Showing posts with label Fresh-Cut Fridays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fresh-Cut Fridays. Show all posts

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Summer Garden Party









All the petite blooms 

 above are from my summer garden.

Welcome to a Summer Garden Party!




Summers in Texas can be brutal, 

but up until today our summer temps 

haven't been all that bad.

Today's high:  103º.




The Knockout roses you see above are not so

 bright and colorful today, but the blue plumbago 

doesn't seem to mind the heat.  They bloom 

like this from spring to first frost.




The Yellow Bells do too!




As do the Golden Thrialis 

and Firecracker Ferns.




The Golden Thrialis is one 

of my favorites for cut flowers.

I like to add this wispy

 bloom in with fresh bouquets.




The Blackfoot Daisy 

isn't much for cut flowers,

but it sure does like the dry, hot summers.




Blue Daze likes to spread easily and mixes 

well with the sizzle of hot orange Coreopsis.




Coral Vine offers 

a touch of hot pink.

The heart shaped leaves of this pretty  

vine eagerly climb our porch posts.





This jewel is a 

Habranthus Pink Rain Lily.

I planted some of these bulbs in 

my herb garden years ago.

The bouquet of pink was its gift

shortly after an unexpected 

 thunder storm two weeks ago.




In contrast to all the hot colors out front,

our back yard is a shade garden of

mostly evergreens and touches of purple and white.





Scented Geraniums spill out from the large urns 

and don't seem to mind the Texas heat.




I like to add in Fancy Leaf Caladiums 

for the hot summer months.

The white and green heart shaped leaves 

visually offer a sense of cooler temperatures.




Hope you enjoyed 

my little summer garden tour.

I've been cooking with lemons this week.

Thought you might enjoy a 

lemony French macaron before you leave.

Oh, go ahead and have two!





They are light as a feather meringue 

with the creamiest lemon curd filling.




I participated in Michael Lee West's 

Mystery Ingredient Club 

where the mystery ingredients were all 

about Meyer lemons.  

Click here for 

   Cooking With The Meyers  

For more summer flowers and gardens, don't forget to stop by 


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Wednesday, July 3, 2013

4TH OF JULY ~ RED ~ WHITE ~ BLUE



Blue and White Ceramics


Filled With Red, White, and Blue!
My inspiration for this year's 
4th of July tablescape.


I had the good fortune to be selected 
as the one to receive a pair of these 
beautiful blue and white flower frogs that
offered as a giveaway last March.
Thank you, Marlis!  They are my "go to" vases this summer
and are a perfect compliment for either side 
of a recent estate sale find.

My Flag Day post featured  
a few pieces of Liberty Blue transferware 
that I'd found at a thrift store.
Much to my surprise, 
3 of these plates arrived at my doorstep last week,
a gift from blogging friend 
She had extras and wanted me to have them.  
Now I can set a table for five.  
Thank you, Christine!

Click here to read the Flag Day post 
that tells the history of Liberty Blue.

4th of July 
Red ~ White ~ Blue

The Liberty Blue plates 
feature a pretty border of flowers.
I paired them with white chargers with a lattice border, 
and completed the stack using a blue linen napkin
atop a woven red placemat.

Bright red napkins finish
 off the red, white, and blue tribute.

Mother of pearl and silver flatware 
shines like the stars in our flag.


All Perfectly Patriotic!

A 4th of July celebration isn't complete 
without a few sparklers to end the evening.



~ RED ~
Red Zinnia and Strawberry Bachelor Buttons~
Lemon Basil and  Pincushion Flowers

~ BLUE ~
Plumbago and Lily of the Nile, Both From My Garden

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Joining


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Monday, October 3, 2011

Into The Blue

Life has recently taken me

off into the wild blue yonder.



So I thought I'd share a few shots

of my blue and white collection.


Cool and calming,

blue offers a respite to my day.


A favorite color here at HFTS,

blue can offer both serenity and exhilaration.



In some cultures, many

believe that blue keeps bad spirits away.


White is the perfect compliment.


So I frequently fill a few

pieces with with white blooms.



Perfection in my mind.


The combination is timeless and unmatched.





Blue and white ~ a constant in my life.


Joining












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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Springtime Favorites in Pink & Aqua


Spring is here! The Azaleas are in bloom,
and the trees are popping out with fresh green leaves.



In central Texas that means it's time for a favorite event, the huge antique festival held twice a year in rural Round Top, Texas, and the surrounding small communities of Fayette County.



The sun is out, and the days can be warm, so dress causally. Grab one of these pretty pink parasols if you aren't from these parts and need a little shade.



There is something for everyone.
I came home with a few more of these.



Mason Ball canning jars in my favorite shade of aqua blue.
I like to fill them with fresh flowers and group them together on a tray.



They add the perfect touch of color
here and there for both spring and summer.

Joining the following weekly memes.
Click the links below to see what others are sharing.




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Tuesday, January 4, 2011

"Thyme" to Celebrate


January 4, 2011

"Thyme" to CELEBRATE



These little birdies told me that this . . .



Special lady was celebrating her 90th birthday. I know! She doesn't even look like she could be an octogenarian, much less someone moving into her 9th decade.



So to celebrate a special aunt's 90th birthday, some of the girl cousins gathered for lunch and an afternoon full of laughter as we shared stories of times spent together through the years.



I'd put away the reds and greens of Christmas, but left up this gorgeous wreath of fresh greens that I received from Liz @ Rose Vignettes. It still smells wonderful, and with its silver accents it fit right in with the party colors. Be certain to stop by Liz's for a visit this Friday as she hosts Fresh Cut Friday.



I added other white flowers with silver about the house.



Champagne mimosas started the celebration with a toast to the birthday girl.



Along with a few nibbles of pretzels.



The tables were set with mini pots of thyme,
details of silver and gold . . .



And black and white.



Hour glasses reminded us of times that we've shared through the years.



I layered black and white Courtly Check chargers on larger chargers in Ambiance Vintage Garden. These were topped with black plates and small white soup cups.



The smaller table was set with pewter chargers and checkered plates by Royal Stafford.



Shortly before the guest arrived I added a rose bud at each place setting for a touch of color.



The coasters with their elegant gold monogram were in the $1 bin at Michaels. I didn't use a table linen, so these were perfect to use under glasses of iced tea.



The luncheon offered another opportunity to use the little silver salts and peppers that were one of my birthday gifts last year.



The champagne bucket, repurposed to hold Winter Cloud phalaenopsis orchids, once belonged to my aunt. She gave it to me several years ago because she no longer entertains. It's perfect as a vessel for flowers.



Lunch was served buffet style.



~ Potato Leek Soup ~ Spinach Salad ~ Onion Walnut Muffins ~



And of course Birthday Cake!



The cake was Lemon Lavender Pound Cake. You can find the recipe here. It's a rich, moist cake made with sour cream. The glaze is lemon juice infused with lavender flowers. I highly recommend it!



Brownie bites, baked by a niece who couldn't be with us, were passed around as the birthday girl opened her gifts. Rich dark chocolate and yummy!



Everyone took home one of the small pots of thyme as a memento of our gathering.



I wish you special times with family and friends during 2011.

Joining









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