"It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." A.Holmes

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Trillium Tea Cup ~ Tea Time Tuesday

Another cold and rainy day with few sun-breaks here in the Pacific Northwest, not the best weather for the honey bees my husband tends. I decided to cheer up my dining table with oranges from our nephew and his family's trees in sunny California, and a honey bee teapot , sugar & creamer. Just a spot of cheery yellow for a cold, wet day to remind me this really is spring. This is my White Trillium teacup, bone china, by Royal Albert. This teacup is perfect this time of year because we have blooming trilliums all over our property. Some of the trilliums are in very big, lush clumps. My teacup is held up to a trillium from our woods.A trillium seed may take 2 years to germinate and another 2 years to bloom. Trilliums bloom from April to June. "Picking a trillium seriously injures the plant by preventing the leaf-like bracts from producing food for the next year. A plant takes many years to recover." wikipedia ~This is why my husband is very protective of the trilliums in our wood-land and makes sure our grandchildren all know picking trilliums is forbidden. "Trillium is one of the many plants whose seeds are spread by ants. At maturity, the base and core of the trillium ovary turns soft and spongy. Trillium seeds have a fleshy organ called an elaiosome that attracts ants. The ants extract the seeds from the decaying ovary and take them to their nest, where they eat the elaiosomes and put the seeds in their garbage, where they ( trilliums) germinate in a rich growing medium." Wikipedia Our trilliums start out white, and as the blooms age , the petals become pink, starting out a light pink and ending up a very dark, almost purple-pink.
Trilliums have 3 leaves, 3 petals, 3 sepals. Tri means three,hence the name 'Trillium'. I am sipping mint tea from my Trillium Teacup. Why don't you brew a pot of delicious tea as you read the blogs of the ladies below who love to explore teacups, teapots, and all things tea!
* Pictures of trilliums in this post were taken by me in our wood-land.

18 comments:

Southern Comfort said...

I didn't know that about the trilliums, thank you for sharing that information. I think we all should be more educated about the world around us. We should be more informed and more careful.

Keetha Broyles said...

And they are protected - - - no picky!

I have always loved them, but until reading this I did not KNOW they start out white and turn pink as they age! I've always seen them in the white stage.

goatpod2 said...

Very nice!

Blessings,

Amy

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Hi Kathy,
What a wonderful tea set! I really like the honey bee and honey comb pattern on them! The trillium tea cup is very pretty! Trilliums are so special to me because they grew in a wooded area where I used to go as a little girl to do my day- dreaming. They still conjure up fairies and lovely memories whenever I see them. Thank you for a special tea post. Hope you get some nice sunny weather soon.

Blessings,
Sandi

Terri said...

What a beautiful trillium cup! I have a plate like this, but your pattern has golden tone mine doesn't.
I have always thought that this plant was extra special, as it is so protected. In Ontario, it is the provincial flower.
I think that native Indians use the flower for medicinal use.
Thank you so much for your lovely post!
Hugs,
Terri

Stella Jones said...

Lovely cups, tea and trilliums. Thank you for showing and sharing. Loved your post today.

Dolores said...

Living all my life in south Texas..... I'm learning new information from you. I've never heard of trillium's..... but I love what I see..... so pretty!!!
Hugs,

annies home said...

I have a good friend from England who loves tea and has shared so many different kinds with me

Anonymous said...

Hi Kathy, Such a pretty teapot and I love the trillium china. We have had very warm temps until yesterday's rain and the temp dropped about 20 degrees (56). I might just take you up on the suggestion to enjoy a cup of tea! Wishing you a Happy Mother's Day weekend.

xinex said...

I love your bee tea set and love the teacup sets too. So pretty!...Christine

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

I love the photos of the trilliums. They are one of my favorite spring flowers. Your china is beautiful. What a pretty tea set.
I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

What beautiful pictures you have there. I especially adore the tea cup together with the plant shot! Great!!!

I just wanted to thank ya for your visit and hoppin' on my blog, I sure hope ya'll enjoy the ride!

God bless and in the words of that silly old Granny Clampett, "ya'll come back now, ya hear???"

Lady Jane said...

OH OH I PICKY KEETHA. One day my neighbor and I were taking our walk and I happened to look side the road and there in the sand there was growing a trillium. Now you can not see such a site knowing full well this little flower would not last long there in the sand at the side of the road. I scouped it right up and it is now happy as a clam growing in my garden. SHHH, please dont tell on me, I saved it's little life....

Kathy B said...

Oh I wish we could grow Trilliums in the high desert! And -- I didn't realize you had bees. My son-in-law wants to put some on our couple of acres next year so now I know who to come to for advice!!! First things first -- the chickens!!! So appreciate you and your blog, KB.

Unknown said...

Gosh I learn't so much today. And how nice to get oranges from your family and a tea cup that you actually have the flowers for in your woods I enjoyed my visit

Love Dawn xx

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Trilliums always amuse me because "leaves of three, let them be" is true only in the sense they are so endangered. Love that honey comb tea pot and sugar container, Kathy.

Alice Grace said...

That was so interesting about the trillium, information I did not know. I love a good cup of hot tea on rainy days, and even on sunny days.
Lovely post!

Unknown said...

Trillium's are my favorite wild flower around here. That is a beautiful tea cup. Love it! Thanks for sharing about Trillium's, they are so hard to find and so precious, so glad you get to enjoy them in your wood-land. :)