A Late Summer Tablescape in the Garden
Late Summer Garden Tablescape
Where did the summer go? I can’t believe it’s already mid August! We’re taking a family staycation next week, then the following week my daughter goes back to school. While I’m looking forward to getting back into a routine, I want to savor these last days of summer.
Today I’m once again joining a group of talented table stylists for the Late Summer Tablescape Blog Hop. This is the last day of the hop, but you can check out all of this week’s lovely tables by clicking the links at the end of this post. Many thanks to my friend Chloe of Celebrate and Decorate for putting these hops together!
I knew I wanted to create my first al fresco tablescape for this hop. Unfortunately, I don’t have an attractive garden, porch or patio area at my house. But I knew of the perfect spot…the childhood home of my best friend, Meredith. I reached out to her mother, who’s a dear family friend, and asked if I could borrow her garden for the afternoon. She graciously accepted my request. I couldn’t wait to set up my late summer garden tablescape!
I set up my table in the herb garden. As a child, I remember how all of the cats in our neighborhood hung out in the herb garden amongst the catnip.
The starting point for my table was this vintage cotton floral print tablecloth. It’s a similar style to the tablecloth I used for my Patriotic Tablescape. I rarely pass up these tablecloths even though they are often torn and/or stained. They make great pillows!
My plate stack consists of dishes we use everyday. The bottom plates are plain white stoneware. Then I layered Johnson Brother’s Old British Castles dinner plates. The salad plates are a floral motif by Spode. I also used my everyday flatware.
The napkins are white cotton with blue stripes. They are another thrifted find. I tucked them inside my everyday stemware.
The hydrangeas are from the grocery store. I arranged them in a metal urn with a green patina.
I bought the fresh fruit from a farm stand. My daughter came along for the photo shoot, so you may notice that the blackberries start to disappear in the photos! I elevated the fruit on a little stool for visual interest.
Because I’m well known to be a hoarder, people are always giving me stuff they don’t want. I knew I’d find a use for these wooden containers. After a light coat of white paint, they were just what I needed to display the fruit.
The home is on a cove, where I spent the summers of my youth swimming, boating and crabbing. It makes for gorgeous water views in the background.
Here’s another area of the garden. Don’t you love the chicken?
I was so fortunate to have access to this beautiful space as a backdrop for my table. It is just the inspiration I need to work on my garden and patio next year.
Here’s another fun summer tablescape, also shot in a gorgeous location!
Thank you for stopping by! Don’t forget to click the links below for more fabulous late summer table setting inspiration. And enjoy every last moment of summer! That’s what I plan to do 🙂
Rebecca
Monday
Debbee’s Buzz | A casa di Bianca | Red Cottage Chronicles | The Little Yellow Corner Store | Sweet Pea
Tuesday
White Arrows Home | Living With Thanksgiving | Life and Linda | Everyday Living
Corner of Plaid and Paisley
Wednesday
Home is Where the Boat Is | Celebrate & Decorate | Panoply | The Painted Apron
Thursday
Intelligent Domestications | Sweet Sensations | Our Crafty Mom | Bluesky at Home
Friday
Rebecca I just love your dinnerware and what a spectacular garden. I am sure your friends mother enjoyed you using her garden in such a beautiful way.
Thank you Sonya! Yes, she enjoyed watching me set up and photograph the table. She’s an artist, so she understood the creative process behind what I was doing. Thanks for stopping by. Miss you, my friend!
Sweet Rebecca, how nice to have a friend’s mom with such a lovely garden. I love all the florals in your tablecloth and dishes. I adore your napkins with the blue stripes. The hydrangeas and other flowers make for a lovely garden setting. Well done.
Yes, Carol, I felt so lucky to have this beautiful setting for my tablescape. Thanks for the kind words, my friend!
What a pretty summer garden table!! It’s in such a beautiful setting, pairing perfectly with your florals and fruit.
I think no we all have a bit of hoarder in us, good thing because the baskets are cute! Enjoy the little bit of summer we have left.
What a beautiful garden setting for your late summer table Rebecca! I love the farm stand fruit baskets painted white, so clever! Your transferware and tablecloth are beautiful! As always it’s a treat to blog hop with you! Enjoy the last days of summer. ♥
Thanks Mary! Enjoy your last days of summer on the lake!
Rebecca, this is so pretty! I love that you did it in such a special place!! How fun to hear the memories behind it! I love the tablecloth and the napkins in the goblets! Your plate stack is so, so pretty!! I love the idea of painting the fruit baskets!! So fun to have met you in person!!! Enjoy the staycation! They are the best!
Thank you Kristin! I’m so glad we got to meet in Atlanta! We’re having a great week so far! I agree, staycation’s are great 🙂
Rebecca, what a beautiful garden for your tablesetting. I love the vintage tablecloth and the Spode and Johnson Bros plates that all work together so amazingly. The addition of the fruit makes for a lovely late summer tablescape. It is always a pleasure to sit at a garden table!
Thanks Pam! I’m so inspired by your beautiful gardens! It was so fun to create my first garden tablescape.
Rebecca, how sweet your friend’s mother let you use her garden as a backdrop. Your table looks so fresh and inviting. Love the blues and purple. Adding the fresh fruit is so lovely. How sweet to grow up and spend your summers in this lovely area. I am sure it brought back wonderful memories. The vintage tablecloth is gorgeous. A pleasure as always joining you on this tablescape blog hop.
Thank you Linda! It did bring back wonderful memories from my childhood!
I LOVE YOUR ELEGANT FARMERS MARKET LOOK; GREAT COMBINATIONS. YOUR FRIEND HAS A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN!
Thank you Sharon! So glad you stopped by!
Rebecca, your table reminds me of the days visiting the farmer’s market and bringing home all of the fruits and veggies in those adorable little baskets. They really make a statement all on their own, don’t they. I am so fond of your gorgeous vintage floral tablecloth. Think of all the gatherings that went on with those stained vintage tablecloths. It shared a lot of love, I am sure. The garden chicken is adds even more to the farm markets theme. So cute. And your striped napkins in glasses is the crowning touch to a country farm side theme. So many beautiful memories were brought to mind when I seen your table in your lovely setting. It time to visit the farmer’s market before it all ends.
One of the reason’s I love collecting vintage items, Marsha, is for all the history. I don’t mind if something is stained or chipped, it just has more character. I wasn’t planning on a farmer’s market theme, but it just came together that way, didn’t it? Especially with the chicken! You definitely still have time to make a trip to the farmer’s market!
Rebecca, what a wonderful place to have spent in your childhood and for the summer tablescape hop! Wowza, wish my herb garden looked like that — it’s a little spent and unkempt at this point. Just love how you created a roadside farm stop look with the bench, baskets and fresh fruit. Very clever and refreshing for summer!
Thanks Debbee! Yes, it’s an idyllic setting! The fruit was delicious, too. The berries barely made it through the shoot!
This garden setting is amazing! I’m happy that you had the opportunity to use this garden for your photoshoot. The color combo is comforting and relaxing. Gorgeous work and I hope you’ve had a wonderful summer!
Thank you Sandra! I love the color combo too :). I hope you’ve had a wonderful summer as well!
How wonderful to have the opportunity to style a table in such a lovely setting. I dream of the time when I have a spot in my garden to set a pretty table. I am in love with your gorgeous dishes. They blues and purples are so beautiful and vibrant in their colors. Once again, it was such a joy to spend time with you in Atlanta! Thank you for joining in another hop and sharing your tablescaping talents!
Thank you Chloe! I dream of having a garden area in my yard for setting tables, too. Hanging out with you in Atlanta was the best! Thanks again for coordinating this hop!
Such a lovely garden setting, and the fresh fruit in the market baskets really invites one to sit down and enjoy a lazy day of summer…the hydrangeas are gorgeous!
Thanks Jenna! I was very happy with how it came together!
Your table is lovely and creative. Painting the fruit baskets was a great idea and elevating the fruit on a little stool was clever and effective also. I love your plate stack and especially the beautiful napkins. Fresh fruit and flowers are eye-catching. The vintage tablecloth is gorgeous and a great find.
The setting is indeed beautiful. How special to share your table where you enjoyed many special memories.
Thanks Bonnie! It was a lot of fun to style the table in that memorable garden!
Rebecca, this is fabulous! Those Spode and Johnson Bros plates on that tablecloth, together with the fruits, is just great! I bet your friend’s mother was honored to have you use her garden as a backdrop – no better compliment to receive as a gardener! I love your use of vintage wares to make this setting. Beautiful!
Thank you Rita! Yes, she was happy to have her garden photographed. She’s also a talented artist, and she enjoyed watching me style the table. She also gave me some good feedback on the photos. It was a fun, creative day!