Hi Friends!
After historical rains here in Seattle, we finally had some dry and warm weather. I was able to get outside in the garden and do some major spring clean-up. The wet and dark winter weather here in the Pacific Northwest leaves a green film on everything outside, so I cleaned and pressure washed the patio. My daughter and I also made a trip to the Seattle Tilth spring edible plant sale and picked up all of our vegetable starts. We amended the raised beds, and planted all of our summer vegetables. After several days of hard work, we celebrated with a lovely evening dinner in the garden last night. Using many items that were thrifted, repurposed, and DIY’d, I set the table with a French Farmhouse theme in mind.
I made the farmhouse table last year, and it is holding up beautifully. We left it outside all winter under a cover, and all it needed was a quick wash. You can see how I made the table here.
Hydrangeas are a favorite of mine. Each spring I add at least one more to the garden (I’ve killed a few, I hate to admit). These are “Endless Summer” and they are a pretty soft blue. For now, I am enjoying them in the simple galvanized bucket.
The tall wood candle holders add a bit of height and drama to the table.
The blue chicken coop and a vintage Schwinn bicycle sit in the opposite corner of the garden. The clematis Jackmanii is just starting to sprint up the trellis on the fence. It’s a vigorous grower and in a month or so, that bare trellis will be covered with an abundance of purple flowers.
I found the most fragrant lavender at Lowes, and planted several in my garden this year. It’s an English Lavender called “Mini Blue.” They stay quite small which is great for a space challenged garden like mine, or if you want to squeeze in a few more. Lavender also attracts bees, so I plant it near the vegetable garden to help with pollination.
The (affiliate link) Laguiole Blue Steak Knives add a bit of color to the table, and are extremely sharp. Notice the little bee on the top where your index finger rests when cutting. They come in several colors, too, but I’m partial to the blue.
I set the table with simple thrifted white plates, IKEA wine glasses, and DIY ticking napkins. At each setting, I placed a piece of rustic baguette wrapped in bakery paper, twine and a couple sprigs of dried lavender.
I filled a couple of vintage milk bottles with sage from my garden and grocery store roses. The clear votive is a repurposed french yogurt pot filled with dried lavender buds and a tea light.
A couple of years ago, my family and I took a special vacation to Paris. We stayed in a lovely old flat in the Le Marais district with an abundance of cafes, shops, etc all nearby. One of our many wonderful discoveries was the delicious french yogurt. My favorite was La Fermiere and it came in beautiful glazed terra cotta pots. I saved several of the little lavender pots as souvenirs, and used them for DIY soy candles. I lit them before dinner at dusk, and they created a pretty ambiance.
My sweet Sadie loved helping me set the table for what was truly a special family evening.
Thanks so much for touring my garden table. Have a great weekend!
Linking with. . .
Up to Date Interiors | Savvy Southern Style | Craftberry Bush| French Country Cottage| Chic on a Shoestring | Remodelaholic |DIY Showoff | Funky Junk Interiors | Finding Silver Pennies | Home Stories A to Z | Naptime Creations | Worthing Court | Colors + Craft | Making it in the Mountains | Little Bits of Home | Abbotts at Home
Your table is adorable, all those little details make a huge difference, and what a pretty daughter too…x
Thanks so very much for your kind comments, Janette, and your sweet words about my daughter. Susan
Your backyard look wonderful. I am loving all the details you’ve added. Plus your table? It is stunning! My yard is going through a transformation too, and it being close to done I am excited to use it in a week or two, but today….I am dreaming about yours! lol
Thank you so much, Christine. Our garden was a slow transformation, taking place over many years. It still is a work in progress, which I think is true for many outdoor spaces. But we definitely enjoy it now. How exciting for you to be close to finishing up your yard! Susan
Recycling of the highest order – what a lovely table and setting. I always enjoy your posts….. they give me (and others I am sure, such a lift).
Hi Susan! I am so happy to hear that you enjoy my posts and they give you a lift. That means so much to me. Susan
I totally know what you mean about the ‘green film’ I live in South Surrey BC so we have the same rainy winter weather you have. I love your table-scape, it’s beautiful and inviting!
Thanks so much, Annie. The green film is a pain, but knowing all the rain means we have lush and lovely spring blooms makes it a little easier to live with. I hope you had a lovely weekend! Susan
Very pretty, Susan. I’m glad you were able to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather. Your daughter is so cute! My high schoolers had AP exams on Wednesday, and we played hookie after. I’m so glad we did, because the rains are back. Fingers crossed for a dry Mother’s day. Hope yours is lovely! Cynthia
Hi Cynthia! We made the most of the last sunny evening and enjoyed a wonderful meal outside before the rain returned. I just heard that the sunny warm weather will be back next weekend! Susan
Such a pretty tablescape. Lavender is so pretty and fragrant-perfect for a summer table!
This is so beautiful! I love every bit of it – but especially the baguettes wrapped in paper!
Thank you so much! The baguettes were yummy, too. Susan
I live where it does not rain too much although we did get more rain this year. Was your table under a patio cover?? Did you invest in expensive coverings for the table? Do you cover it when not in use? Just wondering as who knows! We may have more rain around here and I love your look for an outdoor table!
Hi Gwen! I’m in Seattle where we get a ton of rain (this year we broke a 122 year old rainfall record!). I kept the table and chairs outside but covered for the winter under an inexpensive table/chair cover from Lowes. It did a great job protecting the table. Last summer, I left the table uncovered, and just wiped it off after any rain. I used exterior paint and General Finishes exterior polyurethane when I finished the table, and it is holding up really well. Susan
Susan, this is so stunning! I love all the little touches, and especially those yogurt cups turned soy candles! Beautiful space!!! I’d love to come dine here ; )
Thank you, Deb, for your sweet comments. You would be welcome to have dinner at my home any time, my friend! Susan
What a beautiful and inviting space you’ve created here, Susan! I love it! Thank you so much for sharing it with us at The Creative Circle Link Party! I’ll be featuring it on my blog this week. 🙂
Thank you so much, Iris! I really appreciate you sharing my garden table at your wonderful Link Party! Susan
Un jardín precioso, verde y fresco, lo envidio porque donde vivo no llueve mucho y nuestros jardines, aunque bonitos, son secos y poco frondosos.
¡Gracias! Sí, aquí en Seattle tenemos mucha lluvia que hace que todo sea exuberante y verde. Susan
This is just gorgeous! I’m obsessed with French Vintage. I went to France last year and took home a bunch of their glass yogurt jars too and put epsom salts in them and tapered candles. I even wrote a post on it. I love the lavender idea!
Hugs, Jamie
Thank you so much, Jamie. Isn’t the yogurt in France the best? And in pretty little pots to boot. They really know how to do it right over there! Epsom salts with candles is such a great idea. I’ll be over to your blog to check it out. Susan p.s I’m obsessed with anything French vintage,too!