Though we enjoy our gardens all summer long and perhaps, in some cases, all the way into October, September is the ideal time to celebrate and give thanks for the harvest, for it is the month most bursting with the fruits of the vines. The following tablescape is inspired by the magic of the harvest, and features the amazing apple! I hope you enjoy!
“Bean finds the best apple in our tree and hands it up to me. “You know what this tastes like when you first bite into it?” she asks.
“No, what?”
“Blue sky.”
“You’re zoomed.”
“You ever eat blue sky?”
“No,” I admit.
“Try it sometime,” she says. “It’s apple-flavored.”
~ Rodman Philbrick, The Last Book in the Universe
To me, September means apples! Lots and lots and lots of apples! And no September is complete without an excursion in apple picking. (click here to see a photo essay from one of our trips to the orchard). Apple cobblers, apple pies, apple crisps, apple muffins, apple pancakes… you name it! I had so much fun creating an elegant celebration of this amazing fruit. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Note: If you are looking for a more traditional tablescape for a harvest or Thanksgiving celebration, click here to see a wispy, foliage filled decor!
Details of my design:
- My tablecloths begin with a gorgeous, apple-red Rose Tree Royal Linen Tablecloth from Amazon topped with a stunning, vintage Quaker Lace over cloth purchased gently used on ebay.
- My durable, Williams-Sonoma coated-rattan charger plates are reminiscent of a basket that one might use to collect apples! They wipe clean, look amazing, and were just the accent I was looking for! I found them gently used on ebay as well.
- My plates are a lovingly mismatched, textural juxtaposition of vintage Harmony House Cascade china (a family heirloom) and salad plates from the Red Vanilla Classic White dishwasher-safe dinnerware collection available at Overstock.com. The rose china, though discontinued, is often available on ebay or on china websites like replacements.com. I adore the formal pink and gold along with the Victorian styling of the white salad plates.
- Matching the tablecloth, Rose Tree Royal Linen Napkins purchased at Amazon in sets of six are gently folded and laid just above the dinner plates. They intentionally drape both above and below the plates to further highlight their accent.
- Simple yet elegant menus (printed onto ivory card stock using MS Word) separated by course and accentuated with complementary wine pairings grace each place setting and seem to please guests by providing them with an outline of the spectacular meal to follow as well as a keepsake.
- I tend to favor vignette centerpieces, and this tablescape is no exception. Two cinnamon-toned tapers sitting in silver candleholders adorned with thin,pink satin bows grace the central spot. Complementing them both in front and behind sit small bud vases filled with seasonally-toned but diminutive blossoms (so as not to overpower). To one side of this collection, a pierced tray lined with red cabbage leaves displays a pile of red and golden apples interspersed with pomegranates and small white accent flowers and topped with a thick, golden, satin bow. On the other side a decorative display trunk overflows with large, fresh crabapples over a golden napkin.
- My flatware of choice here is a gold electroplated set acquired in my oft preferred method of purchasing gently used on ebay.
- My glassware for this setting is a bit complex as I provided multiple glasses for varying pairings. Each setting included a red goblet, a gilded Fostoria wine glass, a full-sized as well as a half-sized flute, a Timon crystal, handled liqueur glass, and a water glass.
- My homemade favors gifted to each guest were gourmet caramel apples dipped in chocolate and nuts and draped with white and semisweet chocolate. I found the wonderfully clear instructions for their creation from OurBestBites.com.
- My scroll placards were so simple and yet so fun! Script font names printed on a single sheet on paper and then cut into strips and rolled along a pencil. I then wrapped the scrolls around the apple sticks.
- Embellishments: In addition to the caramel apples, a few all natural Lake Champlain Chocolates in seasonal foils (purchased a Whole Foods) sat aside each plate.
And that’s that!! I hope to post details of my delicious gluten-free menu for this feast soon, and in the mean time, here are some other related posts you might enjoy:
Happy Harvest!!
