Tropical Salute to the End of Summer

Last weekend, I decided to give summer it's due!  I've wanted to do a completely tropical table all season.  Then.....drumroll please......I found these bamboo edged dishes on sale and I jumped for joy.  There was no delay!  I couldn't wait to invite friends and get going.

It was a bit warm, but this HAD to be set up outside.  

I found this grass table skirt at Hobby Lobby, and I pinned it on over a simple white caterer's cloth.  Without this, it wouldn't feel quite as festive.

What could be more tropical than a pineapple centerpiece?  I've seen so many pintrest posts where the pineapple is used as a vase, but to be frank, I like the top of the pineapple as much as the fruity part.  AND, you can then use the pineapple afterward.

I usually avoid the cheap grocery store bouquets, because they sort of look like a fruit salad, but in this case, that's exactly the look I was going for.  I just used blocks of oasis around the pineapple and placed them on a pink plastic plate.

These tropical leaves are from the floral wholesaler.  I used them under each dinner plate and under the centerpiece.  By the way, they lasted forever!  These orange placemats grounded the plates on the white cloth.

These plates were on sale at the Pottery Barn outlet.  I bought 8 dinner plates and 8 salad plates for less than $70!!!  That was a sale to get excited about.

And here's why I was so excited!!! This is the dinnerware I have been coveting for a long time.  It's Juliska's bamboo pattern and it is fabulous.  This dinner plate runs $42 each and each salad plate is $22.  Not extremely expensive, but I haven't jumped on them just yet at that price.  Now, I'll just be very happy with the Pottery Barn plates.  They are melamine, not pottery, but that is actually great for this style.

Of course, my bamboo handled flatware was just the ticket for this table.

To introduce even more color, I used green cotton napkins and a silk hibiscus ring.

I don't remember where I got these, maybe  Party City.  That green strip is lined with wire, so you can just roll it into a ring.  It came in several colors.  That T-pin in the background is what I used to pin on the "hula skirt".

These hot pink plastic glasses came from Homegoods, I think.

Didn't it come together fun?

And everyone got a lei to take home.  Believe me, I didn't expect anyone to wear one, and it was much too hot, anyhow, but I love to have a simple little gift for our guests.  You never know when you might be invited to a Jimmy Buffett concert, right?

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Dahlias and Tomatoes

Last week, on my way home from Cashiers, N. C. (post to come on that), I passed a darling couple who were selling dahlia plants and arrangements.  If you've ever driven that area, you know how I risked my life when I turned around at my first opportunity and went back to buy some.  That mountain is steep and the curves are wicked.  Here's what I chose: mixed dahlias in a commercial sized empty tomato tin can.  Here they are sitting on the railing of our deck when I got home.

Well, I originally intended to put the flowers into another container, but as I looked at them, I decided to celebrate the humble tomato with a yellow and red tablescape. 

I haven't used these dishes or these linens in ages.

These French linens from Souleiado fit the bill.  Actually, the French do red and yellow together pretty often, and these small prints were just about perfect to go with this can label. 

I used these wicker chargers from World Market and added a dinner plate made in Portugal by Vista Alegre called "Bahia".

Then, to make a break from the busy tablecloth and dinner plate, I added a salad plate by Over and Back, Inc., made in Italy.  The bowls were some I picked up at Homegoods last year, made by 222 Fifth and fittingly called "Heirloom Tomato".  Each one of the four is different and the variety is depicted on the outside, as well as the inside.  This one is all red......

 

This one all yellow.......

Another red one......

 

And a red and yellow stripe.  I served gazpacho in them, of course!

I think this red and yellow flatware came from Target many moons ago. 

This red goblet is pretty old.  I can't even remember where I got it.  The clear stemless wine glass beside it is Reidel.

Even though there were just four of us, I put out place cards, mainly because I wanted to use these small, red zebra tomatoes with them.  Aren't they cute?  And, man, oh man, do they taste good!  All of the tomatoes come from a wonderful road side fruit stand called Osage Farms in Rabun Gap that I passed on the way up to Cashiers and couldn't wait to stop at on my way home.  Incredible stuff!

 

It made a pretty table.  Kind of different, and certainly a tribute to the end of summer.

Overhead view.

Just before our company came, I was in the refrigerator getting cheese, and I spied this quart of heirloom cherry tomatoes in all of these great colors, so I sprinkled them around the base of the tin and shot one more photo.  Brilliant, huh????  I love the way they look.

Ahhhh!  Daliahs.  That north Georgia/ North Carolina area grows some mighty fine beauties. I had heard that all of the rain this year spoiled them, but the sweet lady I bought these from said that God shone on her fields and she had plenty!  I love that!

 

 

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