A Bee-utiful Spring Table Design: Home Entertaining Pays Homage to the Garden & Pollinators

 

I love the happy colors of spring; they just seem to tickle us in yellow sunshine after a dark winter. 
I believe the art of home entertaining and distinctive tablescapes are more than just “pretty.” They tell a story…

For this special tablescape design, I wanted to keep the yellow color theme, plus incorporate an environmental message to honor one of our most beloved pollinators: the bee. 

Here’s how I designed the happy, layered look. 

Taking my cue from the beloved bumble bee, I used yellow, black and white colors.

Plus, inspired by our spring garden beds, that are bursting with candy-colored tulips and daffodils and grape hyacinths ~ Muscari, I blended in greens and sprinkled in some pinks, purples, blue and orange.


I purchased a bee fabric from Joann’s Fabrics. Zoom in to see the cute bees that run the length of the table.

Running the other way ~ the width of the table, I placed a lemon-yellow linen runner, topped by a gauzy, glittery wide swath of white ribbon. I guess you could say it’s a bit of gilding the lily.

The bees dot the linen runner. They have diamond-like wings so they provide that Bee Jewelry Glamour that shimmers day and evening. I Love it!


The centerpiece is a wry nod to those spring peeps that I think are much better as table decor than as edibles!

I lined a glass vase with the yellow Peeps, circling a mini daffodil plant so they look like ballerina chicks poised to take the stage!

Placed on a black charger, festooned with yellow ribbon and gold tea lights, it’s a fun conversation starter.

As is the real bird’s nest (table verité!) that I embellished with faux robin’s eggs and feathers. Because…  

The place settings start with a yellow, French Chou metal charger on top of gold ones.

The yellow cabbage plates are vintage Portuguese. The green glass salad plates are vintage, as well. I get quite a few tablescape items at flea markets or upcycled shops or online.

The dessert plates featuring bunnies and spring motifs are new this year, from Williams Sonoma.

I used my gold cutlery ~ better to highlight the yellow and the bees.

A delightful detail is the napkin. I used crisp yellow and pink linen and folded to make the bunny ears on top and slipped a jewelry ring-like napkin holder on that not only looked glamorous but also helped shape the nook for the faux eggs tucked into the tip of the napkin. So Sweet.



The place card holders do double duty. They are paper-thin glass vases that have an easel-like ledge where I can insert the name card. I’ve had them forever (knock on wood) and are perfect for showcasing seasonal blooms. Here, I cut Muscari from our garden for a beautiful royal purple addition to the spring tablescape. I also used my new-to-me ~ vintage pineapple place card holders. The gold and silver welcoming pineapples are more table jewelry…
                                                    

Candyland
Of course, there was lots and lots and lots of colorful candy. Chocolate treats, carrot gummies for those cute bunnies ~ and guests. The candy becomes part of the design. Plus, you have a take home treat for your guests. I placed most of the candies in crystal bowls and vintage cordial glasses; poised on top of mirrors to amplify the charm.

You can see the blue bunny poppers perched on the place setting. These are so fun to pop at the end of the meal. The wine has worked its magic by this point so the paper crowns and goofy jokes are surefire hits!
So cute.
 

Plus they make my dear Mother laugh every time…

I use a mix of faux and real flowers and plants. It keeps the table fresh longer.

The mini yellow kalanchoes, and daffodils and candy-as-blooms came together to create a happy, spring garden and a loving tribute to their pollinators.

Details matter.


I so loved this seasonal table decor that I hated to take it down.

Here’s a video tour of the Spring tablescape design. I hope that you enjoy the beauty and charm and that it gives you ideas to create your own table story.