Lavender and Tea in the Garden

Tea time in the garden is a May affair -- usually in June it's too hot in the afternoon to have tea in the garden -- even though most of the garden tables are shaded.

But we've had rare late June weather -- cool weather! A perfect afternoon to have tea in the garden.

Friend Sally joined me for we had a purpose to get together. We don't need, however, a purpose for tea!!!

And all of the tea fixings. . . .

Easily fit into a basket. Much handier and easier to carry than trying to balance a tray down the back stairs!

Everything, tea cloth and napkins, tea pot, tea cups and saucers and spoons as well as the tea treat -- lemon poppyseed muffins, easily fit into the basket. And out to the garden I go!!!

The table under the pergola is the perfect place for tea. It's shady and you have a nice view of the herb garden!

The basket is perfect to serve the muffins from while everything else goes on the table . . . My Burleighware Asiatic Pheasant is my tea cup of choice for I have a wee teapot that matches which is just perfect for a cup and a half of tea each. I love anything blue and white and this Asiatic Pheasant is such a subtle hue of blue. And the blue and white looks as pretty in the garden as it does inside Linderhof!

And the purpose -- not just tea . . .

For we made lavender wands or bottles. Linderhof's lavender is at it's peak and I love the bottles to put in amongst the linens for I love lavender scented sheets and pillowcases. So as we sipped and munched and wove, we spied the catbird that's come back for the summer . . . eyeing the crumbs we were dropping and noticed the butterfly that was flitting from one lavender bloom to another.

It was a pleasant afternoon in the garden as we visited and wove and had our tea. And the tea -- not my normal afternoon tea but rather a lavender Earl Grey -- a perfect tea for a lavender weaving party!

It's Saturday which means that it's time to join Bernideen for Tea in the Garden on Saturday. It's the first weekend of summer -- what better way to spend it than in the garden with a cup (or glass) of tea!