How To Create A Garden Inspired Tablescape
I recently hosted a birthday brunch for a very dear friend and wanted to create something special for her party. I work much better when I go with a theme, so I decided on a garden theme and I can’t wait to show you how to create a garden inspired tablescape.
This particular friend and I met, along with 2 others, years ago when our daughters were in high school drill team together. After countless Friday night football games and a gazillion dance competitions, we became very close friends. We started celebrating each others birthdays, and 16 years later, we still get together and celebrate. Fortunately, our birthdays are spread apart, so we get together about every 3 months.
When I plan an event or party, and even when I decorate a space, I like to start with an inspiration piece. This gives me direction and a starting point. The ideas quickly build from this inspiration or focal point piece.
For this garden inspired party, my inspiration piece was a terra cotta plant saucer. I saw a few in my garage several months ago, and immediately thought they would make really cute plate chargers. And from there, the ideas just began to flow.
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centerpiece
I have a moss table runner that I used down the center of my table, placed on an angle. Next, I randomly layered collard green leaves around the table. I bought a bundle of them at the grocery store for $1.29.
The centerpiece was an old metal watering can, and I cut flowers from my garden to fill it. I also tucked in a couple of carrots with the green leafy tops sticking out.
I purchased 2 white flowering plants from the nursery and potted in two aged terra cotta pots and placed one on either side of the watering can.
Smaller terra cotta pots, seed packets, a couple of old gardening spades and some carrot bundles randomly placed along the moss runner finished off my centerpiece.
I saw some huge white carrots at the grocery store that were so neat. Have you ever seen such huge carrots???
I’ve never seen anything like them before and I thought they would be a fun addition to my table, so I grabbed a couple of them. I researched and found out they are called Daikon and sometimes referred to as oriental winter radish. They are similar in shape to a carrot with a flavor similar to a mild radish.
I plopped those little pretties at one end of my centerpiece to add a bit of drama.
place settings
Since I had the moss runner and the collard greens scattered along the table, I didn’t use place mats. My outdoor table is narrow, so placemats would have been a bit too much.
Instead, I used the large terra cotta plant saucers as a plate charger. The next layer was a white dinner plate topped off with a salad plate with an ivy border. I found a set of 11 ivy salad plates at a thrift store recently for $4.94. I’m pretty sure I have squealed out loud when I saw them! I had been wondering what plates to use for my garden inspired tablescape, and I found these at the perfect time.
I’ve mentioned before how important it is to have a set of white plates if you do a lot of tablescapes or entertaining. They make a great layer for any theme or color scheme. My white plates have been thrifted over time, and I never spend more than a couple of dollars for each plate. I highly recommend starting a collection of them to have on hand, and if you don’t want to thrift them, you might like these Crate and Barrel plates. I use these fairly often, as well.
Garden gloves I found at the dollar store for $1.00 a pair, made the perfect silverware holder. Since I was only setting a table for for, I only had to buy 2 pairs of gloves. I would say that’s a pretty inexpensive investment for a fun and unusual addition to a tablescape.
The napkins are linen and I’ve had them for years. They are great with any tablesetting. For this tablescape, I tied them with a piece of jute, tucked in a piece of rosemary from my garden and placed them on the center of each plate. A garden marker with each guests name on it was tucked into the napkin, as well. I purchased a package of these a long time ago at the dollar store, and just used a sharpie marker to write each name.
finishing touches
I remembered the waist aprons I used on the back my chairs last fall, and thought they would be really cute with some seed packets, gloves and garden tools. Most of these things, I had on hand and purchased the rest at the dollar store. I spent very little money and can use all of these things again.
I think the aprons tied on the chair backs was the perfect finishing touch to my garden inspired tablescape!
menu
For the menu, I served tomato soup with homemade croutons and basil pesto drizzle, a yummy quiche, mixed greens salad with apples, dried cranberries and goat cheese, and carrot muffins.
I will be sharing the recipes soon, because they are all some of my favorites and super easy to make.
Here is a sneak peak of how I decorated and served the carrot muffins.
I hope you got some inspiration for how to create a garden inspired tablescape. I appreciate you being here and following along, and would love to hear if you plan your own garden party!
blessings,
If you enjoy tablescape inspiration, you might like my “Peachy Summer Tablescape“, or my Fiesta themed party. This Spring inspired table was really fun too!
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Cute ideas! Thanks for sharing.
So glad you liked it!
Thanks so much for following along and commenting!
I love it, very inspirational. You are blessed with a very creative mind. Blessings.
Aww, that is so sweet for you to say, and I am so glad you enjoyed this post!
I am new to your blog, so glad I found you!!!! This tablescape is adorable. I’m going to copy it for a friends upcoming birthday, so so cute!!!!! Love all of your ideas!!!! Thank you!!!
Oh, I’m so glad you’re here! Thank you so much for the kind words!
I would love to see pictures after you do your own tablescape!
Absolutely perfect!!! Love the aprons on the back and the saucer chargers!!! The menu sounds perfect too!!! You are such an inspiration!!!
That’s so kind of you to say! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Once again you’ve nailed it. I can use the theme for a friend’s early September birthday luncheon. Too hot to start fall decor!!
Oh, I’m so glad you liked it and found some inspiration here.
You might be interested in the tablescape I am creating at the end of August too.
Michele
I just love your creativity! I love a garden theme and love using terra cotta on the table. Stunning!
Thanks so much sweet friend! This one was a fun one to put together!
LOve your tablescapes! Lots of good ideas here to steal- LOL
Oh, good! So glad you liked it!
Thanks so much for following along and commenting!
This is beautiful and so inspiring!
Thank you so much!! I appreciate you following and commenting!
I love this so much, Michele! This is my kind of tablescape. I especially love the gloves holding the silverware. I would like to share this in my weekly wrap-up this week.
I am so glad you like it Kim! And I would be honored for you to share it!
Thanks again!
I just adore all these details! What a beautiful tablescape, Michele!
Thank you so much Tara! So honored to be the Editor’s Choice!!
Thank you so much!! So honored to be your Editor’s Choice!!!
Oh this is such a cute idea… your friend is so lucky to have a friend like you to celebrate birthdays with and to make her feel special.😍 I am certainly going to remember this to make my friends feel special when celebrating birthdays.💓
Oh, I’m so glad you liked it! I really had such a fun time creating this tablescape. It was one of my favorites!
Being an avid gardener, and a member of a garden club, I truly LOVE everything creatively done here! Already shared this post with several gardening friends!! Awesome job!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, and thank you so much for the kind words!! I really appreciate your sharing it too.
I absolutely LOVE this. Every single detail is perfect.
Thank you sweet friend! It was such a fun table to create.
This is so cute Michele. I love all your creative table ideas.
Thanks so much Rachel! I loved creating this table.
Oh my soul, I want to come to one of your parties! I bet everyone that comes feels so special. Love this!
Aww, thanks so much for saying that Cindy! I would love for you to come over for a party!
I am dying over your tablescape! All the details are just so amazing. The moss runner! I love the idea of using the terra cotta pot saucers as chargers! The gardening gloves for silverware holders…Wow I love it all! Please come and link up to my party so I can highlight this whole garden inspired tablescape! https://karinskottage.com/2022/03/bring-on-spring-linky-party.html
Hugs,
Karin
Oh, I’m so glad you like it and I really appreciate the kind words!
Love every detail, Michelle!
Thanks so much Lora! This was one of my favorite tablescapes to create.
Are what you referred to as white carrots actually parsnips?
No, they are called Daikon and sometimes referred to as oriental winter radish. They are similar in shape to a carrot with a flavor similar to a mild radish.
Love this!
Thanks so much Leslie! That was one of my favorite tablescapes to create.