Paisley and Goldenrods

From 1927 until 1959, the Goldenrod was the official state flower in Alabama.  During the fall, they grow wild and have the most vibrant displays of color.  You’ll find them growing along the sides of roads, in the woods and sometimes even find entire fields covered with Goldenrods.   To many people, they are just weeds…but to me, they’re like glorious little golden sunbeams that signal Autumn is finally here.   

This is just one small group of Goldenrods that are growing at the edge of the woods behind my house.  They have always been one of my favorite flowers.

I wanted to make a table setting with sprays of Goldenrods as my centerpiece and used a white iridescent vase to hold the arrangement.  Since I wanted the flowers to be the focal point of the table, I decided the setting needed to be very simple. 

I kept the gold damask tablecloth from last week’s table and layered a red paisley runner over the cloth.  This runner is one of my favorites to use in the fall as it has so many different colors in it…blue, green, gold, red, and white.

 

For each place setting, I began with gold baroque chargers.  Then I layered white dinner plates with a gold rim and amber Depression salad plates on the chargers.  I added antique soup bowls and topped them with “Fairfield” glasses in honey gold to use for dessert.

Oops, I  had moved the spoon to take a photo and realized looking at this photo that I forgot to move it back.

I used crystal votive candleholders around the vase and I love the shadowy swirls you can see on the table!

Gold and crystal hurricane candleholders were placed at each end of the table.

Now I have a confession to make…I am a place card-aholic.  Even if it’s simply the four of us at home, I love putting place cards on the table.  My sweet husband says after all these years we should know where we sit!  Can’t help it though…I just adore adding them to the table.

I thought this Victorian lady would be perfect for the table.  She’s wearing a beautiful yellow gown and has a bouquet of flowers in her lap.  Hmmm…might even be some goldenrods in that bouquet!

Dinner is ready and the candles are burning…

One last view of the Goldenrods by candlelight.

I’m joining Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for another Tablescape Thursday.  We would love for you to come join in the fun!

In the Days of the Golden Rod by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Across the meadow in brooding shadow
I walk to drink of the autumn's wine­
The charm of story, the artist's glory,
To-day on these silvering hills is mine;
On height, in hollow, where'er I follow,
By mellow hillside and searing sod,
Its plumes uplifting, in light winds drifting,
I see the glimmer of golden-rod.
In this latest comer the vanished summer
Has left its sunshine the world to cheer,
And bids us remember in late September
What beauty mates with the passing year.
The days that are fleetest are still the sweetest,
And life is near to the heart of God,
And the peace of heaven to earth is given
In this wonderful time of the golden-rod.

Thank you for visiting and please come back soon!

DG