The new issue of Country Gardens magazine has arrived, and there are two articles I think will be of special interest to fellow tea lovers. First, I always enjoy seeing the sweet garden sheds that typically are featured on the cover, but I did not realize until I read this article that the cover structure is in fact a "tea cottage." Lovely!
This tea cottage is in Louisville, Kentucky, so of course I'm hoping my Kentucky friend Linda will discover a connection to the homeowner and wrangle a visit so we can have a more in-depth peek inside. I loved seeing the pink ruffle dishes, which the article says the owner once used to celebrate her daughters' birthdays when they were little girls.
The other fun article in this issue is about Flora Danica. Are you familiar with this pattern? I wasn't until I read about it a few years ago. I can't imagine I will ever own a piece, but since this tableware from Royal Copenhagen is considered the most prestigious in the world, I figured I should at least add Flora Danica to my teaware vocabulary! This article features a Maine woman whose father actually painted Flora Danica wares in Copenhagen, and I was fascinated to learn of the work that goes into all these botanical designs. The sweetest part of the story is that she didn't have a complete demitasse service and hinted that she wanted her husband to find her the missing pieces for her birthday. When the set arrived, she turned it over to find that it was signed by her late father. So if you're into tea cottages or collect Flora Danica—or perhaps you're just a dreamer like myself—this is an issue of Country Gardens you're likely to enjoy.
Cute tea cottage. We all need one of those! Hmm... I'll see what I can do.
ReplyDeleteOh, I do need to find this issue! Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteSounds like my cup of tea..I will be on the hunt for this edition
ReplyDeleteAngela, you teach me so much. I had never heard of this magazine before. I will try to get a subscription. Magazines are not sold on our little island, however, there are many sold on the big island of Puerto Rico. The big island is beginning to look like a state having the same stores, fast food, etc. My life is on this little remote island and I rarely go to the big island. I especially love that the woman asked for pieces to complete her Flora Danica and they had been painted by her father. Blessings
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with that pattern either. But it's pretty. And what a wonderful story!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! What a sweet post, Angela!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of Flora Danica before, but it is lovely, and that story is so sweet. thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good issue, Angela. Cute tea house! So glad she was able to get her set completed, especially pieces painted by her Dad. Glad to hear about it. Joanie
ReplyDeleteOh I would love this tea cottage. I tried making my husband's garden shed my tea cottage, but for some reason he thought it should be for dirt and potting plants. Hummm? Maybe we could share half and half when it gets rebuilt. Ha!
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