A French Easter table in the garden, beneath the blooming apple trees

Joyeuses Pâques

This year, I’ve planned to set our French Easter table in the garden. Spring is here, the weather is mild enough – though we still need to keep warm – and the apple trees are in bloom: all the perfect ingredients for a lovely Easter celebration. We’re lucky to have the most beautiful golden light at the end of the day, and the apple trees, dressed in delicate white blossoms, remind me of Anne Shirley in her early days at Avonlea. If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you probably know how hard it is for me to resist a country-style table. That was already the theme for last year’s Easter table, but this time, we have the joy of celebrating outdoors, right in the heart of this awakening season.

To set this table (which I’m sharing a day early – just in case you’re looking for a little inspiration), I chose a light tablecloth in soft sky-blue tones, bringing a fresh touch that hints at the beautiful days ahead. It’s a gentle, luminous shade that pairs wonderfully with the greens I wanted to use this year. Blue and green always make a lovely combination: refined, harmonious, and naturally in tune with the surrounding foliage and the garden’s quiet beauty.

I’m particularly fond of these charming checkered plates I found at a flea market, along with some adorned with tiny birds. Two lovely finds (though not from the same outing) that I love mixing together for a mismatched, slightly nostalgic look – full of charm and poetry. They add authenticity and feel perfectly at home in this setting. I placed them on cheerful, floral placemats, and added napkins designed by Vincent Darré (whom I met twice this spring while looking for curtain fabrics!) for a collaboration with Monoprix. I love their whimsical, colorful animal prints. They bring joy to the table and pair beautifully with the vintage plates for a fresh, springtime feel.

In addition to the “traditional” tableware, I added two fun ceramic dishes shaped like beans – a little nod to the season and the vegetable garden!

At the center of the table, I arranged a bouquet with flowers from the garden: several varieties of tulips for structure and a graphic touch, deep pink camellias, just-bloomed peonies, and a few clusters of lilacs, whose tiny blossoms contrast delicately with the rest. I’ll be sharing all these flowers in an upcoming tutorial, along with the varieties used and a few tips to recreate this spring-like composition.

As for the decor, I went with simple, delightful touches: a kouglof with a glossy glaze and citrus zest scattered on top, and little chocolate eggs wrapped in brightly colored foil, echoing the table’s palette. They add a joyful note and stir up sweet childhood memories.

I also scattered a few hand-painted decorative eggs from Poland, straight from a little mountain town called Zakopane (often nicknamed the “Chamonix” of Poland), a place I hold dear. These eggs bring together everything I love in a setting: tradition, craftsmanship, and a hint of poetry.

This table quietly celebrates spring – yes, it does happen that I keep things simple! – with just the right balance of color and pattern. And above all, it’s the garden itself, with its waking trees and blooming flowers, that brings it to life. It’s a table for sharing, for gathering with loved ones, and for savoring the joy of simple pleasures.

I hope this Easter garden table inspires you, too – to bring out your tablecloths and dishes, to set a beautiful table for your dear ones, and to make the most of this long weekend!

Joyeuses Pâques !