There is something about spring that awakens the senses. The days grow warmer after a long, cold winter, and the buds on the trees and flowers open. The air is filled with the sweet scent of flowers and birds chirping.
This is the time of year when I appreciate my Portmeirion Botanic Garden dishes. The hand-painted plates feature an array of botanical scenes, from delicate flowers to lush foliage. Butterflies, dragonflies, and other small creatures can be found hiding in the designs. It truly is like dining in a botanical garden.
“Springtime awakens the senses”
I started collecting my portmeirion dishes many years BACK and have everything I need to host a lovely dinner. They have worn well throughout the years. I used them as my main dish set for many years, and honestly, you can’t damage them quickly. THEY are as durable as they are pretty.
For this tablescape, I wanted to put a touch of blue in my design. Since portmeirion plates have blue flowers and butterflies on them, I thought I’d give it a try.
“Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn. ”
These vintage spode plates did the trick. I found them a few years ago at an antique shop and had to have them. EAch plate is a bit different, with a SLIGHTLY scalloped edge and beautiful flowers on the rim.
As you can see, the blue hyacinth and other buds on the Portmeirion dishes match well with the blue and white Spode dishes. Layering dishes is a design trick that creates depth and interest in your tablescape. I start with a charger, add a dinner plate, and then top the dinner plate with a salad. There isn’t any hard-fast rule about layering other than to try to match them. I love to mix and match with both new and vintage plates. This charger is a new pattern I have, and the other two designs are older. Dining in a botanical garden never looked so good!
Did you know mixing and matching plates using vintage and new patterns is in vogue these days? Yes! So take those dishes that your mother or grandmother had and use them. You don’t have to use the complete set; place pieces here and there in your tablescape.
Once you finish with the salads, the plate is removed, leaving you with a beautiful blue and white setting that I adore. Now you are ready for your main dinner course and still have a decorated tablescape.
I like to start with a theme when designing a table.
Using a theme helps me visualize what I want my guest to experience when dining at my table. This tablescape would be fantastic for an outdoor luncheon with others that love gardening. Because this is a botanical garden theme, I added glasses with floral swirl etching and tiny blue flowers embroidered on the linen napkins. I have little flowers on my teapot and a simple centerpiece filled with grape hyacinth.
Adding a few pops of color to your tablescape is also an excellent way to enhance the visual effects. Some of the pieces I placed on this table are a little pink, so I added some petit fours with a bold pink presentation. It’s another excellent way to add additional colors. This tablescape is predominantly blue, white, and green, with a pop of pink for contrast and interest.
Can you spot all the little critters on this lilac plate? It’s a garden painted with life. After all these years, I still find something new. Each time I use them, I feel like I’m stepping into a spring garden. It’s all the little things in life that bring joy. You just need to look for them.
“I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden.
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Design with your heart™️
“may your home be a place where friends meet, family gathers, and love grows.”
As with everything I post on my blogs, please feel free to comment or if you have any questions, please email me through my contact page. I welcome your input anytime!
Happy spring, my friends!
Mary
