Picnic Under the Wisteria

The floral progression that is spring in the US Southeast goes something like this: camellia, daffodil, redbud, dogwood, azalea, wisteria.  The show goes on but I’ll stop at wisteria because this stunner is the star of today’s post.  Just a few weeks ago, the wisteria vine on our neighbor’s front lawn was in full bloom and at its peak.  At first glance, it was a mound of purple loveliness.
Upon closer inspection, a curtain of rich color and shape came into focus.
The curtain consisted of dozens of pendulous blooms called racemes.
Separate flowers clustered along a central stem to form the raceme.   The flowers open from the top down.
Not only was this wisteria beautiful, it also smelled heavenly.  And it created a soft, musical buzz from all the bumble bees that were busy at work.
It was so lovely that I couldn’t resist staging a charming spring picnic under the wisteria.  Luckily, my neighbor was very accommodating.  Thank you, Bill!

NOTE: But first, an important word of caution, please take care because wisteria is poisonous!

Dining al fresco is one of the best benefits of this time of year.  I have a favorite spot on our back porch which overlooks the lake.  But lately I’ve been thinking about broadening my options with the portability of a picnic.  There’s something about a pretty outdoor spot, a wicker basket packed with simple eats, and a blanket on the ground that is so appealing.  Here’s how my picnic under the wisteria started.
Here’s how it came together.
Special thanks to my favorite chef, David, for the curry chicken salad croissants and the caprese salad.
This was my first time using this picnic basket.  It was ideal.  It’s a generous size, solidly constructed, and the top serves as a handy, little table.
I actually found the wicker basket at a local thrift store for only $7.00 but it was missing the lids.  A couple of pieces of MDF, some black spray paint and black cord solved the problem.  Of course, I couldn’t just leave the covers plain black.  A few strips of adhesive vinyl in a simple woven design added some punch.  The new colorful grid is perfect for an impromptu game of tic-tac-toe.
Staging this picnic was a great photography challenge.  In fact, it was so much fun I may have to do it again!

More Info

Wisteria can be a beautiful addition to your garden but you’ll want to choose one of the tamer varieties.  Steve Bender’s Gardenia.net article, How to Choose the Right Wisteria, provides helpful guidance.  Keep in mind, wisteria is poisonous so you’ll want to take care and plan accordingly.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Make time to enjoy the beauty of spring.

2. Consider dining al fresco at home or on a picnic.

3. If you enjoy photography, consider finding a pretty setting and staging your own spring-themed photo shoot.