Saturday, June 5, 2010

Lavender Tea in the Garden







After nine hours  working in the garden yesterday I needed to enjoy the fruits of my labor and take a much needed break.    I thought  a cup of lavender tea would be the perfect way to relax..but I needed just the right ambiance..so after moving the patio table near my hydrangeas, I ran inside to get a few of my favorite things.   



There is nothing more lovely or calming  than the scent of fresh lavender blooming in the garden in June.  A bouquet or pot of lavender is always welcome on my garden table.    



This teapot was the inspiration for my lavender tea table.  I love lavender and although I 've lost a few of plants this year to ice storms and hail,    I am replanting so I can continue enjoying their beauty and scent.   



I purchased this teapot at Wildseed Farm outside Fredericksburg, Texas...if you ever have the opportunity to visit, it's a real treat.  The nursery and gift shop are wonderful for garden fanactics like me!  They are known for growing native flowers and producing seeds. They also have nursery plants and a beautiful selection of 
 gifts and teapots.

I also purchased the coordinating mugs and they are pretty from both sides.  





My table started with a beautiful cutwork lace tablecloth my mother gave me.  I then used the purple polka dotted placemats I found on clearance at Target along with purple dinner plates.  The Target plates are melamine and I layered my desert plates from another teaset on top.


The teapot spoons were only $ 1 at an antique mall and were too cute to pass up!   I added the  sachet beaded bags of  lavender seeds  that I made.  These make lovely favors for your tea party guests and are easy to make.  Most of the supplies came be found at Michaels or Hobby Lobby.



The napkins and napkin rings are also from my Mom.

( Another view of the back of the teapot)

The conservatory (Hobby Lobby) just seemed the perfect piece for the back of the table...I placed an antique dish with purple violet flowers inside along with my favorite nest and glass bird.  










The sugar and creamer set give a touch of shine and elegance along with a pretty silver spoon. 


The flowers in the vase are the blooms from my butterfly bush...I love the big purple spikes and they are great cut flowers.  The bush blooms all summer and attracts Monarchs and Swallotails to my yard.


I found a straw purse at GW for 50 cents and placed some silk lavender inside for a touch of Provence. 



The Herbes de Provence include lavender and I purchased a tin at garden club event   The aroma is wonderful!  There are several lavender farms nearby that I plan on visiting this summer. 





Several garden views beside my hydrangeas (still recovering from the hail storm!)








Lavender is a calming and relaxing herb  and makes lovely teas and sachets...



this laundry sachet I keep in my linen drawer and it can also be tossed in the dryer with bed linens for a lovely scented bed.   Such a simple little luxury!



Lavender is easy to grow ..it doesn't like a lot of water or rich soil and isn't botherd by pests.  Hope you try it if you have never grown it before.




I' m off to Santa Fe this week for some relaxation time with my hubbie.  I'll be checking out the Goodwill's and thrift stores there as well as the market square and galleries.  I hear there is a lavender farm in the area and I can't wait to visit!    



Garden view from one of my back windows.


I'm linking with Chari's Sunday Favorites go by and visit her beautiful table as well as
Marty's Tabletop Tuesdays and
Lady Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday
Susan's BNOTP Tablescape Thursday
Cindy's Romantic Home's Show and Tell Friday

38 comments:

  1. Absolutely gorgeous! Every detail is expertly executed. There is something so soothing about lavender. I love your straw purse filled with lavender. Your yard looks gorgeous to!
    Have a fun time in Santa Fe!

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  2. Your garden is luscious and your table setting divine. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
    xojanis

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  3. This is soooooo lovely. I felt so calm just looking at all the lovely pictures. Beautiful setting!
    Robin

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  4. So beautiful! Your garden is just gorgeous!! Enjoy your trip to Santa Fe! I have never been there. Love & blessings from NC!

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  5. Sonia, one of these days I'm going to email and just come running over to your house. Your backyard is stunning! You have to tell me where you got that beautiful swing. Most of them are very plain but yours has a beautiful shape to it.

    OK, the table is magazine worthy. I think you have a job as a magazine stylist in your future...when you finish nursing. :)

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  6. Just beautiful! I love everything about this table!!

    We lost our lavender as well. I just replanted more. Now I am keeping my fingers crossed for good weather!

    Have a wonderful day!

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  7. You have a beautiful table. The purse was so cute...what a good idea. Trish

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  8. What a wonderful way to pamper yourself and enjoy your hard work in the garden. Your backyard is like a little retreat center and that table is absolutely gorgeous. I have a few lavender bushes around the yard and I have never used them for tea...is there a recipe?
    Blessings, Patty

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  9. Such a beautiful table and such pretty things. Sorry you had hail, I cringe every time it is in the forecast. I wish I was there in your backyard drinking from the teapot, Enjoy!!

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  10. Every photo is so enchanting! I LOVE that teapot. I've been to Fredericksburg, but it's been a long time. This arrangement is fantastic. I too love lavender, out in the fairy garden.
    Brenda

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  11. Hello sweet friend...

    Ohhhh...if this just isn't the prettiest table that I've ever seen!!! And...the view is spectacular...your yard is gorgeous! It looks like it is recuperating beautifully from that horrid hail storm! Girlfriend, I would just love to sit at this beautiful "lavender" garden table with you! I just know that we could find all kinds of things to chat about...starting with your lovely lavender tea table!!! Oooh...I love, love, LOVE your lavender teapot and cups...so very pretty! Sonia, you have certainly outdone yourself here...I love the beautiful table linens and the colors...well they are my favorite!!! I totally agree, the conservatory is just perfect for this tablescape! Darlin', thank you so much for sharing it with us for Sunday Favorites this week...it was such a treat!!!

    Have a fabulous time in Sante Fe with your honey! Can't wait to see what treasures you come home with! Have lots of fun!!! I'll talk with you when you get home!

    Love ya, Darlin'!
    Chari @Happy To Design

    PS...this really is one of my favorite tables!!!

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  12. Thank you for visiting and inviting me to your lavender tea. This was one of the nicest teas I've been too - must be the lavender.
    I have yet to find a teapot with lavender on it; I am so envious of yours.
    I'll be back to visit again.

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  13. This table is just an absolute dream, Sonia! I love the color scheme and that precious tea set. And the yard sure looks nice, too. I am originally from NM and am familiar with the lavender farm there. I hope you enjoyed your visit and will post pics from there.
    Thanks for visiting me !
    :-) Sue

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  14. WOW! Sonia this is just specatacular! I love every single detail. Gorgeous! It's so feminine and elegant.

    Blessings, ~Melissa :)

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  15. Pretty table and your yard looks very nice! Love the idea of the dryer sachet, I have a couple lavender plants in my garden and might look into that!

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  16. What a devine spot for tea.. You made it so lovely and welcoming... Glad I stopped by to take a peek as I wouldnt have wanted to miss this..

    happy Thoughts
    Sonny

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  17. Hello there dear Sonia,

    This is is just so refreshingly pretty and delightful! I love every exquisite detail about your beautiful, Lavender afternoon tea in the garden!.., Your garden looks fabulous;just lovely!

    Please alo feel most warmly welcome to pop on by and enjoy some afternoon tea in my little corner of 'Tuesday and Wednesday teatime in blogland' my dear lady;I would love to have you visit!..,

    ..,The tea table is set and ready!

    Cheers and hugs from Wanda Lee @ The Plumed Pen

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  18. Oh wow. Everything is total perfection and stunning. Your table is gorgeous and every single detail is perfect. I have sufficiently drooled over every picture. Your garden is beautiful too. I really love it all. Thanks so much for joining the party. This is such wonderful inspiration. Hugs, Marty

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  19. Very beautiful and I didin't know you could make a tea with the lavender. I have not grown any yet! Have a nice restful and fun vacation!

    spindlecottage/

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  20. Beautiful post,Would you like a cup of tea with me?Meet you has been a pleasure

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  21. What a gorgeous lavender tea table you have set up! Love all the special touches, lavender colored pottery, china and linens and potted herbs. Soooo pretty. Your yard is beautiful and relaxing too.... at least for us... we didn't just work in it for 9 hours! :-) Enjoy your day!

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  22. Oh my goodness! Your lavender teapot and cups make me drool. Not really. They are the prettiest I have seen. This is my first year for my lavendar to bloom. And you have given me some wonderful ideas. I am ready to look at Hobby Lobby as I have seen similar conservatories and wondered what and where to find. It is one of my favorite stores and I like how they play Christian music in ours. You have laid it all out to perfection. The company I work for has a designer from Fredericksburg, Carol Bolton. If you would like to see some of her chic furniture go to ejvictor.com and look for the Carol Bolton line. I shared some pictures of her furniture in a pretend tea a few weeks ago. Thank you for inviting us to such a superb tea.

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  23. Oh WOW, this is sooo lovely! Your garden is beautiful and lends to the tranquil setting. Love the lavender theme.

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  24. Beautiful, beautiful! Makes me want to pull up a chair and join you.

    Jocelyn
    http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/

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  25. oh so beautiful i adore lavender, gardens and pretty tables!

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  26. Your table is just lovely, but is it wrong that the thing I'm admiring more is your beautiful lawn?

    Hard to get lawns like that where I live. But yours is lovely!

    (And so is the tablescape!)

    -Lori @ In Pursuit of Martha Points

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  27. What an outstanding color for china. It is really lovely and you made a great table with it. And also the garden look so well maintained like a park of a castle. Nice to dine there.
    Greetings, Johanna

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  28. That is just beautiful! The teapot is so pretty, the conservatory too! And I covet your polka dot place mats!!
    Just lovely!

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  29. I felt transported!! I am new to Tablescapes Thursday and just posted my first today. How inspiring everyone is. That was just magical.

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  30. Why is it everyone can find purple dishes except me...beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! I love the smell of lavender...that teapot is adorable.

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  31. What a beautiful presentation in the garden!

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  32. Beautiful Sonia! Lavender is a heavenly smelling flower~love it! Beautiful tablescape! Love the polka dots too!

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  33. Simply scrolling through your post gave me a sent of lavender to sooth my being. I find lavender the most wonderful fragrance! Everything about your table vignette is glorious! Love the polka dots. Hope you have a great time in Santa Fe. I'm headed that way later in the summer.

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  34. Everything is so lovely. Your garden, the table, the lavender. Just beautiful. I love how the sun is shining on the table. Beautifully photographed.

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  35. I wish I could have been there sipping tea with you! What a beautiful day you must have had.

    Best wishes and I hope Santa Fe was fun,
    Natasha.

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  36. What a beautiful post! I love it all.

    Enjoy your weekend,

    Carolyn

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  37. And for a lavender tea, you need lavender tea cookies -- they're part of my post this week! It's fun to cook with lavender as well as us it to frgrance linen!

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  38. Gorgeous! I love the delicate colors of lavender and white together.....and you've set such a lovely little table. It looks like a picture from a magazine!

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