May 2021 - The Darling Buds of May

Flowers add to the beauty of the tea table as they add beauty to every setting they grace. In May especially, the garden shouts to be raided for armfuls of blooms to fill pitchers and vases of every size. The lilacs bloom and fade so quickly that we must take all opportunities to enjoy their fragrance and gradient lavender tints before they are gone for another year.

Garden roses, here in California, have a much longer season so we can enjoy blooms nearly the year round. From one perfect rose to a mixed bouquet of every color in the garden, roses are one of the easiest, most striking and long-lasting cut flowers. Cutting stems longer than needed, cutting at an angle with sharp shears, trimming all foliage below the water line will all help your roses last in their chosen vases. Seen above, our favorite Lenox vase is a perennial favorite for many long-stemmed flowers.
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As with vegetable gardening, I like to plant what I like to eat: I plant many different roses, lilacs, and flowering shrubs because they will provide cut flowers that bring nature into the house.
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​Above, miniature white climbing roses provide contrast to medium pink roses and David Austin pale pink, many-petalled roses, for a spring pink and green effect.
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Orange tulips, lilies, roses, and a peachy-cream daffodil reflect the sunset at this evening gathering.
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A​ rustic jug and handmade pots host simple sunflower, chamomile, and white alyssum arrangements destined for an outdoor party.
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​Garden blooms snipped for two small May Day arrangements, left, purple pansies and onion blossoms, right, one white tulip, pink rose and bud, lavender freesias, set off by lilac, right.
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​        Rosemary in bloom adds spicy scent and touch of greenery to this blue and white tea party.
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​A large arrangement keeping cool in the temperature-controlled wine room. The flowers were all purchased but we utilized local lemon tree branches and silver dollar eucalyptus greenery.
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Even in spring, we can’t always rely on the garden for all our bouquets, especially when a big or more formal arrangement is called for. Farmer’s markets, Trader Joe’s, and even some supermarkets have reasonably priced flowers to combine into your own arrangements. It is worth cultivating sources near you.
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For the large tea receptions, like those we do for Hidden Valley String Orchestra, I like to fill my tall samovar with branches and big flowers.

From bottom right to top left, here is a similar samovar arrangement, beginning with branches of lemon leaves, continuing through addition of more flowers to its destination at the tea reception, flanked by handmade butter cookies.

​Above, Trader Joe’s supplied exactly what I’d envisioned to make a dozen small arrangements for a large tea party. Petite pinky-sunrise-colored roses were the perfect size to fill vintage cream pitchers. Feathery filler and peachy berries added just enough background and greenery.
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​​All white flowers add a formal touch to these arrangements in vintage silver sugar bowls. Wrapped in cellophane, the flowers were transported to the tea party without incident. They worked beautifully with the hostesses’ own silver pieces and fit in nicely with the Victorian décor and period wallpaper.

I hope you can enjoy garden flowers inside or outside your space this spring. Any little flower next to your afternoon cup of tea adds some beauty from the natural world straight to your heart.

​For those of us who can’t get enough of the garden, we have a deliciously springy tea party menu which you can peruse here:
Honeybee Tea in the Garden Menu
This lightly lavender scented shortbread recipe is one of the featured recipes from our honeybee tea menu and can be enjoyed any time of year.

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Lavender Shortbread Fingers
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​These delicately flavored Shortbread Fingers remind us of the simple joy of a warm afternoon in the garden. If you have fresh lavender flowers, use them, but dried lavender flowers will also work to flavor these elegant little cookies. This recipe can be doubled if you would like an extra supply for future tea gatherings in the garden, even if you and the bees are the only guests. You can also dress these sweet little treats up with our Lemon Lavender Glaze.

• ½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• ¼ cup sugar 
• 1   cup flour, plus more for rolling the Shortbread
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon dried or ½ teaspoon fresh culinary lavender, crushed
• ½ teaspoon lemon zest, optional
• 2  tablespoons sugar for sprinkling

​Preheat oven to 325° F
Special equipment: small bowl, large mixing bowl, electric mixer, citrus zester, sieve or flour sifter, rubber spatula, rolling pin, sharp knife, parchment-lined baking sheet, fork, wire rack, waxed paper, metal cookie box for storage
Makes: approximately 15 (1 ½” x 3”) Shortbread Fingers: This recipe can be doubled to make 30 bars.

1. Finely crush the lavender flowers and place them in a small bowl. Add the lemon zest, if you are using it, and mix together. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Sift the flour, cornstarch and salt over the bowl, and mix the dry ingredients into the butter and sugar, just until incorporated.
3. Sprinkle the lavender and lemon zest over the Shortbread batter and fold in with a rubber spatula to distribute evenly. Knead lightly in the bowl about 5 times to solidify the dough.
4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll it out to an 8” x 8” square. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sugar over the dough. With a sharp knife, cut the dough into 1 ½” x 3” fingers. Carefully place the Shortbread Fingers, evenly spaced, on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Prick each Shortbread 3 or 4 times with the tines of a fork.
5. Bake for approximately 30 minutes until the bottoms just start to turn a light golden. Cool on a wire rack. When cool, store in a waxed paper lined metal cookie box for up to 1 week, or serve the day they are baked.

​Variation: Lemon Lavender Glaze

• 1 tablespoon lavender-colored sparkling sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon dried culinary lavender, finely ground or crushed
• 1 to 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
• 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1. In a small bowl, stir together the sparkling sugar and crushed lavender. Set aside.
2. In a medium sized bowl, stir together enough powdered sugar and lemon juice to make a smooth, thick glaze.
3. Spread the glaze over the Shortbread Fingers, letting a little glaze drip over the edges, if desired.