My son gave me this beautiful Talavera Dove flower-pot for Christmas last year. I kept it indoors during the winter months, but once the weather improved I placed it on the deck. After a couple of heatwaves, the lemony-yellow coleus doubled, than tripled in size. This week it flowered. Now the pot feels more like a peacock then a dove, with its fanning plumage.
Talavera Dove with Coleus
According to Wikipedia:
Talavera is a type of majolica earthenware, distinguished by its white base glaze.[1] Authentic Talavera pottery only comes from the city of Puebla and the communities of Atlixco, Cholula and Tecali, as the clays needed and the history of this craft are both centered there. All pieces are hand-thrown on a potter’s wheel and the glazes contain tin and lead, as they have since colonial times. This glaze must craze, be slightly porous and milky-white, but not pure white. There are only six permitted colors: blue, yellow, black, green, orange and mauve, and these colors must be made from natural pigments. The painted designs have a blurred appearance as they fuse slightly into the glaze. The base, the part that touches the table, is not glazed but exposes the terra cotta underneath. An inscription is required on the bottom that contains the following information: the logo of the manufacturer, the initials of the artist and the location of the manufacturer in Puebla.
In our age of mass production, it’s fun having a garden pot with a bit of old-world tradition. It’s nice having the long, warm summer days to enjoy it, too.
Have a great weekend!
What’s on Deck
Gardening Nirvana 
definitely looks more like a peacock with the plumage! what a lovely pot to have in the garden
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Thank you, Promenade Claire. Love your gravatar. Must come see what you are up to.
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I love your dove! I have a weakness for animal pots and have two in my garden, a dove and a chicken. Maybe a goat next?
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Sue! I love the idea of a goat. Interesting how research can enhance an experience, too. Reading more about these pots really added to the charm.
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Hi Suzanne,
We love goats too! We strongly encourage you to add a goat to your garden. Indeed, possibly a nanny goat and twin kid goats!! They will make you smile whenever you see them.
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It’s fun to include a nice art piece into the garden vignettes. Your outdoor spaces are so cozy and welcoming. I’ll have to look for that lime green coleus next year, I really like the contrast with the other pots. It’s almost like there’s a light shining on it.
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It feels like deja vu, as if I already wrote a reply. Maybe I did and WordPress ate it!
It is fun having a bit of art in the garden and especially nice that C. picked this out for me. That coleus is so pretty. The tiny white flowers are almost beside the point. I just love the leaves
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Such a lovely piece of art, and the coleus looks fabulous in it!
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Thank you, Sheryl. Coleus are among my favorite plants. It’s nice to have one growing so beautifully in that special pot.
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Fascinating information about the Talavera with the 6 permitted colors, the exposed terra cotta and inscription. Did your son know that history when he gave it to you? What a lovely gift! and it looks great on your deck.
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Thank you! He was 15 at the time and wanted to give me a gift for the garden, but I don’t think he new the history. We’ve both learned something new!
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So cute peacock pot & that plant really makes its beauty ❤ complete 😀
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Thank you!
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With Winter well and truly set in here, a beautiful pot like yours would sure brighten up the garden – so lovely to find out about its history, too. What a wonderful son.
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Thanks so much. My boys amaze me every day.
Ah, winter. I guess it helps us appreciate the winter, spring and fall.
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