FROM FANTASY TO FÊTE: GARDEN PARTY

Hi sweets! Camille Styles here, with a fantasy (and fête) inspired by the romance of this flowering image that Cass posted last week...

With visions of garden parties dancing in my head, I designed a mood board in shades of peony, raspberry and rose. Yes, it's feminine...but wouldn't such an effusive mix of flowers make even a tomboy embrace her girly side?

Your grandmother may have used a full set of perfectly delicate china, but a mismatched array of floral prints set on a linen blooming with color is a decidedly more modern (and fun!) approach.

This decadent cake, layered with blackberry jam and mascarpone, makes a perfectly spring centerpiece with a few bunches of fuschia carnations. Yes, carnations can be chic when gathered in low, tight monochromatic bunches. Hop on over for the luscious recipe for Sugar-and-Spice Cake.

Dorothy really wouldn't be able to resist a plate of poppy-shaped lemon cookies. Just like the flower, they're colorful, happy and dotted with poppy seeds.

Cocktails deserve a flowery finish, too! Freeze edible orchids, nasturtiums and pansies in an ice tray filled partway with water, then use them to make every drink totally party-ready.

*images: {row 1} dress design decor via coco+kelley, rebecca thuss, martha stewart weddings {row 2} alexandra grablewski, martha stewart weddings {row 3} cannelle et vanille, chelsea fuss, coach {row 4} snippet & ink, martha stewart weddings, cannelle et vanille, martha stewart. All other images from may issue of martha stewart living, scanned by camille.