Monday, May 23, 2016

Summertime Tablescape: Livin' is Easy!

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to summer most everywhere in the U.S. It's a time for picnics, pools, reunions, memorials, parades, outdoor concerts, festivals, and just plain fun. The livin' is easy, porch sittin' is the means by which neighbors, family & friends have conversations that solve all the world's problems (well, at least our corners of the world), and we festively don our red, white & blue. I pulled out the reds, whites, and blues for today's tablescape to celebrate summer's start.
There are several specimens in my garden which represent the red, white and blue, and just like this tablescape and this one, too, I curated the plates used in this summertime tablescape starting with photographs I took of flowering trees, shrubs and perennial flowers in my landscape. I designed and purchased the melamine plates on the Shutterfly website, which are perfect for use in summertime, when eating often takes place outdoors.
The plates above come from photographs of the following plants pictured below, as grown in my landscape: the perennial hibiscus with red, literally plate-sized blooms ('Lord Baltimore' variety)....
...the white magnolia tree blooms...
and the (mostly) blue blooms of the 'Endless Summer' hydrangeas.
Food fare for summer occasions are simple burgers, hot dogs, and lots of fixins', usually set in a buffet style. Lots of soft drinks, water and iced tea are ready for thirst-quenchin', and desserts are at the ready, for grabbin' and goin'.
Typically a lunchtime fete, our family, anywhere from 6 to 26 gathered, are casually seated in various areas of our open floor plan of our home, anywhere from the breakfast area near the kitchen, to the sunroom adjacent to the outdoor courtyard. First come, first served is our method for not only being served, but being seated.
It's a laid back kind of gathering (once the food prep is complete), a fun time of year!
Textiles, flatware, Coca-Cola glasses in crate - vintage
Red chargers - Michaels
Plates - Shutterfly Online
Shirt and Sunglass whimsy serving dishes - Pfaltzgraff Outlet
Personalized BBQ platter - Potpourri Online Gift Catalog
Tabletop swimming whirligig and lifeguard chair - Eddie Bauer Home
Uncle Sam with kite - gift shop, Lebanon, OH
No matter how you celebrate summer, I hope it's a time where your lifestyle is more relaxed, your livin' is a little easier, and you're proud of our red, white and blue. If you display our flag, please do so with respect. You can read proper etiquette for American flag displaying here. Thanks for joining me in the garden and at the table today. Your readership is appreciated, and your comments are welcome.

Rita C. at Panoply

Sharing: DIDIAmaze Me, BNOTP, Show & ShareInspire MeThe Scoop, SYC, Delightsome Life H&G, TOHOT, Foodie Friday & Everything Else, FNF

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