Hello sweet readers. I hope you had a wonderful Independence Day Weekend. We had a whirlwind of activities that we enjoyed immensely. We had a delicious meal on Saturday afternoon with family at my brother’s home. Later in the evening we visited with friends at the lake for ice cream and fireworks. Last night the girls spent the night with us and Ella Mae requested pancakes for breakfast, as if we were all in need of additional calories. Later today, we are grilling hot dogs as we are continuing the celebration! I suppose a diet can begin tomorrow?
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10
It is Monday Morning Blooms with my beautiful friends, Mary, Lidy, and Shirley.
We have had a lot of rain, but fortunately I was able to set a table in the garden with only a small threat of a shower! It seems for days on end we have had pop up showers and then the sun comes out. It reminds me of being at the beach!
The links for my friends’ gorgeous blooms are at the bottom of this post.
Our common theme for this edition of Monday Morning Blooms is lemons. I would never just eat a lemon by itself, maybe some of you do. But I do love so many desserts that are lemon in flavor…lemon squares, lemon icebox pie, lemon rosemary cookies, and my mother’s recipe for lemon cheesecake! And of course, a tall glass of lemonade on a hot day is hard to beat. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice brightens the taste of vegetables, meat, and pasta dishes. Lemons also look so beautiful presented in a bowl!
A wooden box was a perfect vessel for my flower arrangement. The inside was lined with plastic bags to protect the box from the wet foam. Snowflake hydrangeas were placed around the perimeter of the box. I then added immature limelights, guacamole hosta, and sunflowers. Lastly, I placed lemons on skewers and added them into the arrangement. I already had in mind how I wanted it to look, so it was actually easy!
A visit to my dear friend’s hydrangea farm provided the gorgeous snowflake hydrangeas. The farm is known for this large and showy variety with more than five thousand snowflake bushes, some as much as fifty years old. Martha said they had measured blooms up to 22 inches in length. In a couple of weeks when the blooms are mature, they will be harvested and shipped by a refrigerated truck to South Alabama where they will be bundled and hung to dry. After a couple of weeks of drying, they are sent to the Port of Mobile where they will travel by container to Japan. Upon arrival, they will be bundled again. At this point the snowflakes will be be preserved, bleached, or dyed. They are then ready to sell to the Japanese market! Isn’t it amazing that these gorgeous blooms from NE Alabama eventually find their way to consumers in Japan!
Lemons appear on the Italian made tablecloth and small tray, both bought so many years ago that I can’t remember their source.
I am a fan of macarons, so much so that I took a cooking class at Sur la Table to learn the method for making them. The class was fun and we had the pleasure of eating what we had made. I realized they are not easy to make and very time consuming. I have never tried to make them at home, my Renaissance Man thinks they are overrated! I found these delicious Meyer lemon macarons at Publix. Let me just say, the props might have been eaten!
The old depression glass pitcher was perfect for refreshing lemon water! I grow chocolate mint, but was half way through shooting photos when I realized I didn’t add it to the lemon water. Is that an age thing?
My wedding stemware (“Reverie” by Noritake) works well with the depression glass pitcher! Since we have been married forty eight years, I think it qualifies as vintage!
Water hyacinth placemats add texture to the brightly patterned tablecloth! The acrylic tortoise flatware is from Horchow many years ago.
The plate stack consists of a majolica dinner plate, Portmeirion “botanic garden” salad plate, and Bordallo Pinheiro dessert plates! The Mary-Lake Thompson lemon napkins are a recent find from a local shop.
In this photo you can see the size of the snowflake blooms!
Be sure to visit each of my creative friends to see their gorgeous flowers!
Mary – Home Is Where The Boat Is
Shirley – Housepitality Designs
Lidy – French Garden House
Thank you for your visit and gracious comments. Wishing you a joy-filled week!
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Happy Monday Pam! Your table is so gorgeous from your beautiful linens, green and white plate stack and bountiful flower arrangement! Your lush and green garden makes the perfect setting for your table. I love your addition of the sunflowers with lemons and the hosta foliage. What an outstanding display of snowflake hydrangeas…I can only imagine what they must look like in person! I’m anxiously awaiting our Limelights to bloom, yours appear to be a couple of weeks ahead of ours. As always it’s a treat to join you for some flower therapy. I hope you’ve recovered from your Fourth festivities. ♥
Thank you Mary. My little lamb hydrangeas are now in full bloom. I really like the smaller variety.
You make my heart happy whenever I see your most beautifully set table in your amazing gardens!…Your table is perfectly coordinated with your many treasures collected over the years. I gasped when you said the farm had over 5,000 Snowflake hydrangeas!…I so remember when I traveled to Japan, the hydrangeas there were spectacular. I was fortunate to be there during the peak of their season..along with the camellias. Adore, adore your wonderful plate stack and oh those napkins!!! Your arrangement is a showstopper Pam! As I have often said…I need to take a road trip to that Hydrangea farm!! Have a beautiful day dear Bloom friend!!!
Thanks so much, Shirley! You would so enjoy the farm.
Gorgeous hydrangeas! I like lemons too, and have some lemon dishes I need to get out for these hotter days.
Thanks so much Carole!
You have a special gift of putting so many beautiful tables together for our enjoyment. Now my question is where do you store the many beautiful things you use? I have run out of space and I am aware that that is probably a good thing. Macarons are a favorite of mind also. My daughter gave me gift certificates to Sur La Table during 2020 shut down and I’m itching to take a class when they reopen the kitchen.
How sweet you are, Alice! I have lots of cabinet space in my kitchen and under the counter in the cottage. I do store some in Rubbermaid tubs under the bed in a guest room. Hope you are able to schedule a cooking class, I have been to two.
Good morning, dear Pam! I love anything “lemon” so your post will go down as a favorite! Those hydrangeas are incredible! My favorite shot has to be the blooms seen through your beautiful Noritake stemware. We had a lovely 4th. John’s mother came over for dinner and brought a Vietnam veteran who lives at her community. He was a helicopter pilot, shot down and the only survivor on board, then spent 5 years in the hospital recovering. It made the day very special to have a real American hero with us. Our freedom is so precious and comes at great cost and sacrifice. (I’m with EM on pancakes for supper!)
Thank you my friend. The 4th spent with a Vietnam vet had to be very special. I know having John’s mother was also special. Wishing you a lovely week!
When you described your weather it did seem like you were talking about our rainy season here in Florida! Your floral arrangement is beautiful, as is your whole table setting. Now I have to go check Publix out for the macaroons.
Thanks Penny. Enjoy your week!
Pam, Your al fresco lemon themed table is delightful! The depression glass pitcher and glasses are such a pretty color. Your linens are gorgeous! Love the napkins! The centerpiece is fabulous! The snowflake hydrangeas are huge. Seeing them en masse must be amazing and to think they end up in Japan. Enjoy your week. Clara❤️
Thank you sweet friend. Wishing you a beautiful week ♥️
Such a beautiful flower arrangement and lovely, lemony table. I have a similar hydrangea bush in my yard but the blossoms are white and pink. I’m inspired to cut some and make myself an arrangement to put in my blue and white ceramic vase. Thanks for sharing your lovely table.
Thank you Lauren. Hydrangeas in your blue and white vase will be beautiful!
Just gorgeous Pam! The tablecloth and your centerpiece look so perfect in your lush green garden setting! I know it was challenging setting an outdoor table in this constant rainy weather. The sunflowers look so pretty with the snowflake hydrangeas and lemons. I love your pitcher and glasses too. I’m kind with Butch on the macarons, they do look pretty but I’d much rather have a good lemon bar or slice of pie! I’m a big fan of Mary Lake Thompson, the napkins are so perfect with the bee for your al fresco setting!
Jenna
Thanks so much, Jenna. It looks like we will be having showers off and on this week!
This is so outstandingly beautiful, Pam! I love the Reverie china and stemware (slight wince as I type it, wishing I had kept just some of the china!). Those blooms, my gosh they’re huge, and your arrangement just gorgeous. I thought of you over the weekend, and hoped you had the chance to visit with your sweet Daddy. I keep him in my prayers. Have a great day today as your party continues!
Thank you so much, Rita. I don’t often use the Reverie china, but I still love it. We were able to take my dad to my brother’s house for a family celebration. He did very well. Thank you so much for keeping him in your prayers. His precious sister passed away yesterday morning. She was in the nursing home. We are all sad to say goodbye to her. She was a true comedienne and our family historian. She was seven years younger than my dad.
Have a wonderful week!
It found it so interesting to learn that the five thousand snowflake bushes flowers will end up end Japan. I loved your beautifully set table and have shared it on several of my Pinterest boards.
Thank you, Karen for sharing on Pinterest!
Pam, your table is gorgeous. My goodness, those hydrangeas are magnificent and your arrangement is so pretty. I can just imagine what a spectacular sight the hydrangeas must be. It is amazing to think they will travel all the way to Japan. So happy you all had a lovely weekend – summer is now officially in full bloom. Enjoy the days and stay cool!
Thanks Sandra for your sweet comments. Happy week to you!
Pam, we had a rainy 4th, so no alfresco dining here yesterday. Your space is always inviting. Love the hydrangea heavy plant at your friend’s farm. Imagine shipping those to Japan. How lucky you are to have them available. They resemble our oak leaf hydrangea, but mine are never that heavy with blooms. In fact, after our winter storm, I had to cut them back. No blooms this spring. 😥 Thanks for sharing the beauty. Pancakes sound good to me too! Happy July 5th!
Thanks so much Sarah. The winter storm wreaked so much havoc in your area. Hopefully your oak leaf will bloom next year!
What fabulous table! Magnificent centerpiece! Absolutely gorgeous…
You are so sweet and thank you, Maristella!
Another amazing creation. Love the story of the hydrangeas and the long journey they will have. Everything is absolutely beautiful. Thank you.
Thank you Dianne. Wishing you a lovely week!
Oh my goodness, Pam, I don’t know where to begin. Is it those snowflake blooms that I love best? The sunflowers? The table-setting with the beautiful citrus cloth? The glassware? Your garden? well, yes and no. I’ve realized that it’s YOU…your beautiful heart and style shine through on everything you do, dear friend. Everything is absolutely beautiful. It’s always a true blessing to join you here for our special Monday Morning Blooms. xo Lidy
Lidy, thank you for your sweet and heartwarming comments. You are a beautiful sweetheart!
That arrangement is gorgeous…it is perfection on that beautifully scaped table. The lemon theme is always so refreshing and
you weave the theme throughout like the pro you are. Our hydrangeas have also bloomed large and I must thin them out and
use them to make a few arrangements, as well. I have my eye on getting a few snowflakes; they are a perfect foil for the flowers you assembled. A happy recovery from the holiday festivities all.
Thank you Mary. Do cut your hydrangeas for an arrangement to enjoy in your beautiful home. Happy Tuesday!
ADORE the snowflake blooms!!!!
Thank you Robin!
Is the hydrangea farm open to the public for touring? I would love to see it! Love your lemony posting!
Thank you Julia. I am sorry to say the farm isn’t open to the public.
Have a wonderful day!
How do you do it , Pam? This stunning centerpiece is now my favorite! Then, paired with the Italian tablecloth, the green and white plate stack , the green depression glass pitcher and vintage glassware makes for a tablescape like no other. I’ll sit here for just a while and take it all in.
The snowflake hydrangeas are breathtaking… standing at the farm and seeing all of them must be just as breathtaking.
Thank you for such an inspirational table and centerpiece. 💚
Enjoy your week my dear friend, Pam.
Thank you for your sweet comments. I would love for you to be seated at my table for macarons and conversation! Happy week, my friend 💛
If I was at this table, I don’t think I’d ever want to leave! Lemons are my favorite and of course that goes for tasting too — the macarons look marvelous. This is the prettiest table. I’ve never seen snowflake hydrangeas before. I would be over the moon!
Jeanie, I would so enjoy your company at the table. The snowflakes are quite amazing!
My dear friend, this entire setting is absolutely breathtaking! Your floral centerpiece with the snowflake hydrangeas, sunflowers, and lemons is gorgeous. I have never seen snowflake hydrangeas. Their blooms are amazing! Your tablescape is so beautiful with the pretty linens and Majolica plate stack. I love it all! I also adore anything lemon flavored! We are kindred spirits in our love of macarons. Sorry, I’m late commenting Yesterday, was a busy day. Our holiday seemed to last an extra day. I wanted to let you know that my husband is taking a new job and the company he is working for will he out of Birmingham. I imagine he will be making trips that way throughout the year. Hopefully, I will be able to tag along for a few. Maybe, we can meet sometime for lunch or dinner. Wishing you a most beautiful and blessed week ahead, sweet friend!
Thank you Shannon. I am so excited that you might be visiting Birmingham. I would love to meet you there for lunch or dinner. That would be so much fun to finally meet in person.
I am so glad you had a wonderful 4th!
Love all things lemon and your floral is beautiful Pam. Pancakes and hot dogs sound wonderful! Fun times with the grands, Your tables are always beautiful. You truly inspire me in so many different areas of life Pam. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thanks so much, Cindy. Have a wonderful vacation!
Pam, I always seem to forget about this party 🙁 So glad I so you pretty lemon and snowflake picture. The combination is so pretty set out in your garden.
Interesting facts about the hydrangeas.
Thanks so much Rachelle. Have a lovely weekend!
Lovely table! Those hydrangeas are 🤩!!! With the touch of the sunflowers & lemons it’s perfection. This table & post made me happy this morning! Have a great day. XO- MaryJo
Thank you MaryJo. I had trouble logging in to your post with all of the great Christmas ideas. Fun post!
What a beautiful table Pam. The hydrangeas are gorgeous as always. How perfect to live near a hydrangea farm! Love the plate stack – its perfection on that beautiful tablecloth!
Thank you Kim for your sweet comments!
What an absolutely beautiful table! Those snowflake hydrangeas are not a variety I had seen before and they are stunning.
Lovely flowers and beautiful photos, as always!
Thank you, Donna!
What a lovely table you’ve set! It’s hard to beat hydrangeas, isn’t it? How blessed are you to be able to take advantage of your friend’s flowers. It must be amazing to see huge numbers of hydrangeas like that! Mixing the hosta leaves into the arrangement is brilliant. . . and of course adding lemons makes everything look so fresh!
Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I’m featuring you this week!
Thank you, Richella for the feature. My friend’s farm is amazing and she is a sweetheart!