For over 30 years Beulah Hargrove has operated her business, Grand Oak Herb Farm, located near Bancroft MI, offering afternoon and high teas, garden and floral workshops, a greenhouse nursery of organic plants, and lovely gift shop.
A few years ago Beulah decided she wanted to sit once in awhile and enjoy being “at tea”, and share fellowship with her guests instead of always being the one serving the teas. So she created the “Grand Oak Herb Farm Tea Society”.
For the Tea Society, Beulah offers the use of her family’s heirloom “tea barn”, provides the china teacups and hot herbal tea…free of charge. Those who come to the Tea Society bring a dish to share and take turns to host providing a theme, table decorations and tableware, and sometimes a program or project. David and I have been a part of the Tea Society since its beginning, hosting on several occasions over the years.
The last time the Tea Society met was November 2019 due to COVID-19. Last Saturday (August 21) twenty gathered, including Beulah, in the tea barn to enjoy a wide selection of tasty food provided by the attendees, and their fond fellowship. It was wonderful to be together again, enjoying Beulah’s gracious hospitality and the ambiance of Grand Oak Herb Farm.
Entrance sign along the main road The tea barn nestled among the trees at Grand Oak Herb Farm. This barn belonged to Beulah’s family on another property and was moved here for Beulah’s use and preservation.One of the several decorated tables for the Tea Society’s August gathering.,.decorations and tableware provided by one of the Tea Society attendeesEach table’s centerpiece highlighted a nautical-mermaid themeThe table David and I sat atA close-up of our table’s centerpieceThe inside of the tea barn…such a lovely setting for Beulah’s many functions…including the Tea SocietySoapy has been warmly welcomed and included to all of our Tea Society gatheringsDavid loves coming to the Tea Society gatherings…he so enjoys the food!Our food contribution was a tiered server of Roasted Grape Tomato-Pesto-Feta Cheese-Brioche Baguette CrostiniMy plate is filled with the wonderful assortment of food from the Tea Society attendees…both savory and sweet…including a homemade salsa from garden-grown tomatoes (in the foreground)After our Tea Society gathering a visit to Beulah’s Gift Shop is a mustThe inside of the beautiful Gift ShopThe Gift Shop is filled with vintage items, garden decorations, floral arrangements, assortment of potpourri, and Beulah[‘s own line of productsA parting view of the Grand Oak Herb Farm on a warm August afternoon
