DIY: Winter Garden Camellia Table Scape
Warm up your home during the chilly season with a winter garden table scape.
Feeling blue as the cold weather brings frost and chilly winds? Me too, that is, until I made these gorgeous camellia round tables for our Winter Solstice celebration. Even if it’s cold outside and the ground is brown with leaves, don’t be discouraged. Kick your feet around and you’ll find the most luxurious ground cover hiding underfoot — moss. Despite the colder weather, nature has countless species of moss, holly, camellias and evergreens that are thriving this time of year. Bring them indoors to bless your space with the beauty of winter’s garden during darker months.
If you want to recreate this winter table scape this is what you’ll need:
If you are starting from scratch, plan to spend 3 weekends finding tableware and at least $150. You’ll save money if you give yourself plenty of time to look. Vintage stores are full of treasures that are higher quality and lower cost than buying new retail.
Forest green table cloth - I rent mine from Barrons Rental Center in Athens.
Vintage ruby goblets - the ones pictured are vintage Fostoria Jamestown Ruby goblets that I found at the Monroe Mercantile Market.
Vintage lemogues porcelain dinnerware - pictured I inherited from my grandmother but you can use whatever vintage porcelain plates you find.
Moss - multiple varieties. I made a stencil from cardboard using a round placemat. Put the moss down and pack in tightly then water to keep it fresh for as long as you want to keep it outside. When you are done with the table setting, put the moss back outside, drench with purified water and cover with leaves so it lives on!
Holly - I cut it fresh from our orchard, remember to bring garden shears and gloves. If it touched the ground you will want to wash it with tap water real good before putting it on your table.
Camellia flower petals - they should be blooming outside, bring your shears and handle gently, they fall apart easily. I used the petals because the flower doesn’t hold up as well but the petals add a lot of color and can be used to cover up the fairy lights wire.
Battery powered fairy lights - I bought similar ones to these new online. Plan to hide the battery packs behind the holly leaves, otherwise your photos will look messy. After you lay them on top of the moss, poke the wires in between the moss pieces to hide them then cover them with the camellia petals.
Gingham checkered napkins - I love these, they go with everything. If you can source them locally I would recommend that otherwise you can find them online.
Dehydrated citrus slices - I followed a tutorial I found online. They are easy and cheap but take time to make: plan on a half day at a minimum to cut and dry.
Delicate red string - pictured was left over from Lisa Corti labels, be creative and use what you can find in your kitchen junk drawer!
Pumpkin beeswax taper candles - pictured are from Big Dipper Wax Works.
Short glass taper candle holder - I try to buy local but you can also easily find these online.
In addition to a beautiful table scape that will delight family and guests, this arrangement also incorporates elements of folk lore. In the Old World, holly was believed to ward off bad spirits during the darker times of year with its thorny leaves. The Druids regarded holly as a symbol of fertility and it was one of the evergreens brought in during the winter to provide safe haven for faeries and other nature spirits. Candlelight offers both ambiance and an atmosphere of reflection; winter is an ideal time to be grateful for what has come while reflecting on what we hope to achieve. Hope you enjoy creating this winter garden table scape as much as I did!
Whatever the season, remember gardens are always a sustainable and elegant way to bring colors indoors and decorate your home.