Garden Party with Green Depression Glass and Vintage Junk
If you’ve got pretty vintage dishes, what could be more fun than hosting a country garden party, surrounded by blooming flowers? Here’s a Green Depression Glass Filled setting that will inspire you to use your vintage junk finds!
Do you have a vintage find that you know if you ever found it for a decent price, you’d nab it in a heartbeat? Last weekend, I came upon a whole table-full of green depression glass dishes…for a steal! In my almost 20 years of buying and selling vintage, I’ve never been tempted to purchase them because of their usually high prices…until now. To celebrate my new purchase, I staged a party! Hopefully you’ll get some new decorating ideas in this Garden Party with Green Depression Glass and Vintage Junk.
Garden Party with Green Depression and Vintage Junk
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Green Depression Glass Dishes…For a Steal!
I wasn’t planning on buying anything…just helping my sister and sister-in-law spend their money. Until we came upon a garage sale where a family was unloading grandma’s enormous dish collection…for paper plate prices! How’s a vintage-loving, dish-o-holic girl going to hold herself back?
I was trying not to look too closely, but when I spied the $5 sticker on this stack of plates…
I turned green.
Other people have weaknesses for sweets, alcohol, fashion…I have a weakness for dishes. And when they’re my favorite color with a sweet relief pattern…at an amazing price…I was a goner!
This was a $3 stack of salad plates and saucers. I know, right? It gets worse…(or better;)…
.50 a piece for the cups and $3 for the cream and sugar set. And then there were the accessory items I couldn’t turn down for $3 and .75 (yes, I got a green glass frog for .75…downright sinful, I know:) I got the whole lot for…$18!
They were restocking the table when I left…so I quickly averted my eyes, took my box, and ran walked away!
After a quick google search, I learned this pattern is called “Florentine Poppy” and was made by the Hazel Atlas Dish company in the early 1930’s. They’re in beautiful shape, probably because this wonderful lady had so many dishes, she hardly ever used them! (Actually, I think I can relate;) Thank goodness none of her family liked vintage dishes!
I quickly added up the Ebay “buy now” price values, and I’ve got $356 dollars worth of dishes! But these long-awaited-for pretties aren’t going anywhere…until my estate sale!
Country Garden Party Ideas with Vintage Junk Finds
Once I got them all washed up and realized my Bridal Veil spirea was in full-beauty bloom, I decided I needed to do a little Garden party playing with my pretty new patio chairs that I redid {“Refreshing Patio Chairs: Stapled Cushion How-To”}. The aqua, green and grey fabric on the seats would be a perfect complement to add my new green depression to my beloved aqua sandwich glass.
(Bridal Veil Spirea is one of my favorites; wish they lasted longer than a couple weeks!)
Add Rustic Elements to Your Garden Party
Some resourceful handyman decided to cut chair seats out of vintage crate box ends. Such an awesome idea! I wish I would have picked up more of these at the estate sale where I scored them. Rather than installing them as chair seats, I added their rustic charm as chargers for this garden party! Old wood always gives a table setting texture, and the graphic labels will add to the garden vibe.
Layer Pretty Glass Depression Dishes in Varying Colors for your Outdoor Party
Aqua sandwich glass dinner plates were layered with green glass luncheon plates and an aqua square bowl on top. I love how the notched edge patterns are similar and also the flowery relief pattern. The dishes coordinate perfectly with the chair seat fabric.
Shop Green Depression glassware HERE
Shop vintage aqua glass dishes HERE.
Add Junky, Rustic Elements and Various Textures to your Garden Party Tablescape
My grandma’s vintage galvanized watering can and a log slice add rustic, junky texture to the frilly glassware. To add even a wider variety of textures to the glass dishes, an old book, metal binoculars, garden fork, and a ceramic bird vase round out the combination of different textures.
To top off the junky effect of this garden party, I used old lumber company nail aprons I found in “Curbside Junking Adventures and Tips” for the silverware and napkins, and tied them to the backs of the chairs. With their classic old school graphics, these old nail aprons can be a fun accessory to organize or decorate with. See how my friend, Sarah, upcycled hers HERE. Think I might need to do the same to mine!
You could also place a bouquet of flowers, seed packets or a small potted plant in the pockets for your party guests to take home as a favor.
Rustic textures, vintage junk finds and pretty glassware is a no-fail combo for a pretty, country garden party setting!
For more garden-fresh decor and DIY ideas:
“How to Refresh and Enjoy Vintage Metal Lawnchairs”
“16 Vintage Repurposed Junk Projects with Garden Style”
“10 Easy Ways to Decorate with Vintage Garden Tools”
These new-to-me green depression dishes might quickly have become my favorites…at least for now. They are perfect for spring and summer tables and can be enjoyed throughout the year. Have you been hoping to come across some vintage treasures like these for a can’t-hold-yourself-back kind of price?
I hope you gathered a few new garden party hosting and table setting ideas today! Setting up this Garden Party with Green Depression and Vintage Junk was a fun way to enjoy a beautiful day in a pretty setting!
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My-oh-my-oh-my!!! What an absolute steal you got….they are beautiful, just beautiful!! I would have bought them, too, in a heartbeat! Even at Christmas, I can see these beautiful dishes glimmering and shimmering with reflection from Christmas lights! I am so happy for you as I’m a dishoholic, too…just cannot beat a pretty table setting like that.
So glad you enjoyed it, Karolyn!
What a find! I’m green with envy – I never get lucky like that. I love green depression ware but I have only a few pieces because usually the prices are high and I don’t often come across it. It’s absolutely perfect for a garden party. Thanks for sharing with us.
Yes, I felt pretty lucky for this one! Fun to play with pretty dishes:)
Lora those dishes are gorgeous what a great find!!! I love the colors and perfect for a little garden party! Was so fun hopping with you today!
Thanks, Nicolle!
Wow zero what a bargain! They are stunning. ❤️
Thanks, Pamela!
You are so blessed to have found these beautiful dishes, thanks and have fun.
Thanks; yes, very happy to have found them!
YES! Dishes!!!! And you’re right — that was a fabulous find. I’m so glad that they found their way to someone who would love them, care for them, use them and gloat about them to the rest of us (lol)! I’m so glad you came hopping with the Fabulous Friday Team.
Thanks, Diane! Fun day of inspiration!
Hi Lora- Your depression glass is beautiful! I can’t believe you found such a large stash and at some amazing prices. Your rustic garden party setting looks perfect. As an aside, Bridal Veil is also one of my favorite flowering shrubs.
Thanks, Anna! I love all the Spring flowers; so sweet. My bridal veil is ready to pop any day!
You know that I love all of your vintage junk!! You always have such good luck finding cool stuff.
Thanks, Jennifer; I love the hunt!
What a great post Lora. I am like you and have a very hard time turning down a good buy and what a buy you got!!! The green dishes are stunning. Your Bridal Veil spirea is so pretty as well as the lovely table you set. Love the chargers too!
Thanks for including me in the hop, Wendy! Such beautiful inspiration:)
Hello, Lora! I can not believe you got all of those pretty green dishes for $18! What luck! They are perfect for a garden party tablescape! All of the vintage touches and the aprons on the back of the chairs add such a fun and festive feel that’s perfect for Spring or Summer!
Thanks, Donna. Always fun to play with pretty dishes!
Lora, can I come with you on your next adventure? WOW! What an absolute steal. I would have fainted at those prices. My husband and I were keeping an eye on an online auction recently and had to pass on the depression dishes, they were just going for too much. I have so many ideas now for an outdoor garden party, loving those nail aprons! Those sweet bird planters are a favorite, I have one that is very similar to yours. Thank you for sharing your inspiration, it was so nice hopping with you today.
Yes, green depression is usually out of my price range, but I’ve always loved it; very happy find! Glad you got some ideas!
Oh my goodness what an amazing find! Wow I would love to find something so precious. You truly brought it to life and it looks so beautiful in your tablescape!
Thanks, Crystal!
STOP IT!!!! That’s CRAZY!!! I love the color of those dishes Lora…they are so pretty!!! What a deal you got on those! This is a super fun post. I LOVE all of your ideas!!!
Green is my favorite color…and I had to really hold myself back from buying more of them at that sale. My cupboards are happy I didn’t buy more;)
Hi Lora, I love this idea and am going to share it in a round-up of green in home decor this week on the blog!
Wonderful, Ann! Thanks:)
Hi Lora…I have collected depression glass for years and have a complete 8 piece setting in the Green Cameo, pink cabbage rose, yellow Florentine, blue bubble glass and many others. You definitely got a bargain with your set.
I would like to personally invite you to link up with our CYS link party on Monday’s at 8 pm. http://www.meeandmycaptain.com . We feature three posts and you get more exposure.
Thanks
Kari at Me and My Captain
Your dishes sound heavenly, Kari! I will pop over and check it out; thanks for the invitation!
What a great find. If I ever find a bargain like that, I’m gonna grab it and run! I would love to mix green and pink with vases of apple blossoms–some day! I have a pretty good set of marigold Federal Bouquet and Lsttice going; the dinner plate is a large grill plate and great for holiday meals so the gravy doesn’t run over onto the table cloth. We KNOW who the slob is at MY house. It was seldom my kids! Your post was definitely a touch of spring; I am battlling winter blahs! Tried 2 need recipes this a.m.; that may be a help!
What a great find! I love those too. Thanks for sharing at the To Grandma’s House We Go link party.
They were, Stephanie! Thanks for hosting!
We really are kindred spirits–I’ve started several posts with “My name is Cecilia and I am a Dishaholic!” SWOON! I could have pinned every image and did several 😉 Love the green glass, your wonderful signs and that gorgeous bridal veil! Thanks for sharing @Vintage Charm!
Yes, Cecilia! We can be the founders of the first ever Dishaholics Anonymous or the first stars of a reality TV show, “Dish Hoarders”! Some say when you add, you should take something away, but I love them all! The ladies that come to my estate sale will be so happy;)
I love your dishes. I don’t have room to start collecting dishes but I wish I did. I do have an old black typewriter though.
Lucky you, Debra! I’m honestly running out of room for all my dishes;) Hubby jokes that I could feed the 5000! But where there’s a will, there’s a way-I’ll find a spot (or just get another cupboard;)
My short list of “still to find”- portable typewriter & black scale. Side note- I like to pair my green depression with my green/cream relief pattern of Oven Serve Ware.
Hope we aren’t together when we find that black typewriter! 😉 I do love the green/cream relief pattern of the ovenware too, but tend to enjoy it more in the fall with pottery pieces. Dishaholics anonymous just called…
Oh Lora! I am ‘green’ with envy! I’ve just purchased my first green depression glass plates and am looking for more dishes to go with them. Yours are beautiful!
I’m a dishaholic too – so I’ll be following your blog now that I’ve found it! Thanks for the fun and inspiration.
So excited to welcome another dishaholic to the blog, Carol! This spring I just added 3 more sets! My aching cupboards are complaining! You’re in good company around these parts! Have fun with those green dishes!