Summer heat, humidity, and flowers are in full bloom this time of year. August is a spectacular time in Maine. The water is SLIGHTLY warmer for swimming and the beaches are full of tourist and locals trying to escape the inland warmth. I haven’t been to the glorious Maine beaches this summer, but I certainly enjoy our little spot on the stream.

Sadly, I had to remove my rose bushes from my garden and containers the last couple of years. The japanese beetles were enjoying them far more than I was able to. I have limited flowers this year, so a trip to a local florist was in order. Callie’s Flower Shop provided me with this lovely bouquet with three different, soft shades of pink and peach. So I used that color scheme (soft & muted) to pull some china for a tea outside before the heat set in.

• Teapot: from Wood & Sons in England with yellow roses and gold trim. Circa 1960’s.
• Teacup & Saucer: from Aynsley in England with a light-green, crackled finish and gold trim. Circa 1930’s.
• Plate: from Johnson Brothers in England with soft green and peaches and grapes pattern. Circa 1920’s.

Some oddly shaped, but tasty wild Maine blueberry scones were my tea treat and added a pop of blue to the gathering. I didn’t have buttermilk and added regular milk instead. The result was a very wet dough that was impossible to work with. Hence, the odd, flat shape I believe. They tasted great though! Some lemon cream cheese spread with lemon curd mixed in was the perfect pairing.

The tea of choice was Earl Grey from Taylor’s of Harrogate. It was great with the lemony sweetness of the cream and blueberries.

Summer is short here in Maine, so having my tea outside is a must when it’s not too hot. As it was, I had to shift myself around the deck to avoid the direct sunlight so my flowers wouldn’t wilt, cream wouldn’t melt, and photographer wouldn’t fade out.

Cheers to summer and all of her shades of color!