Indholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2021 i Southern Lady

SINCERELY What a delight a well-tended garden is—especially this time of year! For me, it’s just as rewarding as a beautiful home. I take great joy in puttering amid the colorful flowers and greenery, creating scenes that fill me with contentment month after month. Dahlias are one of my very favorites, so we dug up all of ours recently to make way for a new, larger plot of these midsummer bloomers. We also put in some English roses, and you just can’t imagine the potent fragrance as we sit outside on a warm evening. Needless to say, I love to get a peek inside gorgeous gardens around the South. On page 45, we showcase a North Carolina landscape that has historic roots, updated for modern times by acclaimed garden designer…

Maizie Clarke’s “pinch me” moment came in 2019 when Reese Witherspoon’s team commissioned her to fashion a hand-drawn birthday card for the celebrity. Spurred by the popularity of her bespoke home portraits, Maizie had jump-started her eponymous illustration company three years earlier and quickly expanded into artful product collaborations with boutiques and national retailers, bloggers and influencers, and even the Library of Congress. Yet, as she caters to high-profile clients, Maizie’s Louisville-based small business is far from exclusive. “The crux of [Maizie Clarke LLC] is creating illustrations that delight,” says Maizie, whose graphics capture memories and sentiments both great and small. Her depictions span private residences, notable landmarks, branding imagery for other companies, wedding cakes, and abundant Southern-inspired doodles. She draws on archival-quality paper with fine ink and finishes each…

Channel the vivaciousness of the season into a captivating bouquet of pretty pink blooms. Blushing peonies, fuchsia ranunculus, variegated tulips, and enormous garden roses pose together in perfect harmony. Delicate snapdragons and leafy evergreens lend contrast to the staggered mix of showstopping blossoms, all nestled in a sleek white vessel. For an alfresco get-together, give the display pride of place on a blue-and-white garden stool. Embroidered linens soften the endearing vignette and impart a note of sweet nostalgia.…

DAINTY DELIGHTS A cup of tea becomes an enchanting occasion amid frilly linens and distinctive treats of the season. (Opposite) A demoiselle dances with a sweeping floral bouquet, her lacy vesture bringing dimension to a rite de passage depicted on a special napkin. In true Southern style, pull out all your colorful, collected hand-stitched finery—embroidery, cross-stitch, and floral ribbons—to create a quintessentially feminine tableau. LIGHTHEARTED MÉLANGE Lush, juicy strawberries glistening in the sun foster gladness on a tabletop bedecked with china and cherished textiles bearing the same ruby fruit that heralds the hazy days of summertime. A delectable pound cake gussied up with confectioners’ sugar rests near a favored seasonal bloom—blush hydrangea—in a classic porcelain vase. The scene is cast to take pleasure in a treasure trove of conversation pieces…

For a tiny barrier island off the Sunshine State’s northeast coast, Amelia Island leaves a monumental impression. Lavish hotels and inns, enticing eateries and boutiques, plus festive annual events are sure to draw you in. Yet the isle’s distinct charisma beckons you to linger, its spectacular 13-mile stretch bookended by stately Old-World structures and a beachside burg devised by the state’s first Black millionaire. Named for Princess Amelia, the daughter of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland, this waterfront haven has long welcomed visitors from every walk of life to relish its glistening Appalachian quartz shores. Gilded Age socialites such as the Carnegies and Rockefellers frequented it as often as wealthy Black guests seeking a hospitable getaway during the era of Jim Crow restrictions. A community on the…

TRANQUIL RETREATS Admittedly, touring a burial ground might sound like a bit of an odd day out. But there are so many picturesque ones around the South that are worth a visit, like Savannah’s moss-draped Bonaventure Cemetery and New Orleans’ Lafayette Cemetery with its raised tombs. I have a particular soft spot for Oakland Cemetery in my hometown of Atlanta, which has been a beloved local gem for years. I recall exploring it on a school field trip and being enchanted by the ornate headstones and the colossal trees after which it’s named. Thanks to ongoing restoration efforts, Oakland is more vibrant than ever, and you can explore its fascinating history and highlights on page 75. As interest in travel around our region slowly ticks up after the pandemic brought it…

“LISTEN TO THE TREES AS THEY SWAY IN THE WIND. THEIR LEAVES ARE TELLING SECRETS. THEIR BARK SINGS SONGS OF OLDEN DAYS AS IT GROWS AROUND THE TRUNKS. AND THEIR ROOTS GIVE NAMES TO ALL THINGS.”—VERA NAZARIAN, WRITER RESTFUL PLEASURES A breeze sifting through leaves plays as background music for this outdoor gathering spot that takes full advantage of Mother Nature’s soothing hand. A duo of chaise longues embraces the temperate surrounds opposite armchairs and a settee that provide a place for pause from busy days. Ceramic tables and bespoke pillows in a blue-and-white palette elevate the setup, nurturing an occasion for close gal pals to catch up while relishing the fresh air with a sweet homemade treat. Sprightly tulips, lively seasonal blooms, and ceramic vases add a little oh…

PLENTIFUL YIELD An early morning spent foraging the local produce market cultivates delights that fill this outdoor repast with dashing seasonal allure. Flowers fresh from the field stand tall, exuding a casual air in mismatched containers that range from hammered metallic buckets to soda bottles. Strawberry-hued flatware accents a classic check-pattern charger topped by a plate that echoes the floral flurry. But most charming of all is a display of party tokens for guests—seed packets ready for planting—perched alongside just-picked tomatoes, sweet corn, ripe peaches, and luscious berries. A summertime pasta with yellow squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and sugar snap peas anchors the menu, which brims with fruits and vegetables from the day’s harvest. Tangy Avocado-Mango Salad joins grilled melon tinged with mint and honey. A gooey peach and blueberry cobbler…

Orange Cream Bars MAKES 9 SERVINGS 1½ cups vanilla wafer crumbs6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted2 tablespoons granulated sugar⅛ teaspoon kosher salt3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened1⅛ cups confectioners’ sugar¾ cup orange crème yogurt3 large eggs1 tablespoon orange zest⅓ cup fresh orange juice3 tablespoons all-purpose flourGarnish: whipped topping, orange zest 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, letting excess extend over sides of pan. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together vanilla wafer crumbs, melted butter, granulated sugar, and salt. Press mixture into bottom of prepared pan. 3. Bake for 15 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. 4. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with a mixer at medium speed until creamy. With mixer on low speed, add confectioners’ sugar and…

With a large-scale garden motif, the timeless beauty of Gien’s vintage Volupte salad plate makes it the perfect colorful accompaniment for a spectrum of settings summer after summer. For a festive affair, play up the pattern with a textural jacquard table covering and linens that mirror the oversize blooms, pulling in brighter hues along with a distinctive geometric backdrop. The border of a dinner dish bears a verdant vine, and drinkware is etched with depictions of jasmine and laurel, subtly echoing the natural aesthetic. Dashes of gold elevate the fanciful presentation. For a laid-back look, borrow from Gien’s French heritage and dress your table in classic blue and white with prints that freshen the palette. A traditional plaid cloth instills the feel of a casual picnic, while swirls of navy…

Breathing in fragrant floral scents or strolling through the circuitous wooded paths of Laura Hearn’s garden, you feel the sense of historic inspiration revived by a fresh outlook, thanks to her longtime collaboration with landscape architect Chip Callaway. Unlike the Depression-era plan upon which it was based, Laura’s cottage-style plot brims with interest year-round, as inviting in February as it is in May when the colors and textures are a visual feast. “The thing I like most is the twelve months’ presence,” says Chip, principal of Callaway & Associates in Greensboro, North Carolina. “Even in the winter, it’s got strong form. It doesn’t have to be in full bloom for it to be a place you want to be.” Laura, whose late husband Thomas K. Hearn Jr. served more than…

Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, pearls are always appropriate, but nothing exudes enduring elegance like a cameo. From prominent profiles and mysterious silhouettes to stunning florals and narrative scenes, these exquisite carvings have embraced innumerable motifs through the ages. The petite works of art come alive on canvasses spanning shells, stones, gems, and much more that embellish objects fit for the likes of both Queen Victoria and today’s modern fashionmonger. The history of the cameo is shrouded in distinction, with origins that date back to the beginnings of Egyptian, Grecian, and Roman cultures. While the tradition has traveled far and wide, Italy made its mark on the cameo industry early on and remains at the heart of it. “The artistry developed around Italy with its stretches of seashores,…

COVER Styling by Melissa Sturdivant Smith. Photography by Stephanie Welbourne Steele. See Sweet Summer Indulgence. MIX & MATCH: GARDEN VARIETY Pages 31–32: Gien Volupte salad plate; Replacements, Ltd. Garnier Thiebaut Gaia Floralies table square and napkin; William Yeoward Jasmine footed tumbler in tall and small; Herend Golden Laurel teacup and saucer; Pickard Metropolitan Gold service plate; Pickard Spiga 5-piece place setting in gold; and Herend Rothschild Garden dinner plate; Bromberg’s. Page 33: Gien Volupte salad plate; Replacements, Ltd. Juliska Heirloom linen napkin in delft blue; Bodrum Bamboo Ice Blue napkin; Enrico Ratti service charger; Ricci Argentieri Japanese Bird 5-piece place setting; Arte Italica Serena Blue flute and goblet; and Match glass carafe; Bromberg’s. SEASONAL SETTINGS: CAREFREE OUTLOOK Pages 39–43: Blue-and-white urns; rectangular tray table; planters; plates; and napkins; The Enchanted…