome to the

The Texas Hill Country 




I was fortunate to be a guest 

recently at this lovely hill country home.





A beautiful garden of agava, cactus, sage, 

bluebonnets, and other Texas 

wildflowers greeted us on arrival.





Two stone barns circa1930 anchor 

a lovely courtyard garden where we enjoyed lunch.




The courtyard features a central fountain 

and raised beds of blooming plants.




Rustic furniture made from cedar trees 

on the property offers comfortable seating and dining.



The tables were set with colorful textiles 

and pitchers filled with bouquets of spring flowers.




The serving table featured a vibrant cloth 

from Mexico, appliquéd in big bright sunflowers.




The bouquets looked as if they had 

just been picked from the cutting garden.





Bright multicolored glasses, 

reminiscent of a box of Crayons,

 were the perfect compliment to yet another 

of the hostess' hand embroidered Mexican textiles.




Stacks of assorted pottery plates .  .   .




Offered both color 

and a touch of whimsy.




Lunch was a selection of salads.

 ~ Black Bean and Corn Salad ~ 

Served with Pita Chips

Recipe here




~ Mandarin Orange and Chicken Salad ~ 

Recipe here




~ Plump Seedless Grapes ~




~ Chewy Chocolate Brownies ~




After lunch our hostess took us 

on a tour of her prismatic gardens.




Peggy Martin Climbing Rose 

and Yellow Columbine




The juxtaposition of the various plants 

with the shapes and textures of the stone 

provides a tranquil setting within the courtyard garden.




A group of wheelbarrows 

serve as planters.




More Peggy Martin Climbing Roses 

cover the entrance to the second barn.





Peggy Martin Rose

Click here to read the 

story of this amazing climber.





A pair of large iron cockerels guard 

the gates at either end of the Arbor Garden.




Raised beds made from stone quarried 

on the farm are home to various deer resistant plants.




The garden design is perfect 

for its hill country setting.



Mexican Sage

Plants in this garden 

are native to the area.



Red Poppies

They can withstand the 

Texas heat with minimal water.



Damianita Daisy

All the while providing 

vibrant color and beauty.





Hope you enjoyed spring in 

the Texas hill country.

Joining

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

How to Host a Taco Party







Spring and Summer are the 

perfect times to host a Taco Party.





Pull out your most colorful dishes 

and accents that offer a bit of texture.




Mix in some seaside details.





Serve fish tacos 

for a light, healthy entrée.






I captured this table setting 

at a local Pottery Barn.

Simply couldn't resist sharing these 

colorful dishes and fun ideas.




Pottery Barn's Cabo Melmaine outdoor 

dishes come in both red and blue.




The designs are taken from earthenware 

but made in unbreakable melamine.




In addition to the dinnerware sets, 

Pottery Barn also offers several fun 

serving pieces, like this set of condiment bowls and tray.




The display table at Pottery Barn 

mixed the Cabo pattern with 

pieces of PB's Rope Outdoor Collection. 




A table runner woven of pure cotton 

added vibrant color and texture 

perfect for the Mexican theme.




Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

Pottery Barn's web site offers a wonderful collection of entertaining inspiration for Theme Parties, Everyday Parties, and Holiday Parties.  Each party feature includes photos of gorgeous table settings, and party planning ideas and tips, complete with recipes, playlists, and party invitation and placecard downloads.


Joining

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Oh, The Places I've Been ~ Anthropologie








The Tablescaper is hosting a new weekly meme.

Starting April 19th.



Grab the button, join in the fun 

and link up on Thursday evenings @ 7 pm 

to share those special places you've been 

and the sights you've seen. 





I'm so excited about this new meme, 

that I'm jumping the gun and sharing this amazing 

dinnerware seen while shopping at a local Anthropologie.

Oh, the wonderful treasures to be found at 




Pacifica

Designed by Ceramist Linda Fahey




Linda lives in Northern California 

near the Pacific Ocean.




You can read more about Linda at 





A partial quote below from Linda's site  

offers insight into the inspiration of this talented lady's work.

"What can I say about the ocean?  The ocean is different every minute of every day.  Every moment a thousand different colours, textures, and moods are reflected.  The sound of waves I hear in the night, spectacular evening colour and light.  The ocean is almost always in my sights and never far from my thoughts, it's influence immeasurable."




The dinnerware is handpainted with 

"puffy rose-like clouds reflecting 

the oscillating waves of the sea below."




Dinner plate, salad plate, bowl, 

and mug are available from Anthropologie here.




Look at the special details in 

how these pieces are constructed.





This series offers a color pallet 

reflective of ocean blues with a pop of coral.




Though the Pacifica pieces at Anthropologie 

are Linda's designs, most are produced in China. 

Uniquely styled serving pieces in this 

pattern are also available at Anthropologie.


Hope you enjoyed a visit to Anthropologie.

A favorite store for me because 

of the artistic displays and merchandise.

Kudos to the stylists at Anthropologie!

April 19th
Oh, The Places I've Been @ The Tablescaper 

Joining

Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life
Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home
Open House @ Bernideen's Tea Time
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Be Inspired @ Common Ground
Festive Friday Fiesta @ The Home Girl
Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally
Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage
Pretty Things Tuesday @ twelveOeight
Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Your Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With An E
The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Anything Blue Friday @ The Dedicated House

The content on Hyacinths for the Soul is for informational purposes only.  The owner of this blog makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of any information by following the links on this post.  I am not in any way associated with Anthropologie other than as a loyal customer.