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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Garden Party at Gilmore Gardens

Our annual garden party in Pennsylvania is in the beautiful month of June!
Our annual garden party in Pennsylvania is in the beautiful month of June!
I wanted to post a few photos of our 3rd annual Gilmore Garden Party that was held the first Saturday in June this year. June is such a beautiful time of year in our gardens, which I am especially appreciating now that the garden is a bit ratty from our dry summer.

I set up the food in the kitchen, since I am shy of being caught in the rain like we were for our first party! We were, however, able to eat outside this year thankfully. The little girls so look forward to dressing up in all their finery. It was a fun, relaxed time of yummy food, walking through the garden and the ever popular hunt for little garden trinkets amongst the flowers. My girls could not wait to find their birdies! In past years, we have had a flower identification hunt with an illustrated guide. It was so nice just to share being in the garden with so many friends.
A garden party needs a yummy cake: Almond cake topped layered with fresh whipped cream and the most scrumptious strawberry icing!!
A garden party needs a yummy cake: Almond cake topped layered with fresh whipped cream and the most scrumptious strawberry icing!!


Goodies for our tea time...
Goodies for our tea time...
Making pretty bouquets is one of my favorite jobs for parties. I really liked this one for its tonality: pink tones Astrantia, pink-red Clematis 'Ernest Markham' and Digitalis purpurea.
Making pretty bouquets is one of my favorite jobs for parties. I really liked this one for its tonality: pink tones Astrantia, pink-red Clematis 'Ernest Markham' and Digitalis purpurea.
More yummy food around our kitchen counter...
More yummy food around our kitchen counter...
Rose bouquets from the garden in tiny tea cups and vases. Candles are always nice!
Rose bouquets from the garden in tiny tea cups and vases. Candles are always nice!
Strawberries and pineapple in my "new" silver serving stand, which I found at a yard sale down the block just before the party for five dollars... A fun surprise at the last minute.
Strawberries and pineapple in my "new" silver serving stand, which I found at a yard sale down the block just before the party for five dollars... A fun surprise at the last minute.
Tea sandwiches: Kalamata olives with feta and herbed chicken salad
Tea sandwiches: Kalamata olives with feta and herbed chicken salad
Our youngest garden party attender with her sweet mama. It is fun for us to include the little girls too.
Our youngest garden party attender with her sweet mama.
Clematis 'Lil' Nell' in a tea cup with a fern.
Clematis 'Lil' Nell' in a tea cup with a fern.
Pretty french twists tied up in a rose were fitting for the day.
Pretty french twists tied up in a rose were fitting for the day.
One last glimpse of party fare.
One last glimpse of party fare.
The Shade Path was all aglow with yellow that day, mostly from the perennial foxglove Digitalis grandiflora.
Let the hunting begin! They were not sure what they were looking for at first...
The Front Walk was looking smashing that day as well with blue Nepeta 'Walker's Low', orange Papaver orientalis and purple Allium christophii.
More hunting...
My oldest enjoying her success.
Our happy friend and her happy birdie.
Just a few pink foxgloves this year; this one is surround by Sedum 'Acre' by our maple tree.
Good memories made! The little girls really were on cloud nine for the day.
The Hill Garden was full of roses that day, Rosa 'The Fairy'.
My girls and I on the Shade Path on party day.

23 comments:

  1. Awww, sweet. What a wonderful tradition! The girls are so fortunate to have a mom like you. That was a lot of work, but obviously rewarding too. The Foxglove arrangement was especially pretty!

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    1. Thanks Beth. I really enjoy planning a party, though I still do not know when to stop! It is good to have enough energy left to enjoy the event too.
      ~Julie

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  2. It is like a fairytale! Everything looks perfect and such a fun thing to do for your girls!

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  3. It's a wonderful memory, Julie! Your girls are so nice and happy with this party and birdies.

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  4. My wife is so jealous - we have two boys so this sort of thing was always out of the question. We took them to the Nutcracker Suite when they were little and after a few minutes one said, "Is this all there is? Dancing?" Looks like a wonderful day for your little girls, and your garden looks great.

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    1. Our son is little so my husband is just dreaming of all of those boy activities that will happen some day... and I am dreaming of all the wheel barrows he will be able to push for me! They each have their perks. :)
      ~Julie

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  5. What a fantastic day you all had and the garden looked beautiful too. Days like this will make such happy memories for your lovely girls.

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    1. Thanks Pauline! I posted them late because I want to treasure it... not just let it pass me by moment by moment. It is an honor to get to mother my girls and boy.
      ~Julie

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  6. Good memories, Julie:) Thanks so much for hosting this for the past few years.. It's such a fun and girly tradition!!! Looking forward to next year..

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    1. It would not be a garden party without you, Olivia! :) Thanks for coming every year and making yummy biscotti and scones!!
      ~Julie

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  7. Oh, how fun! How I love garden parties! Everything looked lovely and delicious. Such beautiful young ladies too!

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    1. Thanks Brenda! I think they are beautiful too... and they are growing so quickly.
      ~Julie

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  8. Thanks for the memories of your tea party, very nice. Sheila

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  9. What a wonderful tradition. Something the girls and the moms look forward to every year, I'm sure!

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  10. How lovely, Julie. Your girls, your garden and the sumptuous garden fare are just perfect! Maybe one day you will find your way to my part of PA and I can serve you and your daughters an English tea in my garden. P x

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    1. Pam,
      Yes! We would love to have an authentic English tea! -especially in your beautiful garden!! I should look up the open gardens in your area for next summer :)
      ~Julie

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  11. Very, very sweet. Your goodies look delicious, the little girls are adorable, and your flowers are beautiful! I love those little birds, too! And what a nice mother-daughters picture!

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  12. Oh Julie how very special. They have a special friend, neighbor and mother in you. I love tea parties and wow what a garden party to celebrate. Reminds me of a tea party I attended.

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  13. Lovely to think about the delightful days of early June when our gardens were at their best. Mine is sffering so much now, I dispair looking at it. Christina

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  14. You had a beautiful day with the children. It was like out of another place in time with how pretty you made the garden party.

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  15. Lovely children, beautifull garden on a nice familyday in June! the cake!! hmmmmm..... greeting Diny

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  16. What wonderful memories your girls will have! You are a special lady indeed.

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