Song of Winter

When you listen carefully, you can hear the song of winter. More muted than other seasons, winter nevertheless is full of sound, except perhaps when a new blanket of snow is falling. Birds sing and ruffle the leaves and needles of evergreens. Squirrels and chipmunks rustle the fallen leaves, and chitter and bark to defend their territory and food caches. Branches creak and thump against each other in the wind.

  

The sounds I enjoy the most are those made by our resident and visiting birds. They provided the inspiration for today's table, which celebrates the birds of winter.

 

 

I started with luncheon plates which feature a pair of brown/gray birds on evergreen branches. I think they capture the spare – but not empty – feeling of a winter day. I've used the plates before here and here. 

Below them are dinner plates, which emphasize the greens found in the luncheon plates, and rattan chargers echoing the browns in the plates. The dinner plates, chargers and burlap placemats provide texture to the plate stack, just like the structure and texture of plants become more prominent in winter. Wooden napkin rings bring warm brown tones.

 

 

Green can be found in various shades in winter. I love these wine glasses which I lucked upon a number of years ago in an antique mall. I tend to use them mostly in autumn, but they actually are versatile enough for all seasons.

  

For a centerpiece I went hunting in my garden. Sprigs of cedar fill the bottom half of a hurricane, topped by Nandina domestica leaves and berries. I bought this metal hurricane for the patio because of the stems and leaves climbing the sides. It hasn't made it outside yet!

I have several varieties of Nandina shrubs in my garden. I love the lacy look of the leaves and the fact that they're broadleaf evergreens is a plus for the garden. This variety takes on tinges of burgundy and purple in the leaves during the winter months. This one has huge bunches of berries that turned red just in time for Christmas. The varieties out front still show the oranges and reds of fall.

  

On either side of the centerpiece are rugged metal candlesticks, 

  

and cute birds made of burlap and feathers. You may wonder why the Nandina berries are still to be found on the bushes. They're not native to North America so the native birds don't feed on them.

The Nandina berries repeat the color of the berries on the plates.

  

I enjoy using these candlesticks, despite the birds not looking at all friendly!

  

These vintage salt and pepper shakers look more approachable, perched on an intricately cast perch. Through the lens of the camera I discovered that I really ought to give these a good polish!

  

I'm really pleased with how the table turned out. As I mentioned in the post on February Decor throughout the House, winter design doesn't seem to get the attention it merits.

   

I hope you explore the possibilities of a winter-themed table!

  

Table resources

Luncheon plates |  Lenox 'Winter Song'

Dinner plates | Bordallo Pinheiro

Flatware | Oneida