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Today's thing of beauty: Prunus 'Okame'. I know it is spring when I see my Okame flowering Cherry trees blooming. They are the first of the Cherries to bloom starting in February.
I thought I had better take her portrait today before the petals fell to the ground. They don't stay on the tree very long. Okame is the type of Cherry tree that you see in Washington, D.C. for the famous Cherry blossom time.
Summer
Photo: Swede
Continuing with the Week of Love, today's daily thing of beauty is my Dicentra plant - Bleeding Hearts.
Hope you are being cherished all week.
Summer
Photo: Swede
For Mr. Swede,
Summer
Photo: Swede
For today's daily thing of beauty, since it is the week of love, I want you to see this hand-painted antique teacup of a cute couple from the 1700's.
They hold hands while he reads her love poems and she caresses his hair. Ahhh, soooo sweet!
Here is what the cup looks like in a different view. I was smitten with it and purchased it many years ago.
I hope you are all cherished this week.
Summer
Photos: Swede
Birds are singing. Quince, Forsythia and Daffodils are blooming. I can see the Flowering Cherry trees just wanting to bust open.
I picked some Daffodils and brought them inside just in case the temp dropped and they froze. I did a little grouping on the console table.
We have early, mid and late blooming Daffodils. These are the early ones and they are about two weeks early, usually appearing at the end of February. My favorite ones with a red center called Ring of Fire will appear mid March.
My second favorite is the all white one.
There are many of these two-toned ones. When we first planted the bulbs several years ago, we purchased the 100 count bags and put several thousand in. Many of them no longer bloom even though they put up leaves.
The all yellow are the most prolific.
I'm sending cheery spring thoughts to all those in Connecticut and Massachusetts who received Mother Nature's snow dump. We only got a little rain here.
Summer
Photos: Swede
To everyone who follows me, I want to introduce you to the most excellent blogger and publisher of digital magazines on the planet, if you have not already found her, meet Coty Farquhar of New South Wales, Australia.
If you've ever wanted to be a photo stylist when you grow up, this is the ultimate place for inspiration.
I don't want you to miss the third issue of her digital magazine, due out Tuesday, February 12. Sign up on her blog to receive this magazine Tuesday.
Her blog also has links to the December and January issues of the digital magazine. And, don't miss looking at her Pinterest boards.
I cannot put in words appropriately how talented Coty is. I have been following her blog for several years and when I see she has posted something new, I have to look at it immediately. Her photography skills are out of this world -- the styling of the photos -- the subject matter -- the commentary -- beyond incredible.
Photo: Coty Farquhar
Remember that Australia's seasons are reverse of ours here in the US. It is Summer there now, so lots of fabulous flowers are in bloom.
Photo: Coty Farquhar
Photo: Coty Farquhar
Don't waste a minute. Go look at her site.
Summer
Photos: All Coty Farquhar
To all my followers,
This year I created a simple dinner for Valentine's Day. Since Mr. Swede is home, we are doing it a week ahead of time.
I wanted to use china I already owned which I think has a romantic theme.
At the bottom of this post I will show you how I made the centerpiece.
This is the overview of the table and console table. Simple - nothing over the top here.
Mr. Swede is a traditionalist and wanted me to use red on the table. I do not have red china so used red flowers.
Here is the plate selection I am using. On the bottom is an Anna Weatherly white charger with gold rim. Next is a service plate with a romantic couple in the center and wide gold rim. On top, the appetizer plate has cupids in the center. This is what I call the Vanderbilt china. I have shown it before HERE in a tablescape on August 10, 2011.
This vintage plate is by Schlaggenwald of Czechoslovakia. They would be fun to use for a bridal dinner. There were 18 in the set each with different couples in the center.
For flatware, I am using vintage and antique mother of pearl handled knives and Durgin's Empire pattern forks and spoons.
For stemware, I am using on the right - Varga's Imperial pattern in raspberry for water and an antique bohemian style stem for wine made by Romer in cranberry with gold enamel work.
The flocked velvet glass hearts are from Hobby Lobby.
As a rule, I try to keep novalty items in my decor down to a minumum. I would like to be able to do a tablescape with all antique Valentine's items like old love letters, shell box hearts, card-stock old Valentines, etc. rather than use new items, but alas, I don't have any of those things. On this table, I did use new glass holiday ornaments that are heart shape.
Close up of the centerpiece using four red flower types.
The tablecovering [shown below] is two French white quilted boutis overlapping in the center. I used two placing them crosswise so they would touch the floor. Napkins have Mr. Swede's monogram on them and are vintage lapkin size purchased in France.
Above you can see I switched out the Aubusson flat weave carpet for this diamond pattern neutral one made of jute.
Dessert is placed on the console table on antique pink Royal Worcester low pedestal dessert stands. Cheesecake on the left and carrot cake on the right, both with fruit toppings. The figurines in the center of the sweet couple belonged to my Mother-in-law.
Yummy, yummy.
This is a carrot cake on the inside with white frosting and crumb edges.
Another view of the table.
A collage of photos of the table elements.
For those who would like to see how I made the centerpiece, below are the steps.
I had a round soup tureen with cranberry borders. It was in the 1989 San Francisco earthquake so the lid was chipped but the bottom was perfect. It was made about 100 years before that earthquake and marked on the bottom with the San Fran retailer's shop in the 1890's. The flowers are hand painted.
I usually don't like round floral arrangements and prefer oblong or rectangular ones for the table center, but the colors of this round tureen worked nicely.
I soaked a full Oasis brick and smaller pieces from another project in water and inserted them in the tureen making sure the edges were above the lip of the tureen so I could insert downward fronds of the Nandina plant.
The greenery is from my front yard. I seldom purchase greenery.
From the floral department of the grocery store, I selected four flower types: Two-toned white/red Roses, two-toned Carnations, red Alstromeria and red Godetia.
After getting the greenery in the floral foam, I started with the dozen red Roses placing them by eye where I felt they were balanced. Photo top left.
The next flower added was the Godetia, bottom left. Then the Alstro[top right] and finally the Carnations [bottom right].
The last thing I added was clusters of Nandina berries off the shrub in my front flowerbed. I also have red berries on my Holly tree but was afraid they would drop and stain my tablecloth.
I am participating in:
Tablescape Thursday on Between Naps On The Porch.
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Centerpiece Wednesday on The Style Sisters. http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
Wishing you a romantic week.
Summer
Photos: Swede
