Bring a Friend Tea

My tea ladies are always telling me they've told a friend about one of our teas and are met with the response that they wish they could come.   I love to host my teas and last summer decided to spread my wings and have each of my tea ladies  invite a guest.  After all, tea for 12 can't be much more work than tea for 6!

I snapped 3 quick photos of  the tables fully intending to take more  after I brought out the food trays.  But once I started putting food on the table and friends started arriving I forgot about taking pictures.  Luckily one of my guests brought a camera and took some random photos.

I used embroidered tablecloths and napkins and mixed and matched plates from different sets of dishes. 

All the cups and teapots had rose patterns.  Each table had a different pattern napkin.

We remembered to take a photo just before we

 reached the dessert tier.

Bring a Friend Tea Menu

Cucumber Sandwiches

Egg Salad Sandwiches

Carrot Walnut Sandwiches

Fruit Cream Scones

Homemade Strawberry Jam

Mock Devonshire Cream

Lemon Curd

Fruit Cakes

Lemon Tea Cakes

Rose Bud Tea

Constant Comment Tea

I used chocolate mint as a garnish on my fruit tarts and found them to be the perfect accent.  The taste combined with the pastry cream and fruit was so refreshing.  Butter roses were formed in candy molds.  Divided relish trays were perfect for lemon curd, jams and devonshire cream.

Watch for a later post of a custom  garden tea tile designed by

 Mary Ann (in red) at the request of extra special tea lady Margaret.

Tea ladies and friends.

I've posted a few photos from my garden which was at its peak the the day of our tea.

This pergola bench was an anniversary gift from my husband.

Day lilies are pretty much gone but bee balm and phlox are at peak.

This is my favorite corner of the garden.

You can tell from the photo below that I water my garden but not my lawn. 

We ended the afternoon strolling through the garden.