Summer Garden Party Table Setting with a Limelight Hydrangea Centerpiece

Welcome to the 512th Tablescape Thursday!

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Tablescape Thursday

The Limelight Hydrangeas in my front garden are blooming up a storm right now, so I couldn’t resist cutting a few stems for today’s centerpiece.

Limelight Hydrangea, Standard, Tree-form in Planter

 

I got a late start creating this table setting. When I started around noon, it was 79 degrees on the porch. By the time I started taking photos around 3:00, it was already up to 89 degrees! I don’t think the humidity was as bad as it has been, though because it really didn’t feel that hot. Mornings and evening are still nice and cool out on the porch, love this time of year so much! Summer is going by way too fast!

Porch Dining, Between Naps On The Porch Blog

 

You may remember this photo from when I shared a tiered planter I made from terra cotta pots and saucers. Notice the little green pitcher there on the far right? It worked great as a vase in today’s tablescape.

 

In case you’re interested, you’ll find the tutorial for making the terra cotta tiered planter here: Tiered Planter.

 

I don’t know why but I haven’t been able to get these little bee skep soup tureens out of my head all week. I guess they wanted to be used in a table this week because they just kept coming to mind every single time I thought about what table I would create.

Floral & Bee-themed Tablescape for Summer Dining on the Porch

 

Update: Forgot the salad plates so I’m adding a few pics to this post that include the salad plates.

Summer Table, Hydrangea Centerpiece, Bee Soup Tureens

 

I found the bee skep tureens in Old Time Pottery many years ago.

Spring Tablescape, Kim Parker Floral Charger Plates, Bee Skep Tureens and Bee Flatware

 

This table ended up with a garden/bee theme, so it would work well for a garden party or any spring-summer gathering.

Limelight Hydrangeas in a Summer Tablescape

 

I love, love, love Limelight Hydrangeas! The blossoms are so beautiful the way they start out white, then turn the most beautiful shade of green.

Limelight Hdrangea Centerpiece, Summer Table Setting

 

With bees on the flatware and bee skep soup tureens, I pulled out my little Kylemore honeypot purchased during a visit to Belleek Pottery in Northern Ireland last August. If you missed that tour, you’ll find it here: Tour Belleek Pottery, Northern Ireland.

Bee Flatware for a Summer Table, Limelight Hydrangea Centerpiece

 

Tour the gift store where I purchased this little honeypot here: Shopping in the Belleek Pottery Factory Store. It didn’t come with a dipper so I purchased one here: Honey Dipper.

Belleek Bee Kylemore Honeypot

 

Green wine stems were a dollar store find in Dollar Tree. They often have pretty wine glasses so it’s always worth a stroll down the glass aisle when stopping by. Beaded butterfly napkin rings worked well in this garden-themed table setting.

I forgot to take a close up photo of the bee flatware…

Butterfly Napkin Rings, Bee Flatware, Belleek HoneyPot

 

…but here’s a little close-up from a previous table setting.

 

You’ll find this whimsical bee flatware currently on sale where I purchased mine here: Bee Flatware. I can’t believe that sale, much less than what I paid!

 

Beaded butterfly napkin rings are from Pier 1 a few years back. Both the solid green and green plaid napkins are from Pier 1. I’m not sure if they are still available but all their napkins are currently on sale or on clearance right now here: Napkin Sale.

Butterfly Napkin Rings, Bee Floral Soup Tureens

 

The salad and dinner plate is Sketch Floral by Mikasa.

Limelight Hydrangeas for Summer Entertaining and Dining

 

It appears to still be available here: Sketch Floral.

Mikasa Sketch Floral Salad & Dinner Plate

 

The dinner plate…

Summer Dining on Screened Porch, Limelight Hydrangea Centerpiece

 

The chargers are by Kim Parker and the pattern is Emma’s Garden. They were a find in Marshall’s several years ago.

Kim Parker, Emma's Garden Floral Charger Plate

 

What kind of soup would you serve in bee skep soup tureens? Maybe a cold soup for these warm summer days? Do you have a favorite cold soup recipe for summer?

Summer Dining, Butterfly Napkin Rings and Bee Skep Soup Tureens

 

Looking forward to all the beautiful tables linked for this week’s Tablescape Thursday!

Spring Tablescape, Kim Parker Floral Charger Plates, Bee Skep Tureens and Bee Flatware

 

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Tablescape Thursday

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Comments

  1. Beatrice says

    Chilled Carrot-Orange Soup…been making it for 30 summers. Saute 1 tsp fresh minced ginger, 1 lb thinly sliced carrots, and 1/2 cup white of leek in 2 Tbs butter until leek is wilted. Stir in 2 cups chicken stock. Simmer 30 mins, puree smooth. (I use a stick immersion blender–fewer dishes and cleanup.) Add 1 cup fresh OJ (or more by the 1/2 cup, to your taste). Season with salt and white pepper (so you don’t have black flecks). Top with mint and an orange slice.

  2. Oh Susan, this is sooo bee-autiful! 🙂
    Those bee skep tureens are too cute, and I ♥ those gorgeous napkins!
    Are your guests really allowed to use them?
    (Honestly, if they were mine, it would give me the shudders to think they get all greasy! I hate bleachers!) lol
    Susan, do you dry your hydrangeas once you cut and use them indoors?
    They are so beautiful, I love dried ones as much as “fresh” ones, especially when they are white and green and they retain their colors! 🙂

    • Thanks so much, Cecilia! Yup, guest really do use them when I’ve had parties on the porch in the past. Some colors have a tendency to fade, but they always wash up well, at least so far.
      In the past what I’ve done is keep them watered in the vase and then just let them dry naturally in the vase. That seems to work the best. You can see some that I let dry naturally that way in this post: https://betweennapsontheporch.net/st-patricks-day-table-setting-with-limelight-hydrangea-and-belleek-pottery-centerpiece/
      Oh, I just remembered something, I once read that they dry best if you cut them at a certain point, I think it’s at the end of the season, but obviously before they turn brown. I think that’s what I remember reading. Maybe that’s why I have more luck with them drying well after they have turned green (later in the season) than when they are still so fresh and white.

  3. Susan, I have bee skep tureen envy every time you share them at a table! I love them used for a garden table with your watering can of hydrangea blooms! Our limelights are blooming up a storm too. Thanks for hosting!

    • Mary, don’t you want to plant more of the Limelights when you see them blooming! They are just so fresh, love their soft colors!

  4. Everything is bee-utiful! You find the most unusual and and adorable tableware. Thanks for sharing a table fit for a tribute to the bees.

  5. Beautiful, Susan! Love the overhead shot. I strongly encourage the use of Dollar Tree stemware. Another friend told me even restaurants use their stemware. It makes perfectly good sense!

    • Thanks, Rita! I didn’t know that about restaurants, but it does makes sense. They don’t have to feel too bad over breakage at those prices. 🙂

  6. Beautiful table, Susan. I adore those bee skep soup tureens. What a great find. You’ve teamed them up so beautifully with the chargers and dinner plates of different, but stunningly coordinated patterns. Gorgeous!

  7. Susan what a beautiful table featuring your limelights. Mine are in full bloom and they are showing off. The bee skep tureens are too cute, I haven’t ever seen those that Incan recall. I am thinking I might should order the flatware from Horchow. Thanks so much for Tablescape Thursday, I always look forward to linking up.

  8. As might imagine, I adore this bee skep tureens! Every time u use them in a tablescape I confess to bee-ing jealous!

  9. It’s been a long time since I have joined Tablescape Thursday, haven’t been blog posting much but wanting to more often. Your table is lovely and creative as always.

    Carolyn/A Southerner’s Notebook

    • Thanks so much, Carolyn! I know with summer here, there are so many activities going on plus, everyone taking vacations, etc… hard to find time to squeeze in everything we want to do.

  10. Wanda Bradey says

    Beautiful as always!

  11. Those limelights are gorgeous and look how they’ve grown! So adorable in a watering can. I especially like how you’ve paired the plaid napkins with the floral plates and chargers. And love the bee theme. Do you have a bee garden?

    • Thanks, Mia! I don’t have a bee garden exactly, but I do have quite a few plants that they seem to enjoy. I’ve seen larger bumblebees on the purple phlox I have growing in the garden. I used to have Bee Balm in my garden years ago. I had a lot of honeybees in the garden a few years back, they were all over the Coreopsis Moonbeam for days! Loved seeing them since they have been struggling in years past from what I’ve read.

  12. Love the bee skep tureens! This is interesting I also did a post with hydrangeas and a bee theme! Love the watering can for the flowers- I have two planted with flowers outside but hadn’t thought to use a watering can for indoors! I’ll have to keep that in mind 🙂

    • Haven’t we done that before, Liz? I think we did that once before, created similar tables. I wonder what other type hydrangeas are blooming this time of year. The standards I have on the deck are also blooming, well one is. I’m not sure why the other one hasn’t bloomed yet, I think it gets more shade.
      Thanks, Liz! The watering can worked better than I expected, it has nice wide opening so that really helped.

  13. Lynne Schrom says

    Beautiful! I have limelight hydrangeas too and have tried to pick them before the Fall when they are drying on the plant but they curl within a day and look terrible. Is there a trick I don’t know about that may make them last longer?

    • I read an article once that said to cut them while they are still really beautiful, but to do it toward the end of the season, not at the beginning when they are really fresh and new. If I’m remembering correctly, it was recommended that you put them in a vase of water and keep them watered and just let them dry right there in the vase. But I do remember that the time you cut them to bring them in is really important and I believe it said to do it toward the end of the blooming season, but obviously, before they start turning brown. Can’t remember where I read that now.

  14. Sandi Lee says

    The bee skep tureen stole the show!! No wonder they kept coming to mind. Perfect for summer

  15. The limelight hydrangeas are beautiful. I would make a cool cucumber gazpacho. Great for this time of year. Table is awesome, as usual.

  16. What a BEEEEutiful table:) Where do you find your napkin sheaths? I think that’s what they are called. I love the bee skep tureens. Wish we had an Old Time Pottery up here in Pa. Have a BEEutiful weekend and thanks for hosting!!!!

    • Thanks, Pinky! I’ve purchased the ones I have (a green set and a white set) from a store in Marietta, GA called The Magnolia Room. My friend, Marie, has purchased them online. If you Google for them, I think there’s a place online that carries them in a ton of different colors.
      We used to have two OTPs here in the Atlanta area but I think one closed down. So far the one that’s not too far away from me has remained open. Hope it stays open.

  17. Just wondering, did you have to stand on ladder to take those overhead shots? Be careful.

  18. Love it!

  19. Elizabeth says

    Love the tablescape! This post has given me the inspiration to fill a space in my landscape that has stood empty since I removed a lone rose bush that had been inappropriately planted between Helleri hollies and boxwoods when we purchased our house 2 yrs ago. I am going to now find a large planter and fill with a limelight hydrangea. Thank you for solving my 2 yr old problem.

  20. Limelights have to be one of my all time favorite summer shrubs. Yours are gorgeous! For your adorable bee skeps, try the honeydew soup (appropriate!) I have enjoyed making….can find the recipe online from James Beard. I make a few tweaks, but it is light and yummy.

  21. Bee still my heart, the tureens are adorable! Thanks for the fun Susan!

  22. Oh..Susan,

    I really missed the time I am your avid party goer. It’s been awhile not joining. I was too busy with my new career after working as Acct. Manager in one of Sweden’s largest bank, for 18 yrs.

    Now, I’m here to join you again coz I can’t get enough with your Amazing tablescapings. Love them all.

  23. Oh dear Susan I adore your Bee table, specially the soup bowls, are simply gorgeous !! Every detail is magnificent, you did a great job with it ! I love fun tables, as I just did one with sunflowers a chick and a rooster. Sometimes this kind of setting makes one so happy too !
    Thank you for hosting this tablescape party, my fav, as tablescaping is still my No.1 posts because for my love for china and dishes.

    • Thanks so much, Fabby! Appreciate those sweet words so much! I so agree, pretty tables just add so much to a dinner party, don’t they. 🙂 Thanks for joining in and making it such a fun party each week, Fabby! XXX

  24. Oh, my, how I love this table! I hope to have a limelight hydrangea growing in a pot by next summer. I have the Emma’s Garden chargers, plates and salad plates I gathered up on eBay after seeing them in your posts long ago. I did the same for Ma Maison plates. These are two of my absolute favorite summer sets of dishware. Your tablescape has just the right amount of texture, color and whimsy for my taste. Lovely, lovely, Susan!

  25. Those are my favorite of all the chargers you use. And I like the way the dinner and salad plates look with them. This is a fun summertime table.

  26. Bee-utiful. Love the flatware! Love the limelights!

  27. Cyndi Raines says

    Lovely summertime table! We all love the bee soup tureens. LOVE that flatware! One day, I’ll have a set. Thamks Susan!

  28. Donna zoltanski says

    I too love the limelights! A beautiful flower!

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