A Greenhouse Gathering Exudes French Country Charm

Marie-Laure Coste Dujols

The greenhouse at Le Jardin Français serves as a natural setting for events and intimate gatherings.

Late 19th- or early 20th-century blue-and-white china from French manufacturer H. Boulenger & Cie was the starting point for the tabletop design and acts as the sole source of pattern. Sisal placemats and steak knives from Fête Atlanta add natural elements to the setting.

Fresh salad and French cheeses are a tasty start to the gathering. Along with the meal, Marie-Laure Coste Dujols serves a chilled rosé from Provence.

Anemone, hellebore, hyacinth, poppies, and ranunculus perch in bud vases and mixed vessels. An assortment of glassware proves coordinating­—not matching­—elements add interest.

Whimsical sandblasted grapevine branches mingle with surrounding compositions.

An invitation from Marie-Laure Coste Dujols is not indicative of your average dinner party—think French family heirlooms, seasonal blooms, and greenhouse venue. To celebrate the commencement of the season, the accomplished floral designer shares her secrets for crafting a cheery springtime celebration.

“I’ve worked with flowers and have been inspired by the beauty of nature for as long as I can remember,” says Coste Dujols. In 1989, her family founded Le Jardin Français, a nursery, exhibition garden, and bed and breakfast on a 17th-century estate just north of Paris. The floral designer reminisces on fond childhood memories of designing compositions for clientele and even developing exhibitions for national garden shows such as Courson and Saint Jean de Beauregard. During her time studying at L’École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, she honed her skills under renowned French floral artists Christian Tortu and Guillon Fleurs. And in 1998, a move to Atlanta would result in her founding of Le Jardin Français US just a few short years later.

For Coste Dujols, Atlanta holds its own charm and serves as a reminder too of the comforts of home. “There’s something magical about seeing our city burst into bloom during spring. More personally, I love the shift in temperature,” she says. “Cool nights and mornings that warm with the day remind me of France.”

Beginning with heirloom blue-and-white china from her family’s home in the South of France, Coste Dujols crafted a clear vision for her tabletop design: French Country greenhouse party. “The aesthetic is unique and feels distinctly personal—classic French table setting meets clean and contemporary, paired with natural elements,” says Coste Dujols who embraced threads of green throughout from hyacinth stems and hellebores blooms to surrounding plants in the greenhouse.

Interesting glassware provides a hint of color, while to keep things balanced, the only pattern is found in the plates. Natural materials abound from woven sisal place mats and chairs to wooden French knives and the greenhouse work table.

And the key to a successful setting: “Start by pulling together pieces you genuinely love. The beauty comes from mixing, layering, and letting your personal style guide each choice,” advises Coste Dujols. “When you collect items you love over time, your personal style is created, and will feel naturally cohesive.”

The party’s seasonal menu shares the same French sensibilities. “For a late spring affair, I like to begin by serving a Suze aperitif alongside saucisson, marinated olives, and lupini beans,” says Coste Dujols. “Next is my favorite, tarte à la tomate with Dijon mustard, tomatoes, and herbes de Provence on a homemade crust, served with a simple green salad with homemade vinaigrette and French cheese.”
For the main course, it has to be legumes farcis: stuffed tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini. To top it all off, Coste Dujols serves cherry clafoutis for dessert.

And although delicious French delicacies, century-old china, and beautiful blooms are undeniably impressive, it’s the curated way these elements interact that set the evening apart. Springtime favorites of poppies, hyacinth, hellebores, anemones, and ranunculus mingle unexpectedly. “Our signature garden style strives to emulate how flowers flow and fall in nature—stems in varying heights, space to allow blooms to open naturally, and integrating seasonal textures,” says Coste Dujols.

Just as a greenhouse fosters gentle growth, Coste Dujols’ approach to entertaining feels effortlessly warm and welcoming. And if by good fortune an invitation ever crosses your path, don’t think twice. lejardinfrancais.com