All photos by © Franck Schmitt
**This article is a direct feature from the March/April 2025 My French Country Home magazine photographed by Franck Schmitt and written by Sharon Santoni. To see more articles like this, be sure to subscribe to the magazine**
As winter finally loosens its grip, the first signs of spring offer a perfect excuse to set a table outdoors and enjoy the beauty of nature’s awakening. A simple lunch or tea becomes a celebration with a table laid beside a lake or river.
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There’s a slight breeze in the air, and the first leaf buds on the surrounding trees seem impatient to unfurl for the new season. Birds are singing around the garden, daffodils have appeared, growing in random clumps along the water’s edge.
Setting the Scene
The setting is simple, a rustic wooden table, with benches for seating, and a couple of armchairs set with floral cushions. To enhance the ambience, two large medici urns are filled with sprigs of blossom and tall tulips. The table is laid with antique French chinaware sporting a floral design, and antique glassware whose etched details catch the dancing light.
Additional entertainment is assured by a couple of baby goats, bouncing playfully between the daffodils, and some fluffy chicks.
Setting the Table
Along the center of the table, a selection of white jugs and ceramic stem vases allow for a floral display with a down-to-earth touch. The strong hues of the tulips draw the eye to the details of the table linens — individual green placemats with matching napkins.
Lastly, sprigs of lilac, a few trailing fronds of mauve wisteria and small blossom heads laid directly on the table provide additional texture and color.
Deciding on the Spread
A spring menu for an al fresco lunch should be kept simple. It’s all about enjoying the moment — for as long as the spring sunshine allows. The meal could take the shape of a crusty baguette, fresh from the oven, served on a wooden breadboard alongside creamy butter and a spread of cheeses.
A warm leek tart and a crisp spring salad could be offered family style, encouraging conversation and sharing. For dessert, a light lemon tart topped with edible flowers echoes the table’s floral theme.
Spring has indeed sprung.