{Victorian hybrid Pelargonium 'Red Rosebud'}

As promised on April 21 in my blog: {RARE ANTIQUE ROSE JEANNE D'ARC} (1818 FRANCE), some more info about the Victorian hybrid Pelargonium RED ROSEBUD. 

 This photo shows some freshly cut Victorian hybrid Pelargonium: Red Rosebud. They are inside a tiny silver vase with embossed roses. The total height is a little over 3" and for comparison I've placed a 10 cents coin beside it. The photo is taken in our gazebo, by daylight, with the grass as background...

This Victorian hybrid features clusters of tiny double blossoms.

For my US and Canadian readers, this rare Pelargonium is available at Logee's Greenhouse.  They also sell the Pink Rosebud.

For readers in The Netherlands or nearby, they can obtain this beauty at De Gaerde where Toine Vermunt will have them for you! 

For readers in Scandinavia I would recommend to visit Wenche's Pelargoniumlbog from Oslo/Norway, as they do have the Rosebud and also the Rococo; Appleblossom Rosebud; Plum Rosebud; even a  White double Rosebud and a Ruby Rosebud; and here you see the Wedding Royale...

Okay, I could go on and on but you just explore these sites and wet your appetite. These Rosebud or Rosenknopp Pelargoniums are LOVELY!

This tiny vase is actually an antique silver handled walking stick...

{Mother-in-law's 1930s Société Céramique Blue Boerenhoeve Transferware}

Did not have the time to put this together sooner, but now I will.

The garden is calling and there are lots of things to do, so writing has to wait.

For our dear friends John & Becky I did make a Risotto with Porcini and other mushrooms. Also made a favorite Asparagus gratin that I found in one of those great cookbooks at TJ Maxx. In the UK it would be TK Maxx. It is a great store to just check out if you happen to be near one. Often I found a special cookbook for my friend Lady Chef Maria Runggaldier from Ristorante da Maria. She barely gets out of her kitchen so I love to look out for her!

Okay, back to the Risotto... Becky loves it and I was in the mood for it so we invited them to come after work for a family style supper, nothing fancy. Just Risotto; Asparagus Gratin with organic chicken breasts from Trader Joe's in Atlanta. WISH we had one down here...!

For dessert I simply used the delicious cream puffs from Costco; they are just super!

Using also my French Christofle Silver Knife Rests...

 From Becky I once received these great blue placemats with napkins so I used them for our casual supper. They do blend nicely with the blue plates from Société Céramique Maestricht, in the Boerenhoeve pattern. Of course Boerenhoeve is Dutch for Farmstead and this is transferware from the 1930s—we inherited that from Pieter's Mom.

My sister Diny, did find me a few missing pieces at an antique shop in Limburg, in order to make it usable for a breakfast setting for four or as dessert set. This also was produced in red.

French Baccarat crystal perfume bottle functions as vase...

French Baccarat crystal vase.

Enjoying our Roses!

Shown is a Baccarat perfume bottle with pink Royal Bonica roses; Baccarat vase with white Iceberg Floribunda roses. They are available at Edmunds' Roses.

Baccarat Piccadilly crystal stemware.

Related link: Mijn oude blauwe koffie servies | beautiful English Old Castle Blue by Barratts from Blogger Friend Marian....

{May 22 Gardenia by Royal Albert and blooming Gardenias in Baccarat vase}

Today we had the very first vase with blooming Gardenias; that is heaven! Their fragrance is like perfume... so romantic. Perfect to grace Pentecost Weekend! 

Took them out into our gazebo as the light there is perfect. The gardenias are proudly inside a French Baccarat crystal vase and are accompanied by the Gardenia Royal Albert china. A very rare and beautiful china that they do have at Replacements Ltd. 

On the oak tray you see the creamer and sugar set on its oval tray; square pastry plates and demitasse cups and saucers. Cream puffs to enjoy as well! The demitasse silver spoons are Alvin Bridal Rose. For those of you, loving silver Rose Flatware, I once again want to remind you of the {Splendid book about Silver Rose Flatware} about the subject: Antiksilber Besteckherstellung / Antiqued silver Flatware Manufacturing by Johanna Gehrlein in her book: Rosen-Bestecke. She did another great blog about: Silver-Sunday / Rose Cutlery - Rosen-Bestecke.

 Johanna is far more knowledgeable than I am on the subject... I just LOVE the pattern!

This photo shows the details even better. 

Guess that roses do blend nicely with gardenias; as I am not aware of any solid silver gardenia flatware.

Neiman Marcus has a similar sized vase in Baccarat crystal.

Wishing you a great Pentecost weekend and hope you will have as much sunshine as we do here!