English afternoon tea

The garden in June is glorious. The roses are in full bloom and the fragrance wafts in the warm sunshine. The setting lends itself for an afternoon tea under the dappled shade of the Bramley apple tree. We start by unearthing the French metal table from its winter resting place and layering it with French cloths of linen followed by gingham and then crowned with the prettiest French antique panel covered in pink blooms and birds. An antique Italian confiture pot is the centre piece filled with garden blooms cut early that morning.  Strawberries are piled high in Swedish and French bowls and the lemon drizzle cake sits on a Tramp Work wire cake rack also from Sweden. The 'English Afternoon Tea' is poured and served in delicate china tea cups and the afternoon drifts by as we laugh and take it all in.