Innholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2022 i Southern Lady

With summertime right on our doorstep, it’s the season to get outside! I love a beautiful garden, and I spend as much time as possible in mine, whether that means pruning rose bushes and pulling weeds or relaxing with a glass of sweet tea on a warm weekend afternoon. Beginning on page 39, step into one of the most glorious private gardens I have ever seen, an Atlanta stunner that calls to mind a French château. From its manicured courtyards and herb-filled kitchen plot to a secluded, expansive lawn crowned by a fountain at one end, it is simply magnificent. In keeping with the alfresco theme, our Seasonal Settings story on page 33 takes inspiration from its picturesque natural surroundings. This issue also celebrates one of the South’s finest traditions:…

Polly Singer is no stranger to wearing multiple hats—all while crafting and selling them. After years spent in jobs that spanned the music industry, nonprofit organizations, and other realms, the celebrated designer behind Polly Singer Couture Hats has found her calling in artful headwear, plus complementary ventures such as tea, etiquette, and travel. It all started in the early ’90s when the Kentucky native was working at a performance rights company in New York City. Craving a creative outlet, she began taking millinery classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) after a hair catastrophe led her to don an over-the-top hat that elicited unexpected raves. “It was funny the way people reacted to the hat. They were like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so cool.’ It just hit me that…

Celebrate the start of summer with a spread that garners vision from beautiful, blooming magnolias and other seasonal Southern classics. Arrange an eye-catching centerpiece with a gleaming but otherwise unembellished container that puts magnolias in the spotlight, and fill in with accompaniments like dahlias, ranunculus, and scabiosas. An abstract floral linen with a restrained rainbow of watercolors invigorates a subtle scheme that takes cues from the table’s neutral blossoms. “I WOULD RATHER HAVE THIRTY MINUTES OF WONDERFUL THAN A LIFETIME OF NOTHING SPECIAL.”—ROBERT HARLING, AUTHOR OF STEEL MAGNOLIAS A palette of white, gold, and green reflects the scene’s simple yet stunning inspiration. Layered napkins call the muse to mind, from verdant leaves to creamy petals and bursting golden centers. Minimalist dishware instills interest with textural variety and a hint of…

LOCAL COLOR One of the most fun things for all of us at Southern Lady is happening upon hidden gems right near our hometown. Case in point: the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, which is just a short drive from our offices in Birmingham. This aquatic preserve is home to Alabama’s largest stand of Cahaba lilies, those luminous star-shaped beauties that blossom every May and June, and crowds of nature enthusiasts descend each year to wander and wade among them. Turn to page 59 to see the lilies in all their radiance. Their blooming season is brief, so if you’d like to admire them in person, plan early! We also welcome the chance to show a little love for the places that make Birmingham such a special city in which…

Like a bright and cloudless day, the Historia Blue Cashmere dinner plate by Skyros Designs presents broad possibilities. Let the season’s garden grandeur be your muse for tabletop décor that highlights the shade of the inspiration dish. A casual look takes shape atop a pale blue-and-white cloth, as an accent plate in similar hues and an ecru salad dish with a gently scalloped edge lend interest. Tucked into a woven ring, a napkin depicts painterly blooms in complementary tones. A tinted tumbler and an etched wineglass bear dainty floral designs as charming as the petite fresh posy. In a fanciful scheme crowned with gilded details, various botanical motifs grace a duo of fine china plates and decorative accessories, such as a purple goblet, a soup tureen, and a vase brimming…

“TO RIDE ON A HORSE IS TO FLY WITHOUT WINGS.”—ANONYMOUS WINNING TABLEAU The rousing May fanfare trumpets at Louisville’s legendary Churchill Downs, spurring fans to host a genteel get-together that capitalizes on the day’s exhilarating agenda and prized hallmarks. In the shade and comfort of a screened porch, a table cloaked in pale green anchors a display of fine china and accoutrements most seemly. Understated two-tone dinner plates accentuate stylized flower garlands and ornate scrolls swirling along the border of salad dishes trimmed in gold. Napkins embroidered with dainty bows nestle between each place setting, as tinted glassware and julep cups crown the setup. Tucked among mixed greenery and draping amaranth, a billowing arrangement of white roses, spider mums, lavender scabiosas, and pink waxflowers reigns at center stage. Small bouquets…

Sometimes the best-laid plans blossom into something even bigger and better. Just ask these Fayetteville, Arkansas, homeowners, who set their sights on downsizing from the 1980s house in which they’d raised their two children—and ultimately built an even roomier dwelling that gives their half dozen young grandkids the space they need to romp. “They get along great, and we have a lot of cousin time,” the homeowner says, adding that she and her husband revel in their frequent family gatherings. “We just all come together in this house.” Quiet and peaceful, with undulating hills and large, secluded lots, the neighborhood had captured the owners’ fancy as soon as they toured it. Although the husband owns a commercial construction business, they had never built a home for themselves, and they’d long…

TRADING LEGACIES Often penned on timeworn note cards, tried-and-true family recipes kindle memories when passed around a table set for fellowship over familiar food. Foster a congenial air in a lovely yet laid-back space that encourages guests to feel right at home. A block-print cloth and matching napkins tied into simple knots gain charm from layered botanical accents like scalloped woven place mats embroidered with blooms and mismatched floral china. Tinted glassware etched with blossoms gently echoes fresh bouquets nestled in vessels of varying heights atop a neutral runner. Play up the palette of blue, green, and white with lush hydrangeas, variegated carnations, and graceful ranunculus. Sunny yellow tulips and craspedia punctuate the color scheme, lending a dash of brightness that suits the heartwarming occasion. HOMESPUN COMFORTS Plan a menu…

Pineapple-Habanero Pepper Jelly MAKES 6 (½-PINT) JARS 3 cups chopped fresh pineapple (about 1 pineapple)1 cup finely chopped yellow bell pepper, (about 1 large pepper)5 cups sugar1 cup white vinegar3 habanero peppers, seeded and finely chopped2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice2 (3-ounce) packets liquid fruit pectin* 1. In the container of a blender, combine pineapple and bell pepper; process until smooth. 2. In a large pot, cook sugar and vinegar over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture begins to boil. Add pineapple mixture, habanero peppers, and lemon juice. Cook, stirring frequently and skimming top as needed, until mixture comes to a full boil and an instant-read thermometer reads between 218° and 220°, about 10 minutes. Add liquid pectin; cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently. 3. Remove from heat. Pour evenly into 6…

BONNY BLUES Pages 27–28: Historia Blue Cashmere dinner plate; Skyros Designs. Noritake bread-and-butter plate in Aegean Sky and Fostoria etched low water goblet; Replacements, Ltd. Chrysanthemum dinner napkins and Petite Blue Spot tablecloth; Julia Amory. Martellato 5-piece place setting in stainless steel; Vietri. Page 29: Bernardaud Pahang oval tureen and lid and dessert/pie plate; Replacements, Ltd. Liliana 5-piece plate setting in polished gold; Blue Pheasant. Monogrammed napkin; Bobbins. Poppy flower napkin ring; Bodrum. OUTDOOR BLISS Pages 33–34: Sunbrella Lido 20" pillows in White/Coastal and Coastal Blue; Serena & Lily. Pages 35–36: Linen Scalloped Square napkin in garden green (as place mat) and buttercup yellow; Fenwick Fields. Gorham Crystal King Edward napkin ring and Lenox Antique Yellow iced tea glass; Replacements, Ltd. Exotic Camellia Bloom stir sticks by Acrylic Sticks; Surcie.…

SUMMER’S SHIMMER A colorful table set like a jewel gleaming in the sunshine hosts a picnic that makes the most of a languorous afternoon. A brook gurgles soothingly in the background of this carefree scene that offers a reprieve from life’s duties and echoes the bright beauty of nature’s fullest blooms. Floral plates, embellished with citrus linens cinched by sparkling blown-glass rings, are balanced by the muted green of scalloped place mats and soft rosy chargers. Lemon-hued goblets imbue airiness while overstuffed pillows provide a comfortable touch for guests as they relax and share tales. FLORAL SPLASH In the centerpiece, white hydrangeas and pink peonies bolster a flourish marked by magenta lilies and roses, creamy ranunculus, and delightful dabs of yellow tulips and craspedia. Green dianthus and hypericum berries add…