Happy Monday, sweet friends. Hopefully you enjoyed a nice weekend! Ours was quieter than normal with the grandchildren and their parents away on a short camping trip. While quiet is sweet, a symphony provided by grands is sweeter…I can’t wait to hear all about their weekend!
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Philippians 2:3
I look forward to the first Monday of each month as I join Lidy and Mary for Monday Morning Blooms and a lovely dose of flower therapy!
We are excited to welcome our special guest, Sarah, from Hyacinths for the Soul. Her eye for detail and curated collections are always a treat!
You will find the links for Mary, Lidy, and Sarah at the bottom of this post!
Sunflowers are the theme for this edition of Monday Morning Blooms!
“Like a violin’s moving sweetness in a love song, sunflowers are nature’s strings in summer’s symphony of color.”
~Butch Richardson
Long-time readers know that we plant sunflowers every year. This was our first year to plant this variety called ‘Sunrich Orange’. I am not sure why it is called orange, it looks perfectly yellow to me. These make great cut flowers for an arrangement!
A red watering can, that is put into daily service, was used for the heavy blooms. Chicken wire was placed in the bottom of the can to keep the blooms in place. The purple and white flowers are growing in our cottage garden. ‘Angelface Wedgwood Blue’ (summer snapdragon) is considered the finest Angelonia on the market. It has the old-fashioned appeal of snapdragons or foxgloves!
Two weeks ago the sunflowers were still in bloom. While I had the opportunity, I set the table and took all of these photos. The ‘Angelface Wedgwood Blue’ summer snapdragons are planted in the back of the cottage garden in front of the fence.
The sunflowers have now bowed their heavy seed heads and the birds are enjoying the buffet!
Sunflowers are a great stand alone flower, but work in harmony with almost any other flower!
If you look closely in the background you can see sunflowers in bloom!
You all know how much I love color…and when it comes to color, sunflowers are the “showiest”!
You can easily see in this image the two varieties of sunflowers that we have grown this year!
The ProCut Bicolor sunflowers have mahogany red flowers with bright yellow tips and dark disks. Both varieties attract bees, butterflies, and goldfinches.
An April Cornell tablecloth of ‘April’s Village’ is a water-color inspired design with butterflies, hummingbirds, and a rendition of April’s actual home.
April Cornell ‘Camp Plaid’ napkins and hand-painted napkin rings add more pattern and color which makes me happy!
The Granny Smith apple-green dinner plates were found years ago at Tuesday Morning as were the sunflower-yellow bordered salad plates. I miss Tuesday Morning, I could always find things that I didn’t know I needed. Johnson Brothers ‘willow’ bread and butter plates could be called vintage since I purchased a 45 piece set of this iconic dishware a couple of years after we married. Thus began my love of blue and white! Noritake ‘sweet swirl’ dark blue iced tea glasses and everyday stainless flatware complete each place setting.
“I am painting with the enthusiasm of a man from Marseilles eating bouillabaisse, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to you because I am busy painting huge sunflowers.”
~Vincent Van Gogh
If you missed my recent sunflower celebration, click here.
For more sunflower inspiration be sure to visit Mary, Lidy, and Sarah!
Mary ~ Home is Where the Boat Is
Lidy ~ French Garden House
Sarah ~ Hyacinths for the Soul
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
Good Morning Pam! I always tell myself that I’m going to find a way to plant sunflowers whenever I see your beautiful blooms! The bunnies and squirrels always foil my efforts no matter what deterrents I try…sigh. Such a happy summer table with the pop of red from your watering can vase, April Cornell linens, and colorful plate stack! I love the addition of your Angelonia for a pop of purple and contrast to the yellow of the sunflowers. Love seeing the large white flower heads of the hydrangeas in the background. Ours took a beating from storms moving through yesterday. I had to chuckle at your comment about Tuesday Morning: “I could always find things that I didn’t know I needed” …lol, so true, I miss them too. As always, it’s a treat to have a seat at your table and join you for some flower therapy. It’s downright steamy here with the humidity and heat on the rise and more storms moving through today. Stay cool. 🌻❤️
Thank you, Mary. I love sharing our MMB’s. We have had thunderstorms all afternoon with high winds. The hydrangeas are on the ground from the heavy rain and wind. Have a wonderful week 🌻🥰
Good morning Pam! Sunflowers make me happy, sunflowers combined with cobalt blue makes really happy!! Your AC tablecloth is really beautiful and such a perfect backdrop. I got the exact same dishes as a wedding gift which started my love affair with anything blue and white! All the fields of sunflowers here seemed to have bowed their heads overnight. Butch’s quote is beautiful. Having periodontal surgery at 1:00 today so I got up extra early to inhale an entire pot of coffee before my cutoff time! Ugh!!
Thank you, Roxanne. I agree with you, sunflowers make me happy. I hope your surgery goes well, it sounds like you were able to enjoy a pot of coffee! Take care 🙏🏻
The sunflower symphony is amazing! I want to plant sunflowers (our 4th grade team always planted sunflowers just outside their hallway and ALL the 500 kids in the building loved them)! I could Google, but I have YOU! When is the best time to plant them, Pam? I love the verse from Philippians, but would you tell Butch that I love his quote SO SO MUCH? His words are absolutely amazing. I was so happy to hear the grands were camping (my favorite thing). You will hear such wonderful stories, I’m sure. This weekend I am headed north just a couple of hours to visit my youngest son, DIL, and my little grand girl. I’m so excited and pray my body cooperates. Thank you for this Sunflower Symphony and the beauty you share with all of us. I love you! 🌻💛
Thank you, Karla 🌻 I can just imagine the excitement of 500 students enjoying the sunflowers. We plant in May for them to bloom in late June through July. You can plant in July for a later harvest. Butch said thank you, Karla. I am so happy that you will spend the weekend with youngest son, DIL, and little grand girl. Soak up every minute and I know you will. Safe travels and I look forward to photos. Love and hugs ♥️🙏🏻🌻🎶
You’re welcome, Pam! I couldn’t remember when Warren, a fellow teacher, began the “seeding”! Yes, the students loved them. When I see sunflowers now, I think of them, and today, I think of you. I will soak up every moment. I’m taking good care of myself in the meantime! Much love and hugs!!💕💕💚🤗🙏🌻🌻
Oh Pam, everything is so lovely. I feel as though I’ve been on a soothing special vacation 💛🌻💛
Aw, thank you Sue. I am so glad you enjoyed!
Oh Pam, your table and sunflower arrangement are just breathtaking! I would have never dared to put sunflowers in a red pitcher paired with purple blue snapdragons, and it looks amazing! The way you tied all the colors together with the pretty AC watercolor tablecloth, plate stacks and blue stemware is fabulous! Then on top of all that, the table sitting in the middle of your beautiful garden in full bloom is just stunning! Your table and garden should be in Southern Living!
Thank you, Jenna. You are so sweet 🌻🌻🌻
Pam, I’m making a copy of the summer symphony quote by Butch! Excellent!!!
Honestly each time I visit, I marvel at the extensive gardening you two do. It must be such a magical life to live surround by all this seasonal color. To be honest, I’m in awe that the two of you do all this work!!!
I usually style sunflowers by themselves. They are such easy and showy stand alone blooms. That said, I sure do like the way you and Mary and Lidy mixed them with other blooms. I may go buy more flowers today and play with a new arrangement, as some of my sunflowers are browning and dropping petals. I find once the stems begin to get mushy I have to astay on top of shortening and refreshing the water. I have found that when they begin to reach that stage, cutting them short and massing them close with wire creates a stunning bouquet.
Thank you for including me today! It’s always a treat and an honor to join you, Mary, and Lidy. I admire each of you on so many levels and appreciate your dear friendships.
Happy Monday Morning Blooms!
Sarah, I asked Butch to write a sentence or two using the words symphony and sunflowers. Five minutes later he handed me this most lovely quote. Yes, we do all the garden work. It seems every year it gets harder. It is always a pleasure to have you join us. Your designs are stellar!
Oh Pam, this gorgeous table is such a happy welcome to a Monday morning! Your sunflower arrangement is beautiful, and the red watering can is so striking paired with those glorious yellow blooms. Your plate stack is perfect with the pretty AC linens. Happy Monday, sweet friend!
Thank you, Shannon. Wishing you a lovely week!
Pam, a beautiful table to greet me this morning. The red pitchers looks so lovely fun of your precious blooms. I am always amazed by your gardens. The sunflowers 🌻 look fabulous. With an AC tablecloth, a lovely plate stack and pretty blooms, what’s not to love?
Thank you so kindly, Linda. We love planting the seeds and seeing them grow their gorgeous blooms!
Wow! You have outdone yourself yet again. The red watering can filled with your own gorgeous sunflowers, the plate stack and the AC linens is beyond beautiful….not to mention your own garden background. What a feast for the eyes! I love your style…never overdone…perfection! Thank you for always bringing joy with your posts. Bob and I went to a concert at Biltmore Estate last evening and drove by the fields of sunflowers. There were people everywhere photographing these beautiful sunflowers.
You are so sweet, Dianne. How lovely to attend a concert at the Biltmore and see the sunflower fields 🌻🌻
I love the Monday Morning blooms of Sunflowers. They are such a happy flower. Your table is beautiful. Have a great start to the new week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you, Kris. Happy week to you!
Pam, Your garden is an explosion of beautiful summer color and is so welcoming. I absolutely love your tablecloth. Your watering can of sunflowers is so pretty. You and the head gardener do a great job with your annuals every year. They’re always prolific and colorful. Beautiful MMB’s! Happy Monday. Clara❤️
Thank you dearest, Clara. The head gardener is very patient.
Have a wonderful week ♥️🌻
Your colorful table is beautifully styled and every photo is gorgeous. Your garden makes the most beautiful backdrop. I love the AC tablecloth and napkins with the cutest napkin ring. The red watering can was an ingenious idea for your table. I love adding the Angelonia with two types of sunflowers with their leaves for your MMB arrangement.
Lovely quote by Butch. Wishing you a joyful week.
Thank you, Bonnie. I hope you received rain. We had storms yesterday and today with damage nearby. Butch said thank you! Have a wonderful week!
Good Morning Pam! Your garden is beyond beautiful, your personal field of sunflowers just make me so happy! What a delightful and happy summer table with your floral arrangement in your red watering can vase, and colorful plates on top of that summery tablecloth. I love the combination of your purple flowers with the sunflowers. I am so blessed always to have a virtual seat at your table and join you for our beloved flower therapy.
Wishing you a blessed August with less heat, dear friend. xo Lidy
Thank you, Lidy. We love planting the seeds and seeing the sunflowers come up. The birds are loving the seeds. Happy August🌻
Good morning,
You have such a wonderful talent od putting arrangements together. Your gorgeous sunflowers just make the heart happy, not to mention how happy those birds must be.
Aw, thanks so much Nonie!
Pam, I just love all this explosion of color! It’s a perfect summer setting, and it defies the heat and humidity that we all know is lurking on that table and surrounding!
Thank you, Rita. We had storms yesterday and today!
Stunning Sunflowers. What beautiful centerpiece. Gorgeous tablescape. Always a pleasure stopping by! Blessings dear Pam.
Thank you, sweet friend!
Karla, I can imagine the excitement of those 500 students. We normally plant around the first of May. You can plant a second crop to mature in September. Butch says thank you so much. I asked him to think up an original quote with the words symphony and sunflower. In about 5 minutes, he had this one. I am so happy you will your son, DIL, and little grand girl. Prayers that you will be strengthened for the trip. I know being with family will be encouraging and balm for your soul. Love and prayers, my friend ♥️🙏🏻🌻🎶♥️
Sarah, I also loved Butch’s quote. We do all of the garden work, but Butch does the majority of it. I love sunflowers as stand alone
blooms. They are always show stoppers. We are always so happy to have you join us, Sarah. Wishing you a wonderful week!
What a lovely table set in your garden. It comforts me! The red watering can is a perfect vessel for your gorgeous sunflowers! I always enjoy seeing your AC tablecloths. This one is a new favorite!
Thank you for such beauty this evening!
Happy Monday!
As always, thank you for your visits and sweet comments! Happy week, Nancy!
As you know Pam, sunflowers are my happy flower and yours have put a smile on my face. The tablescape with the bright red watering can is feast for the eyes – such loveliness! Love your vision!
Mary, thank you. Sunflowers are happy flowers!
I always enjoy seeing your beautiful sunflowers and your lovely table settings. I am hoping to get my sunflowers planted for fall soon. Enjoy your week Pam. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thanks so much, Cindy. Hugs and blessings!
Sunflowers are a favorite of mine and this table setting is just perfect. All the sunflowers in this post make me so very happy. I never got my seeds panted ths year and now I’m extra sad I didn’t — I feel so inspired!
Thanks so much, Jeanie. They are such a happy flower!
My goodness Pam you created a fabulous table full of color and design! I adore that tablecloth and the napkins. The red watering can is a perfect centerpiece choice and of course the sunflowers add the perfect highlight! I wish I had a sunny enough area to grow sunflowers. This is truly my kind of table!
Liz, your comments are so sweet. Thank you!
Pam, your table is lovely with your garden sunflowers and I love the mix of patterns and colors that you chose. Sunflowers just make me smile and yours from the garden are beautiful. I like both varieties equally well. I love your collection of AC tablecloths, but this is one of my favorites. The napkins you chose to go with it are as happy as the sunflowers. The Johnson Brothers blue and white plates are perfect with your table. I also laughed at your comment about Tuesday Morning and finding things that “you didn’t know you needed”. I hope the storms pass through and leave minimal damage to your beautiful gardens. Happy Thursday!
Such beautiful sunflowers! And the tablescape is just gorgeous, as always, sweet friend. Many blessings to you today.
Thank you, dear one!