Come with me on an Easter egg hunt in Mr. McGregor’s garden, with classic Beatrix Potter book characters.

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Peter Rabbit and his friends are running amok in Mr. McGregor’s garden in this Easter holiday tablescape, created using my collection of Beatrix Potter figurines.

Beatrix Potter spent much of her childhood drawing and studying animals. The Tale of Peter Rabbit published in 1902, was her first book, expanded from an illustrated letter. She went on to publish more than 20 tales and collections.

I always loved Beatrix Potter’s endearing illustrations of rabbits, ducks, mice, kittens, frogs, turtles and more. At some point, I began to receive one figurine in my Easter basket each year — all the way through college.

Later, I used the tiny books and figurines to decorate my children’s’ nursery. Some years back they were packed up for safe-keeping. It wasn’t until I came across an egg hunt sign kit, that I had a eureka moment on how to incorporate the characters into a charming tablescape.

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Planting McGregor’s Garden

I created a centerpiece that runs the length of the table, and is meant to represent Mr. McGregor’s garden.

After placing a bright white tablecloth on the dining room table, I centered a casual Pfaltzgraff Naturewood runner down the middle. At one time, my sister had a nice collection of the garden-theme dishes. I only have the runner, placemats, and a spoon rest. See them featured in, Darling Bunny Hop Table Celebrates Spring.

To create the garden effect, I layered a roll of moss and two greenery garlands down the long edges of the table runner. All came from Old Allegheny Shoppe, along with most of the other greenery, faux tulips and moss egg nest branch.

See more Easter and spring decor ideas and inspiration while Perusing Spring Open House at Old Allegheny Shoppe.

Bunnies Do the Heavy Lifting

Next, I used a number of white bunny cake and cupcake stands to elevate portions of the display. The large, center stand depicts a strong bunny really showing off his strength and muscles!

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Layered around the entire centerpiece are a number of my Beatrix Potter figurines (made by Beswick). If you look closely you’ll see four of them.

Although it was time-consuming to create, I had fun ‘shopping’ my stash for little decorative items to tuck and fill-in around the centerpiece. Below, a rabbit is checking out his tee shot in front of one of the bee skeps I made for Bee Wreath and Skep.

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I also used four white cupcake stands found at Tuesday Morning a few years back. A bargain compared to those Pottery Barn carried! This little guy is doing leg lifts.

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The carrots scattered about are those I elected not to use in, Adorable DIY Moss Bunny Wreath with Basket of Flowers.

Orange baskets filled with floral foam hold the three main Easter egg hunt signs. They are leftovers from Decorate with Halloween Costume Photos, Artwork. I’m forever raiding my stash, lol!

And the two yellow crates normally each hold six bee milk bottles — you’ll see them later on the Beatrix Potter table tour.

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There are two different bunny cupcake stand designs. I have four of each, and yes, they are a major pain to store! But, aren’t they adorable? Here, one bunny climbs up the shoulders of the other.

The pair of moss bunny topiaries are old, and from a local floral shop. I’ve used them in other Easter table centerpieces and vignettes. Take the Easter Home Decor Tour to see the large population of rabbits and bunnies around my house each spring.

Out of Bunny Reach

Overhead, cute eggs (Michaels) hang from the brass chandelier from ribbons.

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There are a variety of vintage-inspired designs; including stripes and checks, with rabbits or chicks.

Meet My Beatrix Potter Friends

Let’s take a look around the table on an Easter egg hunt with my Beatrix Potter figurines. All eighteen I own were made by Beswick, and are no longer in production. 

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There were three main producers of Beatrix Potter figurines; Beswick, Royal Albert, and Border Fine Arts. Beswick made the original ten and evidently produced about 76 different characters or variations. 

Elegant Lady Mouse

Lady Mouse appears in the illustrations from Beatrix Potter’s second book, The Tailor of Gloucester.

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She looks a little like Marie Antoinette in that outfit, don’t you think? I love how daintily she’s holding the mirror. Lady Mouse in mob cap was my first, and still favorite Beatrix Potter figurine.

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Moving down the table we see Peter Rabbit happily crunching on a carrot, safely out of Mr. McGregor’s reach.

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At each table setting, I elevated one of my Beatrix Potter figurines using a clear cupcake stand.

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Normally, each stand is covered with a clear dome top. I removed them to take pictures, because the glass reflection made it difficult to see the figurines.

You can see the cupcake stands with the domes in place in several tablescapes, including; A Valentines Day Tea Party with Friends and Celestial Tablescape Rings in New Year.

Tom’s Snug Jacket

Tom Kitten — in a jacket that’s a little too tight — is perched over a pale yellow plate. The Tale of Tom Kitten was released by Frederick Warne & Co. in September 1907.

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You’ll never guess where the bunny-embossed dessert plates are from….Hallmark! There are four different color plates in each set. I bought two sets (with matching egg stands and napkin rings) in a post-season clearance sale when the boys were little.

In the centerpiece, behind Tom Kitten, is another one of my all-time favorite Beatrix Potter characters — Jemima Puddle-Duck.

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In The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck, she looks for a quiet place to lay her eggs. If you look closely at some of the previous pictures, you’ll  find the Jemima figurine hanging out beneath Peter Rabbit.

Did you also notice the cute watering can sign, with a bunny bottoms up?

Tableware Compliments Figurines, Garden Setting

Moving around the table is Pigling Bland in a suit and carrying a knapsack. First published in 1913, The Tale of Pigling Bland describes the pig’s adventures and how his life changes upon meeting a soul mate.

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At the host and hostess place settings I used cabbage leaf placemats, seen recently under Chocolate Rabbit Centerpiece, Vignette for Easter Table.

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In the left corner you can see one of two styles of white rabbit egg holders at each place setting. Eggs were also placed in mini clay pots (Dollar Tree).

The white dinner plates are Mikassa English Countryside. I love all the detail in the plate rim, including; lattice weave, leaves and berries. A Tweet Tablescape to Welcome Spring and HapBEE Birthday Table and Beehive Dessert use the same base plate.

There are two different kinds of bee glassware set on the table that I also used for Bee Theme Party Food Features Honey, Lemon.

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The honeycomb milk bottles with straws came in those yellow crates used in the centerpiece. I purchased two sets of six for my first My Favorite Things Party.

The other bee glasses are by La Rochere, and part of my everyday bee tableware.

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That collection also includes Wallace Napoleon Bee flatware, which I first considered using in this Beatrix Potter tablescape. Instead, I went with twig flatware that I think has a more garden feel.

It also works well in fall and winter tablescapes like; Birds of a Feather Gather Together Table and Moose Toboggan Ride Tablescape Winter Fun.

Bunny Bottoms Up!

Under the four other place settings, are burlap and white ‘bunny-butt’ placements. See the little white bunny feet at the bottom of the plate, and the cotton tail at the top? My husband thinks they are ridiculous LOL.

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In the picture above, you can also see the mini clay pots I used at each place setting to hold a large faux goose egg. Metal carrot napkin rings encircle rabbit embroidered napkins.

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Mrs.Tiggy-Winkle is a hedgehog washerwoman who lives in a tiny cottage in the fells of England’s Lake District. I love the little iron she is holding.

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To further tempt that mischievous Peter Rabbit, I placed cabbage leaf serving pieces around the table — including this large bowl (William Sonoma outlet).

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In the background, Mr. McGregor is running through his garden, trying to catch Peter by his cottontail.

Guinea Pigs Love Cabbage Too

From Appley Dapply’s Nursery Rhymes is the Amiable Guinea Pig, a character dear to my heart.

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During middle school, I had five Peruvian (long haired) guinea pigs at one time. They lived in a two-story cage my father and grandfather built. All had ridiculous names, like Napoleon.

I loved hearing them squeak, squeal and whistle when I fed them lettuce or cabbage leaves.

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Mr. Alderman Ptolemy is a turtle, and character from The Tale of Jeremy Fisher.

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Back around the Beatrix Potter tablescape is a wheelbarrow sign. A moss frog is hanging out with friends; Jeremy Fisher and Mr. Jackson figurines.

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See my entire Peter Rabbit & Friends Beatrix Potter Figurine Collection for more details and photographs.

Close-ups show all the wonderful detail of each character. Each is based on the author’s classic, watercolor illustrations.

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Did you read Beatrix Potter books when you were little, or to your children and grandchildren? What was your favorite book or character?

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