Happy October dear friends. It is my favorite month and I delight in the beauty that October brings. As always, I am thrilled that you are joining me.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 14:27 ESV
I was hopeful I could set a table in the garden for the October edition of Monday Morning Blooms. The weather cooperated during the morning hours with partly cloudy skies. With rain predicted for the afternoon, I decided to take advantage of the earlier light and cooler temperatures. We did receive a small amount of much needed rain later in the day!
This Monday Morning Blooms is especially close to our hearts as we honor our dear friend Mary, who passed away September 27th. Mary brought so much of her own sweet personality and creativity to every Monday Morning Blooms post. Her flowers, her beautiful tables, and the warmth she shared with all of us gave us something lovely to look forward to each month. We miss her dearly and are so grateful we were able to share so many years of friendship with her.
I set the table the week before we left for our trip to Jackson Hole. Autumn weather has yet to come to our Appalachian Foothills, but it will! The charming pumpkin pitcher was a gift from my RM just because! He foraged the woodlands for beggar-ticks (the small yellow flowers) and goldenrods. From our garden we cut nandina, zinnias, autumn fire sedum, dried hydrangea blooms, and chaste tree blooms for an autumn arrangement. We will miss Mary’s easy to understand DIY’s for her gorgeous flower arrangements.
With breaks in the clouds, the sun cast a magical light across the table!
We were able to find a few pumpkins to stack and to give our garden that autumnal look even though the temps were near 100 degrees. After all, how can we celebrate fall without pumpkins?!
“In the entire circle of the year there are no days so delightful as those of a fine October, no days so calm, so tenderly solemn, and with such a reverent meekness in the air.”
~ Alexander Smith
You often see this stemware appear on one of my tables. I call it my jewel stemware because its colors remind me of peridot, amethyst, and citrine! Yes, I sometimes have a vivid imagination!
I found this pumpkin tablecloth many years ago and I don’t have a clue where it was purchased. If I had to guess, I would say TJ Maxx.
Pumpkin napkin rings hold sage-colored napkins. The fall season is ideal for copper flatware.
The pumpkin-colored dinner plates frame Williams Sonoma ‘Harvest Pumpkin’ salad plates. This collection was only produced for one year in 2018. Each plate features a detailed still life of heirloom pumpkins, autumn fruits, and nuts against a dramatic and glossy black porcelain background with a gold rim.
Before we left for our trip, I was only able to accomplish a little fall decorating on the Sunshine Cottage Porch. I will be in full autumn decorating mode this week!
“October is the opal month of the year. It is the month of glory, of ripeness. It is the picture month.”
~ Henry Ward Beecher
If you look closely you can see sunflowers and zinnias in the background of the maple tree. Butch planted seeds in a small part of the raised bed behind the garden. He watered them a few times and we were pleasantly surprised when we began seeing zinnia and sunflower blooms. With little rain and temps hitting triple digits, we didn’t expect to enjoy a single bloom. Late planted marigolds are also blooming now!
“It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.”
~ Sarah Addison Allen
I invite you to join Lidy as she celebrates October the French way!
Lidy ~ French Garden House
Not to end on a sad note, but I am heartbroken that my dear friend Mary has passed away. Monday Morning Blooms began in March of 2018 as Floral Friday, and later that year, at Mary’s suggestion, it was renamed Monday Morning Blooms. I have been looking back over Mary’s floral arrangements and her talent and creativity are beyond amazing. I will miss her breathtaking florals and her stunning tablescapes. Most of all, I will miss her friendship.
Thank you for your visit and gracious comments. Wishing you a delightful week!
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch,Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Happy October, my friend! I know this is your favorite month. Sweet Mary will be deeply missed. She was such an inspiration and talent. I always cherished the times when I was invited to be a guest on Monday Morning Blooms and Tea on Tuesday. Your floral arrangement and tablescape is a beautiful tribute to your dear friend. The pitcher is so pretty and compliments the stunning array of flowers perfectly. I always love seeing those WS pumpkin plates when you bring them out each autumn. The heirloom pumpkins against the dark background is so striking. I can’t wait to see more of your fall decor. Sweet friend, have a blessed day and enjoy these wonderful October days!
Dear Pam, I’m crying tears in remembering our dear friend. Your scripture verse at the beginning was so appropriate, and your beautiful pumpkin filled vase is so pretty. How I love your stunning plates on that pumpkin enhanced tablecloth. I smiled at the description of your beautiful stemware. The ending of your post was so lovely in honoring Mary and her beautiful arrangements and how Monday Morning Blooms was evolved. Mary’s love spreads through all of us that knew her.
What a beautiful October table, love the pumpkin vase full of autumn glory. Such pretty plates, too!
Oh Pam…we do miss Mary and her talented inspiration…I am so glad you mentioned the background for Monday Morning Blooms…but in spite of our sadness, life goes on and so must we. She will always be thought of each time there is a blog hop and of course Monday Mornings….as well as all the other times she shared her recipes and her tips for gardening and floral arrangements. She may be gone but certainly not forgotten. Thank you and our sweet Lidy for carrying on Monday Morning Blooms, I believe Mary would have liked that.
As for your October table…it is so you…and I love it. This is ‘your’ month and you always have such inspiration introducing the wonders and colors of Autumn. The quotes are warming to the heart as you show us glimpses of your October garden and of course the Sunshine Cottage. The pumpkins in the background (I know) are only the beginning. I adore the pumpkin pitcher with the lovely arrangement of flowers. Your description of ‘jewel’ stemware is perfect. And what’s not to love about the stunning black WS pumpkin plates? I also know you decorate for your grands, so I’m waiting to see what you and Butch have in store for us this year.
Hugs and Blessings my dear sweet friend.🥰🙏🏻
Pam, as always your table and flowers shine. The colors and autumn tones are perfection, I love the flowers in your pumpkin pitcher, set on that tablecloth with all autumnal colors. And how fortunate to have chose stunning pumpkin plates, I especially love the black back ground.
Like you, I am heartbroken about the passing of our dear friend Mary, she will always be in our hearts. Xo Lidy
Beautiful October table. We will all miss sweet Mary. Her kind soul and beautiful heart along with her creative talents. Heaven has some beautiful blooms going on in heaven. Happy New Week. Hugs. Kris
Pam, your table is so beautiful and so bittersweet that this post also honors the memories of dear Mary. I have such fond memories of doing this “blooms party” with all of you. Mary was the sweetest soul. I remember her naming a wreath that hung in her beloved Potting Shed after me! She then sent me the “Shirley seed packets” She was always thinking of and doing kind deeds as you know! Still heartbroken and will treasure the memories of her.
Pam, your October table is beautiful! I love the tablecloth and pumpkin pitcher filled with colorful flowers. Your pumpkin plates are gorgeous with the black background. They pair perfectly with your pretty fall glassware. This had to be a difficult day for you because of Mary’s passing. I still am having a hard time processing this myself as a follower of her blog. Mary was a great friend to the blogging community and her followers. She had a gracious heart, kind spirit and wonderful sense of humor. She was so very talented and taught us all so much! We are blessed to have you carrying on the MMB tradition with Lily. Even though it is still a bit too warm for October, I’m in the Fall spirit and gathering up all things fall for decorating. I do believe we’ll be able to picnic into November! It’s going to be one of those years! Hope you have a wonderful week! Clara❤️