Peonies with Pow!!!!

I just love, love, love peonies.  A few days ago, a storm was predicted, so I scurried outside and snipped a big bunch of them before the rain ruined them.  I didn't know at the time, but that storm resulted in the worst loss of life due to a natural disaster in the USA next to hurricane Katrina.  I was so worried about my flowers, but so many families lost every thing they had as well as those they hold so dear.  I so sincerely pray for their healing.  

I can't remember the name of the varieties, but I must say that my peonies are looking really great!

This one looks like I photoshopped it!  It doesn't even look real.  It actually looks just like the one on the plates I chose for this tablescape.

I love this version, too, but it seems to "shatter" really easily.

Bet ya thought I'd set a serene pink and white table with them!!!  Well, I'm walking on the wild side today with this 'scape!

It was such a beautiful afternoon. I could not have guessed what would come later that night. 

I set this up on our lower terrace, but I shot this from the upper one through the climbing hydrangea foliage.

Here's the wide shot of the lower terrace.  The beds are starting to fill in, but I haven't planted the annual color yet.

So I pulled out the vibrant colors from the storage closet and linen press.  They really pop against the white of the outdoor furniture and the stone terrace.

I started with a very bright turquoise tablecloth.  It is actually a rectangular size, but I just pouffed and draped and it works just fine.  I just wish the wrinkles were a little less obvious, but hey, think shabby chic, ok?

These plates are some of my very favorite.  They are melamine from Target several years ago.  Here's where these bold colors came from!

This flatware is made by Cambridge.  It is super cheap, but a quite acceptable quality for a novelty look. 

My sweet mom gave me these napkin rings years ago.  She has a huge Fiesta pottery collection and this has always reminded me of Fiesta ware.  I really don't think it is, though.  The bright green napkins are from Homegoods.

I slipped a silk peony in each napkin ring, too, just for a little lushness.

These bright pink plastic glasses are also from Homegoods, and the wine tumblers are actually vases that I bought in bulk from the wholesaler years ago.  They are the only fragile thing on the table.  Most of the rest is plastic!

I went to apple green again for the urn shaped vase for the peonies.  I had two of these, but I broke one.  It was nice to use them both on a table, but for a small table like this, one is sufficient.

Isn't it a shame that the blooming season is so short?

The flowers on the plates will last, but I can never bring myself to use them unless I have peonies to go with them.

Oh.....yummy!

Can't you almost smell them? 

 Well, here's the sad part.....we never got to eat at this table that night, as the weatherman strongly suggested that we prepare for bad weather, so I gathered these things and took them to the breakfast room table.  Nice, but not the same.

I don't want to sound like I'm whining.  A lost opportunity is nothing like the loss that so many Southerners experienced this week.  There are so many people and organizations leading drives for supplies to help the affected area.  If you are so moved, please find a way to help.

Of course, my very favorite use of peonies was at my beautiful daughter's wedding.  The only flowers used in the bouquets, or the tables were peonies.  What a precious memory!

On Thursday, I'll be linking up with Susan's Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch. Check out the many creative postings at:

betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

You can also find this post on Wow Us Wednesday at Savy Southern Style:

http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

This is a really fun blog party.  Be sure to give it a visit!

Also, I'm posting at All Thing's Inspired, a blog party at Robin's "All Things Heart and Home" beautiful blog:

http://www.allthingsheartandhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/ati21.jpg

You can see this also at:

Feathered Nest Friday

Show and Tell Friday

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