Glassware...Everywhere! (Part 2)

If you've been following my blog, you may remember that I enjoy attending the annual glass show sponsored by the Peach State Depression Glass Club. Glassware for sale ranges from delicate antiques to depression dinnerware, elegant glassware, mid-century designs and (almost) contemporary pieces.

Last July there was glass in all shapes, sizes and colors occupying two floors. Some were functional, some were simply decorative and some are hard to describe. As usual we had a fun afternoon and of course managed to come home with a few!

Christmastime Accented with Red

I've set another holiday table in what we call the 'game room' (because it's perfect for board games and card games) or the 'garden room' (because it opens onto the lower patio by the pond). I would rather have set it in the dining room, a room that lends itself to larger displays and elegant settings. But I couldn't because we are in the midst of renovating the kitchen. The rooms on the first floor are shrouded in plastic and the dining room table is covered with the stuff you normally stash in the kitchen. The renovation was supposed to begin in September, but it was the first week of November before it did. We can't get to where we store the decorations so haven't been able to decorate the house for Christmas. Ah, well...

Twelve Drummers Drumming...

December is here and with it the Christmas season! For my first holiday table this year I continued with the twelve days of Christmas, ending of course with twelve drummers drumming. 

Setting the Table for a November Birthday

Do you find yourself in a situation like mine, where there are a number of special birthdays clustered around the fall and winter holidays? We celebrate birthdays from the last of days of November until the first week of January. For each of them I try to set a table that says 'here's a special day' but downplays — or better yet doesn't include — holiday trimmings.

Elegance and Candlelight for Thanksgiving

If your house is like ours, Thanksgiving dinner is not quite like any other dinner. Family and friends are contacted in October (or September if an overnight -- or weekend -- stay is included!) for a festive gathering. The menu is set years in advance and food shopping and preparation is a group effort. 

Autumn Vignettes

I know that many of you regularly create lovely vignettes throughout your homes to celebrate the seasons, holidays or special occasions. I don't usually, generally being content to savor the way mantles or tabletops look for longer periods. But I came down with bronchitis this weekend — so I gave up on my planned tablescape and created two autumn themed vignettes instead. Easier and quicker since I had already retrieved the box of pumpkins from downstairs.

when Halloween nears -- witches appear!

Welcome! Come on in! Halloween's not far off, so join us 'round the table inspired by Shakespeare's song of the witches.

Blue and Copper for Effortless Style

I love setting tables! Pretty tables, casual tables, formal tables, simple tables, over-the-top tables. Tables befitting the occasion or just my mood of the day!

 

Fall Beckons with Leaves on the Table

We seem to be rushing ever faster through September. Fall now beckons, although summer is hanging on. But leaves in the garden have started to change colors, so I decided a table to welcome fall was needed.

 

A Bit of Whimsy at the End of Summer

Despite the temps pushing 90 (and the humidity levels right up there, too), all the signs point to the end of summer. Or at least the calendar does! I've set a table to begin the transition at our house.

A Snapshot of Container Gardening

Something's gotta give.... I know we've all felt that way at some point. Due to family responsibilities we've spent nearly every weekend since November taking care of one thing or another. And so the thing that "gave" was my garden. I didn't have the time or the energy -- the garden was pretty much left on its own. Spring brought the return of the flowering trees and shrubs which were soon followed by the dependable perennial show.

The last of the perennials to bloom

But summer? Well the deer ate every daylily bud the night before they would have bloomed (though you can see the ones at J's townhouse "here").

Hymenocallis sp.

I finally got around to planting some of the containers in July but the selection was very limited in the garden stores.  These haven't really filled out yet although they will continue to grow and bloom through early October.

Impatiens hawkeri

The concrete containers that hold the New Guinea impatiens are more than 100 years old. They originally belonged to Greg's great-grandmother. 

I love the design and the patina that can't be replicated!

This one sits comfortably with faux stone planters.

I love capturing the intricate details of flowers! These almost look like orchids.

Evolvulus glomeratus

These cheerful flowers have graced the houses of everyone in Greg's family since the early 1900's, faithfully divided and passed down. They're plucky little plants, covered in pink.

Oxalis sp.

I love the variegation in lantana flowers, ranging from oranges, corals and pinks to vivid yellows, all on one plant.

Lantana sp.

These concrete planters also once belonged to Greg's great-grandmother. Love their rectangular shape and design! Thought it was fitting to plant them with her Oxalis.

Deer have been visiting the planters on the front porch. Why are my impatiens tastier than those across the street?! Perhaps I've missed the sign, lol.

I like the French-influenced design of these faux stone planters -- and that they repeat some of the motifs of the concrete planters described above.

I think the blue daze is about to swallow the hydrangea! I moved it here this summer which seems to be more to its liking.

We finally unrolled the outdoor rug we bought last fall. Love the bold design!

And it's pup-approved!

Thanks for joining me in the garden!

   

  

  

  

  

A Pastel Table with Turquoise Accents

August has brought with it high temperatures and repeated thunderstorms. I've retreated inside once again to avoid the heat and rain and to set a table that feels refreshing and serene.

A Summer Table with a Citrus Centerpiece

It all started at the grocery store. I was picking up lemons and limes to add to the iced tea that we love to drink in the summer. They were stacked next to several varieties of oranges. 

Glassware...Everywhere!

I was lucky enough to attend the 42nd annual glass show sponsored by the Peach State Depression Glass Club last weekend in Marietta, GA. Their theme was "What's in Your Cabinet?" and featured the wares of 28 dealers as well as seminars and exhibits. Glasswares ranged from antique and depression era through mid-century to (almost) contemporary.

There were so many beautiful examples of the glassmaker's art in all sizes, shapes and colors. Most were functional but some were purely decorative. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and of course couldn't resist picking up a few things!

I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the glass — be prepared for lots of photos!

Fresh Flowers on a Summer Table

I've always liked the idea of dining outside. Fresh air, dappled shade, the scent of flowers, a gentle breeze. But I'm brought up short by the reality of 90+ temps and humidity, alternating with a week's worth of thunderstorms.

Flowers in July

For July garden parties, I opted to go to Miss J's place. She is an hour north of us in the mountains and experiences somewhat cooler temperatures.

She has a small area in the front and back of her townhouse where she and I have planted several perennials. She took this photo of her Siberian irises before heading off to class on a May morning. They bloomed a week or two later for her than for us.

Iris sibirica 'Caesar's Brother'

I visited her two weeks ago and managed to snag a few photos in bright sunlight. Although they're in the mountains and periodically receive warnings that black bears have been spotted in the vicinity, her flowers don't seem to be bothered by resident deer or other animals. 

Behind her townhouse is a lovely common area filled with open spaces and large trees. The previous owner had planted this butterfly bush. Last fall I had pruned it down to 12 inches or so and now it's about 5 foot high.

Although beautiful, I wouldn't plant these because they're considered invasive in many states.

Buddleja davidii

I had transplanted these daylilies from our front yard when the shade encroached on them. So far they've been spreading nicely for her.

Hemerocallis spp.

All my daylily buds at home have been nipped by deer! Sigh.....

These lilies hadn't yet bloomed when I visited. Also planted by the previous owner, they're taller than I am! See those round blackish things along the stems? These small growths, called bulbils, form between the leaf and stem on several hardy lilies. They will drop to the ground and may eventually grow into a flowering bulb. We plan to move them to a better location.

Lilium spp.

Back at our house, Shasta daisies have begun their summer-long show, relatively unscathed by critters (cross your fingers!).

Leucanthemum superbum 'Becky'

'Becky' does better than other Shasta daisies in my zone 7 garden.

Discovered in among my irises, these spiderwort volunteers have been a pretty surprise.

Tradescantia ohiensis

A camera-shy beetle hides among the petals.

Thanks for visiting us today!


   

   

   

Recreating the Table at Kilkenny Castle

In May, Greg, Miss J and I spent almost two weeks in Ireland. For the table this week, I'm following Greg's suggestion to recreate the table set at Kilkenny Castle. The stone castle (Caisleán Chill Chainnigh) was built by the Normans in 1195 on the site of a wooden fort which guarded access to the River Nore. The original stone castle, with four large circular corner towers and a massive ditch, was altered and added to several times in the past 800 years. In 1967, it was presented to the people of Kilkenny in return for a token payment of £50.

The table seems to be set in the style of the early Victorian period. My challenge was to set my dining room table in the same style – without buying anything new (or old as the case may be, lol!).  I'll be alternating photos of the castle's table with mine.

The castle's dining room is quite large; the expansive table was set with a crisp tablecloth. For some reason, napkins weren't included, although they were certainly in use in that time period. 

A Patriotic Table for the Fourth

Are you ready to celebrate the Fourth of July next week? I've set the table indoors, but it can easily be taken outside if the weather permits.

Early Summer Flowers

Welcome to the garden! Come with me to see the early summer flowers.

First up is a cultivar of milkweed native to eastern North America, beloved of butterflies. It's commonly known as butterfly weed.

Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow'

I am amazed at the number of blooms there have been on my hydrangeas. Planted 15 years ago, they are now shadowed by two Cryptomeria japonica that have grown out of bounds.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Endless Summer'

I really should move these!

Blooming their heads off are two varieties of calla lilies. I don't remember which cultivars these are, but I have pink and deep purple, almost black, ones as well as white ones.

Zantedeschia aethiopica

They're commonly seen in floral arrangements or as houseplants, but these have been in the ground for at least 10 years in my North Georgia garden. They spread with abandon, and I regularly discard some each year.

Another proven butterfly magnet are the deciduous spirea shrubs in the front island. They're especially happy since we removed a dying cherry tree two years ago.

Spiraea japonica

The spirea are backed by lime green Nandina domestica. While lovely, Nandinas are considered invasive plants that may displace native species.  See their current distribution by state at The University of Georgia - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
 

A lone daylily, variety unknown, blooms in front of a purple Loropetalum chinense.

Since the deer find my daylilies particularly tasty, I may never see another!

Thanks for visiting my early summer garden!