Happy April dear friends. I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Easter weekend. Believe it or not, one fourth of 2024 has now passed. It really seems the older I get, time passes more quickly!
“The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.”
Song of Solomon 2:12 (ESV)
Springtime is bursting out all over our Appalachian Foothills!
It is Monday Morning Blooms with my blogging friends, Lidy and Mary. You will find their links for beautiful floral inspiration at the bottom of this post.
It seems that I awakened one morning and suddenly all the trees were wearing their vibrant shade of spring green!
~Pam Richardson
Our common theme for April’s edition of Monday Morning Blooms is Spring! You might notice a trail through my Renaissance Man’s vivid rye grass. These tire tracks were not even noticeable until I edited my photos. The trail was made by my golf cart as I journeyed back and forth to see our grands! Yes, they are only a golf cart ride away!
Since my snowball viburnum (seen in the background) is blooming, it became the inspiration for a casual tablesetting next to our woodlands! The heavy stoneware pitcher belonged to my paternal grandmother. It brings back many memories of delicious meals that she lovingly prepared for our family. An April Cornell ‘Charming’ breakfast square provides a delightful floral background.
Chicken wire was used to keep the flowers in place and is especially useful when there is wind, which is often on our hillside. Snowballs were cut from our tree (no longer a bush) and placed in the vessel first. Grocery store flowers of lavender mums, cherry alstroemeria, and fuchsia carnations were then added along with sprigs from our Lady Banks roses and Bridal Wreath spirea! We had a light frost on two mornings last week, and I was fearful that our snowballs, Lady Banks, and Bridal Wreath Spirea would be impacted. Thankfully, they survived without damage!
Birds have been busy preparing their nests. Appropriately a couple of bejeweled bird trinket boxes and nests were placed on the table.
Portmeirion ‘Botanic Garden’ dinner plates were chosen from my ever growing dish collection! The hand-painted mini clay pot napkin rings were discovered long ago at an arts and crafts show!
Our acreage is hilly as you can see in this view with the Sunshine Cottage in the background!
Woodland trees next to the picnic table have leafed out over the past couple of weeks providing a nice shady spot!
A true British classic, the Botanic Garden pattern was designed by the celebrated designer Susan Williams-Ellis in 1972. The mix and match floral motifs, inspired by the 19th century botanical illustrations, bring a bit of garden to the table.
A beautiful blue sky and pleasant temperatures made for a perfect day to be outside!
Woven placemats add a bit of texture to the table!
Stemware is a long-ago purchase from Tuesday Morning.
It seemed appropriate to add the squirrel trinket box to the picnic tablescape. For their breakfast, the local squirrels have established a morning ritual of chewing on the table!
The twig flatware was from Pier 1. Don’t we miss their storefronts?
Click on the links below to visit beautiful springtime inspirations from Lidy and Mary!
Lidy ~ French Garden House
Mary ~ Home Is Where the Boat Is
I am so thankful for your visit and the gracious comments! Wishing you a joy-filled spring week!
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Such a beautiful setting and table to welcome spring Pam! It looks like a beautiful spring day, ideal for alfresco dining with the blue sky, vibrant green rye grass and your beautiful snowball tree blooming in the background. I love your bouquet in your grandmother’s pitcher on your table…such a pretty mix of grocery store and garden flowers. Our Lady Banks and Snowball Viburnum are a little behind yours but the warming temperatures this week will speed them along. Portmeirion Botanic Garden is our everyday pattern and I love the mix botanical designs with the butterflies and bees on the dinnerware. Love your sweet trinket boxes…I noticed birds nesting in three of our birdhouses. I so miss Pier 1 for their table inspiration. I could always count on them for napkins and napkin rings. As always, it’s a treat to share blooms with you and have a virtual seat at your table. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead. ☀️👒🌷🌸💗
Thank you, Mary. I was so happy that the frosts didn’t damage my snowball and Lady Banks. We are supposed to have storms tomorrow, ugh! Spring often brings severe weather. Hopefully it won’t be bad! Enjoy your week!
Happy April, Pam! What a beautiful backdrop your property lends to a springtime view of nature awakening! While our trees and plants are a week or two behind, it gives me a preview of what’s to come. Your table accented with your own spirea, viburnum and lady banks is so, so pretty. I love how you’ve cozied up the table using the square and all the texture of the glassware, placemats, napkin rings and trinkets.A beautiful picture, indeed!
Thank you, Rita! I love using what I have in different ways. I have to look back to see what I have done previously. I can’t remember! Today are
clouds with rain coming tomorrow. Enjoy your week!
Such a lovely table in the garden. Yes, I miss Pier 1 too, but my pocketbook is not as flat from the impulse buys, LOL!!
Thank you, Carole. My pocketbook thanks me!
Beautiful Pam. Your el fresco table setting with nature all around is so pretty. Have a beautiful new week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you for visiting, Kris. Wishing you a lovely week. Hugs, my friend!
I feel the beauty of spring in your post. The woodland setting is peaceful and happy with your restful lush green grass and huge blooming snowball tree. Your table has the natural beauty of spring with snowballs, and colorful blooms of lady banks roses,and bridal wreath from your garden with a few grocery store flowers. The nostalgic yellow stoneware pitcher works beautifully with your flowers and setting.I love the floral AC cloth, Botanic Garden plates, and pretty napkins and napkin rings all with the floral theme.
It is amazing today is April 1st! Time is passing quicker for me too. Bonnie
Thank you, Bonnie! I can’t believe it is April 1st. Enjoy your week!
Pam, Your alfresco table is gorgeous! I love your colorful AC table square. Your bouquet of spring flowers are lovely. I adore your trinket boxes; they’re so cute! The rye grass is a beautiful carpet and the blooming trees provide a nice shade. Happy Monday! Clara ❤️
Thank you for your sweet visits, Clara. Happy first week of April 🩷
Hooray! It was such a delight to awaken to Monday Morning Blooms. Thank you so much for your inspiring tablescape. The entire setting sings of cheer and springtime. I,too, am continuing to acquire dishes. I can’t seem to resist the allure (temptation?) that a pretty dish adds to my table. Thank you for this lovely blessing on this first day of April.
Pamela, I am so happy you enjoyed. Yes, new dishes are a temptation for me, I do have to say no because storage is about to be a problem. Happy first week of April!
What a beautiful setting, Pam. And I especially love the Portmerion china pattern, which looks lovely with that tablecloth!
Thank you, Jeanie! Happy first day of April and enjoy your day!
Spring has definitely arrived! Your table is gorgeous Pam! I love your grandmother’s pitcher full of bright blooms sitting on the pretty AC square table topper. The woven mats and classic Botanic Garden plates are perfect for your woodland setting. The birds, nests and squirrel have arrived for the party!
Yesterday, on the way home from the beach I saw Snowball Viburnum blooms everywhere that weren’t there a week ago! Also in a short week’s time, the trees in our yard were full of green leaves! This is such a breathtaking time of year and time to enjoy new eye candy every day. Happy April!
Thanks so much, Jenna. It really seems that spring bloomed overnight! My Lady Banks roses take my breath away. Enjoy the first week of April!
Happy April, dear friend. Your spring has arrived! Your table set on your glorious property is beautiful, Pam. My small California garden is always amazed at the view from your garden, so lush and into the woods. How lovely is your grandmother’s pitcher filled with the gorgeous flowers of spring? I love that, it’s like she is enjoying your spring and garden right along with it! May this month be filled with blessings for you and your family. It’s always a treat to share our love of flowers together for Monday Morning Blooms. xo
Thank you, Lidy. Wishing you a month filled with blessings. I do love our MMB’s. Happy April!
How beautiful! Love it all. Happy April dear Pam. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thanks so much, Cindy! It is so great to see you here!
Happy April, dear Pam! Surely that math is wrong…1/4 of 2024 is gone? It seems I just took down Christmas!! Your table setting beautifully echoes early spring. I particularly love the play of sunshine on the pitcher with Sunshine Cottage in the background. I am anxiously awaiting my first hummingbird siting, then I will know winter is truly over!
Thank you, Roxanne. Hopefully the hummingbird sightings will be soon. Happy April, dear one!
Pam, I didn’t even notice the tire tracks, but the thought of your being a golf cart ride away from your grands really is a fun thought. How lucky for you and for them! You know I always love alfresco dining, especially on your beautiful property. The table is full of spring details, and I’ve added some of the images to my Pintrest Boards. Thank you!
Thank you, Sarah. Wishing you a beautiful first week of April!
Oh what a beautiful outdoor spring setting, Pam! Your grandmother’s pitcher is the perfect vessel for your lovely arrangement. Your dishes and goblets look so pretty together. I miss Pier 1 and Tuesday Morning. Thanks for sharing the beauty on April 1st!
Thank you, Kitty. Wishing you a beautiful week!
Good Afternoon Pam, such a lovely spring table set in your woodlands. I am so happy you are able to cut your own bouquet already! I really like those dishes. Perfect for Spring!
It makes me happy that you can ride a golf cart to get to your grandchildren so quickly! How fun is that.
Thanks for the beautiful Spring table. Happy April.
Nancy, I love that I can go pick them up on the golf and bring them up the hill to our house. We have seat belts in the cart, and they know to buckle up as soon as they hop in. As always, thank you for your sweet visits! See you tomorrow!
What a beautiful setting near your woods. The AC square is lovely and I am always envious of your linen collection. How wonderful to have your very own flowers to mingle with a few store boughts to add to your grandmother’s pitcher. I agree that time is moving so fast…seems like the fist of the year was yesterday. LOL
I love your classic Botanic Garden plates…. and I do miss Pier 1, though my handbag is lighter because of it.
I didn’t notice your golf cart tracks for the longest time and then I reviewed a few pics and “they” jumped right out at me. Sorta like those stereograms used to be that appeared in the newspapers many years ago.
Have a great week and before we know it…4th of July will be here! 🥰
Thank you, dear Kari! I can’t believe how quickly the year is passing. Yes, it will be the 4th of July before we know it. Have a wonderful first week of April🥰
Just wonderful! Gorgeous dishes and stunning Scenarium!!! I would love to be your guest! Greetings from far far away! Happy April!
Thank you, my friend. It would be wonderful to have you as our guest
Well Pam, I have fallen in love with your – “Botanic Garden pattern was designed by the celebrated designer Susan Williams-Ellis in 1972. The mix and match floral motifs, inspired by the 19th century botanical illustrations, bring a bit of garden to the table.” They made for a beautiful outdoor setting! I too so miss the Pier 1 stores.
Best spring wishes!
Thanks so much, Mary! I also love the pattern. Happy April blessings!
What a delight to tour the Ladies’ interpretations of the arrival of Spring. Each
lining up for attention, yet blending in harmony with each other… gardener friendship..
Your al-fresco setting is so inviting with the botanical places and those jeweled
aviary boxes, Pam. Who could resist the temptation to join you at that sun-dappled
table? What’s for lunch?
Thank you, Mary! Whatever you would like for lunch, I will serve!!
Pam, such a lovely table and a beautiful background! The sun, green grass, and blue sky all conspire – oh my, I’m a tad envious since we are still seeing snow. The snowball viburnum, spirea, and lady banks with the grocery store flowers make such a pretty arrangement in your grandmother’s vase. I’m so glad that frost didn’t nip them. The beautiful AC square is perfect for the Botanical Garden plates. I love the twig flatware and the napkin holders are darling. Love the trinket boxes too. I’m sorry that the squirrels insist on chewing the table. Happy spring and happy April!
Thanks so much, Kim! I hope that you are seeing signs of spring, my friend!
This looks like it could come out of the pages of an Anne of Green Gables picnic or even a fairytale. I just love it. The tablescape is so whimsical and nature-inspired, but the natural surroundings with that blooming snowball tree is just pure beauty!
Thanks so much, Elena for your visit and sweet comments!
Pam, I love your table -the tablecloth, the dishes with the botanical pictures, the view, the gorgeous flower arrangement, and the Viburnum tree in the background – make a perfect spring table! I love it all! Also, so wonderful to hear the grandkids are only a golf cart ride away! Have a wonderful day! – Patty
Thank you, Patty! Your comments are heartwarming!
Happy Spring and Easter! Your sharing of your woodland tea party is just so special! You take amazing photos and what a blessing to enjoy the beauty you share! Love all the special details, and I’m sure it must have been a very special picnic outdoors! Spring is slowly coming to us here, daffodils are just starting to bloom – it is an exciting time of year! Thank you for sharing your special spring moments!
Pam, your floral arrangement is beautiful featuring your snowball viburnum and bridal wreath. Those are two of my favorite springtime blooms. The April Cornell table cloth makes such a pretty backdrop for your lovely collection of Botanical Garden plates, blooms, and trinket boxes. Those squirrels are something else. I’m sorry they are nibbling on your picnic table. They can be so destructive. We have several bird houses placed throughout our yard. The squirrels have actually chewed larger holes in the houses and moved on in. I couldn’t believe my eyes! I guess we now have a squirrel sanctuary in our backyard. I have so enjoyed my visit today. Your outdoors and table setting are all so gorgeous! Wishing you a wonderful week ahead, sweet friend!
Thank you, Shannon! You are always so sweet to visit. Your squirrels have made themselves at home. I am so sorry. They are pesky for sure. Have a wonderful week, sweet friend!
It looks so inviting to have a picnic lunch at your beautiful table! I just love the stemware! Just gorgeous. Many blessings to you today!
We love the outdoors and I enjoy setting an alfresco table. Thank you, Cheryl!