Gardeners Gather With Lilacs and Scones
There is something so innately satisfying about bringing the flowers you have grown in your garden indoors to brighten your day. Finishing a creative project is rewarding, especially when you have cultivated and labored over your hard work.
For me, gardening and design go hand-in-hand. Growing flowers in my garden is a labor of love, and there is nothing I adore more than bringing nature into my home when designing for an event or styling a home.
Using natural colors, little vignettes around your living space bring a sense of well-being and health into your life. They add joy to a seemingly ordinary day, whether a potted plant or a vase filled with blooms.
The Benefits of Bringing Flowers Indoors
There are many benefits to bringing flowers indoors. They can:
Improve air quality: Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, which can help improve your home’s air quality.
Reduce stress: Studies have shown that being around plants can help reduce stress levels.
Boost mood: Flowers are known to be mood-boosting, and they can help to create a more positive and uplifting atmosphere in your home.
Improve productivity: Studies have shown that people who work in environments with plants are more productive than those who work in environments without plants.
Increase creativity: Flowers can help to stimulate creativity and imagination.
Promote relaxation: Flowers can help to create a more relaxing and peaceful environment in your home.
How to Bring Flowers Indoors
There are many different ways to bring flowers indoors. You can:
Grow your flowers: If you have a green thumb, you can grow your flowers in your garden or on a windowsill.
Buy fresh flowers: From a florist or grocery store, you can buy fresh flowers.
Dry flowers: You can dry flowers yourself or buy them dried.
Use artificial flowers: If you don't have the time or resources to grow or buy fresh flowers, you can use artificial flowers.
No matter how you choose to bring flowers indoors, they will surely add a touch of beauty and joy to your home.
There's nothing quite like the smell of lilacs in the springtime. Their sweet and delicate scent always makes me think of gardening.
I adore and always look forward to my lilacs blooming every year. Lilacs remind me of my childhood. During the springtime, I used to gather lilacs in big bundles and bring them to my mother as a present; she just loved them. Today, the scent of lilacs reminds me of her, and that feeling warms my heart like no other.
“Lilacs are May in essence.
”
Did you know that the lilacs have been a source of inspiration for artists throughout history? Impressionists Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet both have famous works depicting the beauty of lilacs in their paintings.
The color lilac has rich psychological associations. It blends the calm of blue with the warmth of red in a soft, muted tint that evokes both serenity and femininity. Although in the purple family, lilac is lighter and softer and is often perceived as more romantic, nostalgic, and approachable than deeper purples like plum or violet.
Here’s a breakdown of the psychology of lilac
Tranquility and Calm
Lilac shares many soothing qualities with lavender and light blues. It’s often used in wellness spaces to:
Reduce stress and anxiety
Encourage introspection and spiritual calm
Create a light, peaceful environment
Femininity and Grace
Lilac is strongly associated with gentle femininity — not overt or flashy, but refined and graceful. It’s often used in branding and interiors to communicate:
Soft elegance
Nurturing energy
Artistic creativity
Creativity and Imagination
Like other purples, lilac has a link to the imaginative and mystical:
It’s associated with intuition, dreams, and fantasy.
It can inspire reflection and inward focus, making it great for personal spaces like bedrooms or journals.
Nostalgia and Sentiment
Lilac carries a vintage romanticism, often linked to:
Antique or heirloom aesthetics
Memories of spring, youth, and renewal
A longing for simpler or more romantic times
Spirituality and Sensitivity
In color psychology, lighter purples (like lilac) are often used to connect people to higher thinking, sensitivity, and openness, without the intensity of deeper shades. It’s:
Uplifting without overwhelming
Introspective but not moody
Today, I have put together a sweet centerpiece using lilacs from my yard that you can do when hosting a small gathering or creating a small vignette in one of your rooms.
A few pages from Paris In Bloom that inspired me. Photo by Georgianna Lane
Before I start any design, I always try to get a color palette together and a vision for what I am trying to create. This picture tells a story about what I want to portray in my design. The theme is a small get-together with my closest gardening friends. The picture above inspires me with the deep, rich colors of lilacs and all the green hues growing in my garden today. Of course, I also have my favorite gardening shears in the picture.
Lilac Color Palette
Lilac is a soft, pale purple shade often associated with springtime and femininity. It is a versatile color that can be used in various ways, from home decor to fashion.
Ideas for using the lilac color palette
Home decor: Lilacs can create a soft and feminine look. Try painting your walls a light lilac shade or adding lilac accents to your furniture and accessories.
Fashion: Lilac is a great color for spring and summer. Try wearing a lilac dress or top, or adding a lilac scarf or necklace.
Beauty: Lilac is also a popular color for beauty products. Try using a lilac eyeshadow, lipstick, or nail polish to add a touch of springtime to your look.
Tips for using the lilac color palette
Pair lilac with neutral colors: Lilac is a delicate color, so it's best to pair it with neutral colors like white, gray, or beige. This will help to create a balanced and harmonious look.
Use lilac to create a focal point in your home: If you want to create a focal point in your home or event, use lilac as an accent color. Try painting one wall a lilac shade or adding a lilac vase or lamp to your room.
Don't be afraid to mix and match lilac shades: There are many shades of lilac, so don't be afraid to mix and match them. This will help to create a more exciting and unique look.
No matter how you choose it, the lilac color palette will surely add a touch of springtime and femininity to your home, fashion, and beauty.
Beautiful scented lilacs along with lovely green botanicals make this bouquet feel like you brought the outdoors inside.
Let us look at some of the things I put in my centerpiece that came from my garden.
I chose three types of botanicals for my flower arrangement. Since it is only late spring, my flowers are just starting to bud, but I have other choices that I can use that are growing in my yard.
Woodland Ferns
Hosta Leaves
Two Types of Lilacs
Note: I have several large sterling silver mint julep glasses that I found at an estate sale a few years ago. I often repurpose them as vases and place them around my home when entertaining. If I design for someone else’s event, I often bring them to decorate their home.
Using a vintage item and simply repurposing it is a great way to create a sophisticated arrangement that looks elegant with any flower. You can put roses, peonies, or even just a bunch of lilacs, as I have done here, and it will look amazing. I love the romantic vintage feel it brings to a design.
This dessert plate is precious with its lovely lilac color and the sweet little butterflies and dragonfly details.
My new book from Georgianna Lane is my current favorite and I cannot wait to share it with my friends. It’s filled with inspiration for any gardener.
I brought out some of my favorite things that I have been reading lately. I adore this garden book from Georgianna Lane, HYDRANGEAS, and my other little book, Markets of Provence, that my husband bought me as a gift before we went to Provence a few years back. My gardening shears were just used to gather all the flowers from outdoors.
Of course, no gathering of gardeners would be complete without scones.
There is nothing like entering a home that smells of freshly baked goods, and it is just an excellent way to greet your guests. After all, what's a gathering without a little something sweet? I believe treats are essential! Just before my friends arrived, I baked up some ginger scones following a recipe from The Stay At Home Chef. It's great because you can choose from a variety of flavors. There's truly nothing quite like the inviting scent of freshly baked goods to fill your home and warmly welcome your guests.
Did you know that Lilac blossoms are edible? They smell better than they taste, so use them in small amounts. Another springtime delight is to make a lilac cold-water infusion.
I love decorating with edible flowers, and I grow them organically; therefore, I don’t hesitate to use them if I can. Once I finished drizzling the glaze on my scones, I quickly added the lilac flowers for a garnish.
NOTE: Not all flowers are edible. To learn more about WHAT can be used for eating or decorating, follow this What’s Cooking America link. Here you will learn what flowers you can use for cooking, decorating, and eating, and they also give you a good idea of what each flower tastes like. It’s a great source that I often use.
Of course, when designing for a party, I always like to add warm colors, natural textures, and patterns. The bowl I selected for this design was created from our New England surroundings and made of natural, upcycled wood. I love the unexpected in design, and this does the trick. The warm homemade scones placed in the bowl create a farm-to-table feel that is organic and welcoming.
This vintage sterling silver tray was handed down from my mother. I love it and I do use it often these days. It reminds me of her when she was hosting parties.
I also served a wonderful summer lavender prosecco drink. The recipe is from Self-Proclaimed Foodie, and I highly recommend it. I garnished my drinks with blueberries and served them in my favorite vintage champagne glasses.
Note: When making the lavender Prosecco drink, let the lavender sit in the simple syrup longer if you want a more robust flavor. That is what I did, and it was terrific. What a treat!
I served tea and coffee using these pretty little pink cups I just purchased. Notice that my French towel has the same color scheme as the other design.
““The details are not the details. They make the design.””
Here is a vignette I designed using the same centerpiece for my party. After my guests left, I wanted to continue enjoying my lilacs. To learn more about creating a beautiful vignette, click on this link.
Here are some tips for hosting your Gardeners Gather With Lilacs and Scones event:
Choose a date and time that works for most people.
Find a location that is both inviting and accessible.
Decorate with flowers, plants, and other gardening-related items.
Provide food and drinks that are appropriate for a gardening event.
Invite people to bring their own plants or gardening tools.
Encourage people to share their gardening knowledge and experiences.
Make sure to have plenty of conversation starters available.
Have fun!
A lovely gathering can be easily made with just a few simple steps. Follow the same color scheme throughout your design, serve some yummy treats, and you are on your way. Most importantly, you create your design using what makes your heart happy.
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. Welcome anytime!
Design with your heart™️
Happy entertaining, my friends!
Mary
“May your home be a place where friends meet, family gathers, and love grows. ”
