Happy Tuesday which really feels more like Monday after our three day weekend here in the states…
T for Tillandsia which was going to be the topic of my tea post today until we added the…
T for Tarte … more on that later
our actual“Tea” was a bit of bubbly and not tea at all as a reward for our hard work in finally getting our back porch scrubbed for the season…
Mr Magpie also replaced the ceiling fan and light fixture which was a feat in the heat as it felt more like the 4th of July than Memorial Day here in northern Virginia…
VERY hot and humid…
so about our Tillandsia tenufolia which is a type of Bromeliad air plant…
it seems that some species of Tillandsia bloom only once in a lifetime…
so imagine my thrill in stumbling upon this little plant that had been all but forgotten out on our back porch as it must have blown out of the fairy garden into the garden bed going completely unnoticed…
after the bloom fades the plant will make “pups” giving us more little air plants…
what an unexpected surprise that was…
now on to that gorgeous tarte which was a really lovely treat from the freezer section of Trader Joe’s…
it says on the box that a serving size is 1/4th tarte…
we decided we could handle that as it had to hold us over until dinner and we didn’t even need to turn on the oven…
Mr Magpie found a setting on our camera for photographing food…
we still need to experiment and see if it makes a real difference in the photo quality…
our weekend was full of surprises including the fact that it is Lavender picking time again a good two weeks early…
won’t you join us over at Kimmie’s Art in Red Wagons for more tea tales…
all are welcome to join in with or without tea
Magpie's Nest ~*~ Patty Szymkowicz 
I’m off to photograph my Tea on T, too. It is ungodly hot here, too. Sticky and humid are words I’ve come to accept this spring. It’s wonderful that you got your porch in order. Very nice to have it all clean and spiffy for that Bromeliad which will soon give birth to new life.
And that pear tart looks good enough to eat. I have no idea if the photo setting improved the looks of the food or not, but I know it looks really tasty. I even drooled over the blue tea towel. Have a great T on T, dear friend.
LikeLike
OOPS, I forgot to mention that my cosmos are in full bloom. They don’t normally bloom until July and here it is still May. What a unique and incredible year this is. I wish I had more flowers and less green stuff growing in my front garden. It would be a big year for fresh blooms.
LikeLike
That air plant is wonderful and to think it will create “pups” 🙂
Love the photo of the pear tarte – made my mouth water. It is quite humid, here, too – a bit too soon really.
Enjoy the moments and thanks for sharing these lovely photos! xxoo
LikeLike
Yes, hot and humid here too. Your post looks so inviting. It’s so pretty, everything from the tarte, to the bromeliad, to the dishes and more. We sit out on our porch a lot, and not have extended it with a patio, as you know by visiting me this morning. So glad you did. Have a wonderful day and hope it cools off a bit, for you and me both.
LikeLike
I wish I had a back porch! =) Totally buying that pear tart next time I’m at Trader Joe’s. It looks yummy. Did you go to the lavender farm or was that from your garden as well? Love your fairy garden! xoxo
LikeLike
loved all your photos, Patty, and “drank” in the green and coolness of your garden. I’m afraid summer has hit in the desert….100’s+ last week!
LikeLike
It’s hot here too – and we badly need rain (at least in our area). Thanks for the info about the air plant – I didn’t know such a thing existed, so it was fascinating to read about it. Hope you will post a picture of the ‘pups’ when they arrive?
LikeLike
Oh love all theses shots! I love air plants… can’t believe that one bloomed! It’s gorgeous. I always intend to put air plants in clear glass Christmas balls for gifts.. never get that done. You should SO do that!!! hee hee! Tart looks delicious. A food setting on your camera!!! How exciting! Let us know… Glad the porch is scrubbed…….. it’s summmmmmmmmer!
LikeLike
I’m always amazed and delighted with your posts, Patty. And this one is exceptional. Your porch and yard are a delight….and the fairy garden is sweet. AND, it’s summer in your neighborhood already. Should I mention that there was ice in the birdbath this morning?????
Trader Joe’s is in Denver (3-1/2 hrs away), but one day I’m going down there to see what all the chatter is about that place. And if that tart is any indication, I should be starting the car right now!
How was the ‘bubbly’?
Nice photos JJJ….who knew you had that on your camera! Life’s little surprises!
Hugs to you both on a job well done. Now relax.
LikeLike
Patty, what a gorgeous, gorgeous porch and garden you have. I love everything about it!
LikeLike
oh my!! so glad I stopped by for tart and bubbly! and yes it was very hot and humid! glad this week will be cooler! xox
LikeLike
I think you deserve to switch out your tea for some bubbly… Wonderful photos of the plant-what a treasure. Terribly humid here but we are finally getting much needed rain. I’m dreading summer! We could really use a break this year. Hope you have a fantastic Tuesday!
LikeLike
Dear Patty…such wonderful memories of your back porch….lots of good sharing & making crafts. Love the Tillandsia tenufolia…what an awesome bloom….thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
It must be a good omen, your air plant blooming. I could do with a hot and humid day as I am sitting at the computer with a pashmina wrapped around me…brrrrr. Lovely photos… and a tarte to die for.
LikeLike
Pour me some bubbly! I bet it was perfect with that pear tart. Yummo! And that Tillandsia bloom is gorgeous. How great that little babies will sprout from it. Have a great rest of the week. Tammy
LikeLike
Forgot to mention how much I like your pot with the U.S. flags in it! Great shot!
LikeLike
Bubbly sounds great, Patty, and that pear tart looks real good too- a lovely -in between meal- 🙂
And your stunning plant ,-what a surprice for you, I love such plants that gets little ones – –love your cups and plated, dear.
Hugs,Dorthe
LikeLike
can it really be this hot already??? i think i see iced tea in your immediate future!
LikeLike
so much wonderful here… the air pant flower is quite stunning… shame it was running a bit late for the blue flowers you showed off recently as i9t would have fit in beautifully… and the tart looks delicious, and on a clean deck no less… but please send some humidity and warmth my way…. it is bloody cold here at the moment…xx
LikeLike
Hello,
magnifique Tillandsia tenufolia et alléchante tarte aux poires.
Bizzzz
MAPY
LikeLike
what a beautiful outdoor setting you have there! so inviting …. I would have no trouble pulling up a chair for a sip of iced tea and a bit of pear tart 🙂
your airplant is a little miracle! wow – that is just amazing!!! good thing you took a picture of that once in a lifetime flowering event!!!
LikeLike
What a lovely post Patty, I so miss doing tea with you girls, life seems to be on ‘fast forward’ for me lately and I’m just not as organised as I would like to be. What a wonderful surprise it always is when something beautiful and unexpected pops up in our gardens, and that flower is so beautiful. As is the tart…I think your “food” photo setting works a treat because these images are perfect. Enjoy you tea and tart. xx
LikeLike
a treasure to behold indeed …your photographs are soo good for me to reach out and touch it and yes the pear looks delish…. :))
I love it when you said “it’s lavender picking time…I’ve always wanted to experience “working” in a lavender farm (ha ha!!) or a fruit farm..or live somewhere with the four seasons…:))
I have missed all the wonderful stories from your blog….so much…..but one thing is always close to me is the wonderful bloggers of tea Tuesday…
Have a good week, dear friend….
LikeLike
ooh, that looks like a delicious tart~
I hope you had a nice Memorial Day weekend 🙂
LikeLike
Mmmmmmhhhh yummy yummy. Your tarte looks soo yummy.
Wonderful photos my sweet Patty. Thanks for sharing us. xoxo
LikeLike
I absolutely adore your little garden and what an exquisite flower on that plant! When I first saw the tarte, I thought it was a poached egg type 🙂 but pear sounds so light and refreshing–how did you stop at 1/4! Glad to see you had such a lovely day 🙂
LikeLike
Lovin’ your blog and beautiful pictures from your yard, I would love to visit sometime! Love,Diane:)
LikeLike
I’m a day late but I have to say that I love the photos of your yard.. I’m not a fan of pears but the tart was pretty.
LikeLike
what a beutiful garden you ahve and the tart looks perfect for such a hot day…would love to know more abot this etting on camera for photgraphing food ? your blog is such a delight 🙂
LikeLike
what a really yummy post Patty! I’ll start with the dessert-oh does that tart bring back all the days spent in France-hubby’s fave part of the day was always walking to a patisserie to buy something and everyhting was just melt in your mouth DELISH! Love your choice of special “tea”-that happens to be my fave real drink. I’ve never heard of an air plant-looks really interesting, nor did I know there are cameras with settings just for food. We also had a very hot weekend along with thunderstorms. Thank you for you sharing your lovely garden and sweet respite. i almost imagine myself there…
LikeLike
Love the plant story with it’s lovely flower. Very sweet.
My lavender is in a rage of blooms. Long stems and ready to pick. My Ginny tells me, at a local Lavendar farm, the stems sold for $.24 each. I will be making Lavendar wands a favorite friend taught me to do a few years ago. Every time I make one I think of her-Patty.
LikeLike
Such a lovely post, dear Patty. Your fairy garden is so very charming. How I would love to be able to keep one here in the desert, along with lavender plants….but our heat would be unforgiving!
Thank you for sharing the Trader Joe’s yummy ~ will have to try that!
xoxo
Karen
LikeLike
Oh that is so cool about your Tillandsia, do they winter over out here? I used to try and grow them in Colorado but it was just too dry out there.
LikeLike