With a season of outdoor celebrations on the horizon, we’ve been brainstorming new, natural ways to decorate extra-long tables that can welcome even the biggest gatherings of family and friends. Inspiration struck when we spotted a set of shapely bud vases-- displayed together, these diminutive vessels seemed just right for anchoring a spacious tablescape. Seeking a centerpiece that would cover a lot of ground, we lined up our collection of hand-blown glass and dropped in simple stems of fragrant herbs, with a few flowers for good measure. We're looking forward to reinventing this style throughout the summer with seasonal cuttings and other small containers, like vintage juice glasses and our favorite Weck jars.

As celebratory table settings go, our own favorites play into a mix: old with new, neutral palettes with pops of bright color, and solids with simple but beautiful patterns. The result tells a story, and one that few love better than our own visual manager, Melissa B. A longtime, and dare we say fervent, collector of new and vintage textiles, Melissa's linen chest is filled with finds from thrift stores in Amsterdam, shops in the English countryside, local artisans, and her family's cupboards. As our own striped, solid, and block-printed linens arrive for summer, Melissa gives us a look at her collection, the story behind her heirloom linen habit, and her tricks for setting a show-stopping table

terrain: How did you decide to start collecting linens?

Melissa: It was never really a decision – I can’t help myself when I see something beautiful. It began mostly when I was traveling-- the wonderful stories, histories, and personalities in linens that I found just made them irresistible. I think people often overlook linens as an heirloom gift. The truth is, once you have pieces that you love, you’ll use them forever. 

terrain: Your collection pairs heirloom linens with new pieces. How do you select new linens that complement your heirloom favorites?

Melissa: When selecting a new piece, I look at the material, which helps me understand how a piece will react with washing so I can use it without worry. I always choose neutral tones that can take on supporting roles for my heirloom showstoppers. I also look at the weave and colors, and stay away from patterns that indicate a date or an era; mostly I stick with classic stripes or no pattern at all. READ MORE

Easy to spot thanks to its yellow, bell-shaped flowers, Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) is a member of the lily family that's native to the eastern U.S. and Canada, particularly in areas with rich, limestone soil. Also known as Merrybells or Wood Daffodils, these pale green plants are usually found brightening woodland slopes and ravines with their nodding blossoms. Our nursery team recommends a shady location and regular watering for a few weeks after planting, then these hardy perennials should thrive without any special care. Growing about 18-24” tall, they make a colorful spring addition to shade gardens, blooming in April and May each year.

Throughout the season, our plant team highlights their freshest additions to the garden with New in the Nursery. Check in at your local store to take home these newly-arrived blooms.

We were thrilled when we first heard that Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo of Studio Choo's artfully unruly flower workshop were going to share some simple tricks-of-their-trade in a Flower Recipe Book, and happier still when we recently got a chance to talk with the ladies themselves. Telling us a bit about the book, their tips for buying fresh cut flowers at market, and what they're giving Mom this year, Alethea and Jill were also kind enough to share one of their favorite flower recipes: a "Hyacinth with Company", for those of us still on the lookout for a handmade addition to our Mother's Day gift.

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Inspired by our new jute garden tote, we started wondering which items some of the most avid gardeners among us couldn’t leave home without. Who better to ask than Karen C., a longtime urban gardener and the newest expert on our plant buying team? When she’s not planting containers at home, she travels to the community garden in her Philadelphia neighborhood, so her tote sees a lot of use. Karen obligingly dusted the dirt from her essential tools, and also shared a few new pieces she’d like to add to her bag this year. READ MORE

Inspired by our big, fresh-from-the-farm bouquets of peonies, we recently pulled a few stems from the bunch to create a thoughtful, DIY gift for Mother's Day. Simple and sweet, our spring posies are a one-of-a-kind way to celebrate Mom, Grandmom, and all the ladies in our lives. Finished with twine ties and sprigs of feathery dianthus, fresh-cut posies make easy gifts or colorful additions to packages and the brunch tabletop.

To create our posies, we chose a variety of blossoms-- some fully open, and some nearly ready to bloom. After snipping the stems to around 7 inches, we filled out each arrangement with fresh dianthus. A quick, knotted wrap of twine around the stems completes the bouquet. Any favorite bloom, from meadow wildflowers to the bright ranunculus we chose above, also makes for a perfect posy.

Foreground: peonies, dianthus; Background: ranunculus, dianthus