Tomatoes, Tablescapes & Timeless Gathering | An Ode to Letting Go
If you’ve spent any time reading the HOST EDIT (our bi-annual lookbook and inspirational magazine), you know how I feel about my grandmother and growing up in her North Carolina garden. You can also see my own personal garden journey chronicled on our instagram page, in our ‘Grown to Gather’ series. I’ve held the garden as a sacred place for about as long as I can remember. Visiting gardens in my travels, enamored by tailored paths at Versailles counter balanced by the curated wild at Monticello to every backyard raised bed in between. There is something about the obsession most gardeners have about a creating something from the earth and in every best effort, at the end of the day, we have to give over to something far greater than us. While I know she appreciates every pollinating flower I put in the ground, Mother Nature has her own agenda and we get to be a part of it.
I think that is part of the beauty, as an event planner, everything has to work, we troubleshoot until it does. In the garden however, even the losing battles have their wins and “there is always next year.” I love that freedom. The freedom to fail softly. But oh the wins! The abundance of okra and tomatoes. The patterns appearing in the seeming symmetry of blooming floral. The wonder and whimsy when tiny pumpkins appear and watermelons grow (and the realization of how much space they need). Monarchs flitting by to say “thank you” and the occasional hummingbird enjoying the fruits of my labor.
My life is deeply rooted in food, not just growing it or the gatherings around the table, but the slow conversations while snapping beans or the curiosity that arises from the lines on a drought ridden tomato. How to cook “all the things?”. The rules of fresh food that exceed everything we know about grocery store produce. The smiles in sharing. The community in bartering for fresh eggs. Seed saving and swapping. The stories of success and seemed failure. What real food tastes like. There is so much to learn from a garden, far beyond patience of course. Community is always at the heart.
Where the Table Meets the Earth
As an ode to my favorite fruit (no, tomatoes are technically not vegetables), I designed a gorgeous tomatoscape tucked away in the gorgeous gardens of Chancellors Rock. Nestled between the berry patch and climbing clematis, our table unfolded under dappled light—unfussy, elegant, and deeply rooted in the rhythms of the season. We let the tomato take center stage: blushing cherry, sun-kissed Sun Golds (or “sunshine tomatoes” as my 6-year old neighbor calls them), piled high in hand-painted bowls and tucked into a gardens bounty of basil for a simple floral arrangement with a playful twist.
The table was draped in soft linen—natural, rumpled just so—and layered with natural rattan chargers, hand-painted plates, and tomato-red flatware that whispered of family and history. Linens in shades of red, olive, and cream were layered casually.
A Menu to Match the Moment
Naturally, the food followed suit.
We served:
– Crusty sourdough rubbed with garlic homemade by friend, fellow gardener and baker Ana Makes and Bakes
– Torn Burrata with olive oil, sea salt, and basil
– Chilled rosé and ruby-hued tomato water martinis (yes, you read that right)
Each bite was a celebration of what the earth offers when you simply let it shine. Nothing fussy, just absolutely delicious.
The Heart of the Gathering
This tablescape wasn’t just about beauty—it was about honoring the work of growing, the joy of harvesting, and the reverence we hold for sharing something homegrown. It reminded us that entertaining doesn’t have to be elaborate. It just has to feel true.
In a world that moves fast, the garden reminds us to slow down. To gather close. To savor. And to celebrate not just the food on the table, but the hands that planted the seeds, picked the fruit, and passed the platter.
Design + Styling | Ghost Host by MB
Photography | Eli Turner Studios
Venue | Chancellors Rock
Shop the Look | LTK
