Today I am delighted to be participating in the Spring Into Summer Porches, Patios, and Outdoor Spaces Blog Hop hosted by my sweet friend Amber of Follow The Yellow Brick Home. It has been a rather wet and windy spring here at Storybook Cottage. The upside is everything is so incredibly green. On a recent sunny day, our family enjoyed an al fresco meal. Here is a peek at Blue Gingham In The Garden.
Blue Gingham In The Garden
If you are stopping by from County Road 407 may I say, “Welcome!” my friend Cindy has a true flair for decorating both indoors and out.
I recently found this blue and white gingham linen tablecloth at an estate sale for $3.00. I have always loved gingham and it conveys summer to me.
The color palette of our garden contains blooms in various whites, creams, pinks, soft greens, and purples.
This is our fifth summer at Storybook Cottage. This garden is a perfect example of Good Things Come To Those Who Wait.
Our first year I planted a climbing rose in April. This was at its summertime peak.
![[Secret%2520Garden%2520318%255B3%255D.jpg]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mxQBAyvf9bw/VuBPJ7GFMaI/AAAAAAAAu9s/gAWQXvFxQPE/s1600/Secret%252520Garden%252520318%25255B3%25255D.jpg)
In its fourth year, it looked like THIS.
That first year I also planted Sarah Bernhardt peonies. They took three years to bloom.
Purple bearded irises inspired by Van Gogh and his time in France. The bulbs came from my BFF Tracy’s garden in California.
Every year I try something new. So far the Longiflorum Hybrid lilies I planted as bulbs are doing beautifully. I also planted gladiola and dahlia bulbs which should bloom later in the season.
Our center garden bed, shown just beyond the table, contains soft green plants such as lambs ear, dusty miller, coleus and various hostas.
The sixteen mature oak trees on our property do make gardening a challenge but they also offer tremendous shade.
Summer Inspired Tablescape
This tablescape was created as a tribute to the soft shades.
I like leaving something pretty out on the patio table. Trouble is I often forget to water pots placed here. So the faux pink geranium and charming pink pot I found at Ikea are perfect.
The quality of melamine (plastic) plates and cups seem to be getting better and better.
I love to pair florals with gingham.
The pink hobnail glasses make me smile.
I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into my garden.
For more inspiration on Porches, Patios, and Outdoor Spaces please visit the lovely sites below.
Up next on the tour is Let’s Add Sprinkles. Katie’s sunny decor will surely bring you a smile.
I’ll see you on Wednesday!
Laura
This is adorable. I love your tablecloth. What a find. Your patience paid off because your flowers are amazing.
Your garden certainly has come together. Love your arbor with its pink glory . You must be thrilled to have your peony blooms. Smelling them I’m sure makes you smile.
Enjoy your day
Cindy
Your flowers really are so beautiful and your check table looks so inviting. Wish I was there to visit with you.
It’s so inviting!! I can’t think of anything else to add to your backyard to make it any better. I’t so YUMMY!!!
Your patience has paid off…your garden is gorgeous! I love your roses and peonies! I too have Sarah Bernhadts and I am patiently waiting for them to bloom this year. Your touches of blue add so much fun to the yard as well! Happy summer!!
Laura, your garden is beautiful! Would you believe I bought two blue gingham tablecloths on sale last week? Great minds think alike Yours is lovely! I plan to use mine for the Fourth of July. It is a pleasure to join you for the hop this week. Blessings, Cecilia @ My Thrift Store Addiction
Laura I love your table and the beautiful colors you chose. Such a beautiful display. Have a great week my friend!
I love how your table echos the colors in your beautiful gardens, Laura! Blue and white gingham is so wonderfully classic. As we anticipate the next house, leaving the gardens is probably the hardest thing:( It takes so long for your favorite perennials and bushes to take hold and flourish. I know exactly which plants I will be getting started right away; but it will be hard to be patient. Yours are beautiful!
These are all my favorite colors, so I think this is just lovely. And that climbing rose! Gorgeous!
That rose is incredible.
I also have 16 oak trees.
You have some beautiful things growing in your garden. Your gingham tablecloth was such a good find!
Laura, your gardens are amazing! It’s so encouraging to see how things change over time. Love the way you set the table too.
Laura,
Your garden is beautiful! Yes, good things come to those who wait and your flowers are proof.
Happy summer,
Judith
Laura, all your flowers are beautiful, but the climbing roses are just stunning. Well worth waiting a year or 2 for. The blue gingham tablecloth is lovely and perfect for summer dining alfresco.
so pretty, Laura. your yard and flowers are amazing. I need to plant so many things and peonies and iris are on my list. Adorable pic of you as always!
Your gingham tablecloth is so cute = I need to find mine.
Your rose arbor is beautiful. I wish I had a spot to grow one in our gardenl
Your post made me swoon…Everything is perfect! Splendid flowers and an adorable table!Thank you for your visit in my little blog.Hugs!
Oh to dream of growing peonies would be so wonderful. Love all your flowers and how you echoed the colors on your tablescape. The gingham tablecloth was a real bargain and perfect to mix with your dishes.
You are one patient woman. I planted hydrangeas one year and on year 2 they didn’t bloom so I ripped them out. Now I wish I’d left them there. Love love your garden and all of your beautiful color. I keep seeing the melamine plates and never buy them. Waiting on the fence and a new table for the back porch. Thanks for the inspo today!
Hi Laura
Oh my goodness your climbing rose is gorgeous! This gives me hope because I just put an arbor up in my garden this year and planted a pink climbing rose, I hope it turns out as beautiful as yours! I also planted the same type of peony as well! I enjoyed seeing your outdoor spaces!
Larissa
Blue gingham + pink glassware is so perfect and sweet!! I love this Laura!
Laura this is the sweetest, magical setting! Your roses…sighs… I planted a knock out rose in an urn this spring and it was doing great but now something has eaten holes in all the leaves. I have a green thumb except when it comes to roses, I wish I could keep the bugs off! Your climbing roses are dreamy and you look so pretty in the picture!
I can’t believe those pink hydrangeas are faux. I need something like that for our front porch too. I have the ferns there but I don’t like to keep potted plants on the porch because mosquitoes and gnats seem to hover around the soil even if the plants are supposed to deter bugs.
I agree about the melamine plates. Your combo of floral and gingham is classic and so cottage! I love the estate tablecloth too. What a great find! Your outdoor table setting has inspired me to create a tablescape on our patio, I have actually never done a tablescape out there. I have similar black metal patio furniture, and you have shown how beautiful it can be when it is all dressed up!
Thank you so much for joining the hop sweet friend! I hope you enjoy many al fresco dining experiences all summer in your beautiful garden!
A lovely tablescape in a lovely setting. Your roses and peonies. are so beautiful. I swear I could almost smell those peonies. Spring has been wet and chilly here so everything seems a bit delayed but I’ll be patient. The melamine plates were a big surprise. I must be going to the wrong stores since I haven’t come upon them. Are the pink hobnail glasses vintage/ antique items or can they be purchased.? They would be perfect with my pink depression glass items.
Hope you have a wonderful summer.
Love, love, love this blue, white and pink color combination, Laura. It is gorgeous! I can’t get over your climbing roses. The are really beautiful. They are on my “flower bucket list” as are peonies. I’m in a coastal zone so it might be easier to grow hydrangeas but I’m always hopeful. Love your table setting and our relaxing garden too. It’s all really inviting. Hugs and happy summer, CoCo
Your blue gingham and pink roses are so sweet and summery mingled together. How cute are those dishes and tumblers together! I really thought they were antique pink glassware. I was drooling over them. Your roses are such a lovely welcome to your garden. We will have roses here but climbing roses aren’t usually hardy enough. They definitely won’t be out until the end of June at least. I have some peonies that have sprouted this week but it will be another three weeks or so until I see some blossoms. Apple blossoms are bursting out all over though and the lilacs will be out by next week…I hope.
Enjoy your beautiful spring garden. Some lucky person will have a feast for the eyes (and nose) next summer when they take up residence!
Thank you for sharing and inspiring! 🙂
Laura, love your gingham table set for a warm spring day’s luncheon!!! Your flowers look lovely and the rose on the arbor is loving its home. Just beautiful!!! I agree about the melamine. I keep finding really pretty plates I would like to bring home. 😉
Enjoy your garden,
Barb 🙂
Oh , Laura, how beautiful your garden is! Your table is so pretty and in such a perfect setting! That pink climbing rose is AMAZING!! I am sure after the first summer you were wondering about it, but WOW, it has really delivered! The peonies, the lilies, all of it is just delightful and must make spending time out there a joy! Thank you for welcoming us into your garden!
First… that climbing rose before and after picture! Wow!!!! Th growth is amazing! Love your beautiful table with the blue gingham and the pink on top!
Your garden is so pretty! The flowers add a romantic and inviting vibe. I also love your summer tablescape and the pop of color. Colorful plates and glasses are my favorite pieces. Thank you for giving us a glance at your beautiful garden!
I’m smiling at how long it to the peony to bloom. I planted mine four years ago – not knowing anything about this lovely shrub. The first year just a bit of leaves, so I thought they weren’t going to make it. I think i even pull out what little greenery that came up! Here we are, four years later and I have beautiful peony plants!!!!
Thanks for the post 🙂 pinning and following.
Rachelle
OMG!!! That climbing rose trellis is spectacular! What variety of rose is it.? Just a stunning display.