Ever since we planted Café au Lait dahlias a few years ago, they’ve become some of the most striking flowers in the garden. Bold, majestic, and elegant, it’s no wonder we fell in love with them! Whenever I pass by the flower bed dedicated to them, they seem to call to me silently; their graceful heads and soft, nostalgic hues revealing a timeless beauty. Café au Lait was actually the very first dahlia I wanted to grow, back when I didn’t yet know the full diversity of varieties that existed. And it’s hardly surprising: they’re so beautiful they’ve become a staple in almost every bouquet. No wonder I felt an irresistible urge to set a rustic country table with Café au Lait dahlias at its heart!
Their color is something truly special: that elegant, powdery beige with a touch of dusty pink that gives them such timeless charm. All through the summer I make countless bouquets with dahlias, often mixing different varieties and shades into seasonal themes: bright summer bunches, autumnal tones, or sometimes a single monochrome arrangement. But one thing always remains the same: I almost always include Café au Lait. This classic beauty often becomes the starting point for my arrangements, so I thought it only fitting to pay tribute with a table that would celebrate their unrivaled splendor.
Refined and delicate, they seemed the perfect match for a richly patterned, dark-toned tablecloth. Dahlias, after all, herald the first signs of a season full of color, and while Café au Lait look wonderful in summer bouquets, they truly shine in autumn, paired with warmer, more contrasting hues. That’s why, when I choose new dahlias now, I make sure to include autumnal shades such as La Bourdaisière, Valentino, Bishop of Oxford, Karma Choc, Honka Verrone’s Obsidian and After Dusk.
As they thrive so happily in the garden (without even having to dig them up in winter – we just add plenty of mulch to protect them from the cold), I’ve added new varieties this year in soft pinks and mauves. Someone recently recommended ‘Emery Paul’ to me, with its gorgeous color and blooms almost the size of a dinner plate. Impressive, yes, but not the most practical for bouquets! When choosing varieties, it’s worth paying attention to bloom size unless you simply want to enjoy them in the garden. For floral arrangements, I usually prefer blooms about the size of my hand or smaller. I also love playing with the variety of shapes they offer.
On this table, two elements immediately draw the eye: the bouquets (mostly monochrome Café au Lait with a few eucalyptus branches for texture) and my beloved tablecloth I always bring out at this time of year. Its busy, dramatic pattern not only gives the table character, but also adds a warm, cosy feel, allowing me to use simple, pastel-toned tableware to soften the look.
If you’d like to set a similar table at the end of summer or the beginning of autumn (the wonderful thing about dahlias being that they bloom for weeks on end, suiting all kinds of tables), you might serve a classic Paris-Brest cake as a little taste of the season ahead. I can never resist this indulgent pastry with its delicious hazelnut flavor: one of my guilty pleasures, and the perfect way to welcome a season so rich in flavors and colors!
