Tea, Scones and a few Suprises at Bella's Tea Room, Havre de Grace

October 18, 202

There’s something magical about stepping into a tearoom on a sunny afternoon. The promise of delicate china, fragrant tea, warm scones, and good conversation makes afternoon tea one of my favorite rituals. So when our group of nine women decided to book a High Tea at Bella’s Tea House in Havre de Grace, Maryland, I was excited. The photos looked beautiful on the internet and the setting a traditional Tea charm, that I couldn’t wait to experience with my group of family and friends.

But as the afternoon unfolded, what began with a lovely first impression turned into a more complicated experience — one with plenty of potential but some disappointing details. 

 

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✨ First Impressions: The tea room is charming and whimsical

Walking into Bella’s Tea House feels like stepping into a storybook. The mismatched china, cozy decor, and vintage touches create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Each table has its own personality, and there’s a playful sense of tradition meets whimsy.

However, once we sat down, that whimsical charm was overshadowed by something less delightful — slightly dirty dishes. Just a couple tea cups and plates at our table had a few speaks of what looked like soot from a candle.  Not a huge detail , but nevertheless it gave the impression that the china had been sitting too long.

 📅 Booking the High Tea: A Bit Confusing

Because we were a larger group, Bella’s required us to book their High Tea service, which typically includes a soup or starter, a selection of sandwiches, fresh scones, and a tiered dessert tray, all served with tea. They also offer private rooms for groups of ten or more. Make sure to look at the reservation policies especially for groups and make sure you understand deposits, and charges. They also like payment at the end made by one person at the end.

 

 The menu itself was a mix of hits and misses. I did not care for the Broccoli soup, but others liked it. The the sandwiches were forgettable. The biggest disappointment by far was the scones — instead of being light, buttery, and easy to slice, they were rock-hard and difficult to enjoy. The tea selection was fairly small, with about ten choice, but served in large teapots. There was no introduction or explanation of the tea blends. I missed that personal touch that elevates a tea service into an experience. It is commonly mussing from many tea rooms. Also it is mostly focused on serving tea, not retailing it. Unless I just did not see tea to purchase.

 

 

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🪻 The Atmosphere: Cozy, but a little Cluttered

Bella’s interior is undeniably cute and cozy, but it borders on too a little too much decor. The abundance of decor makes the space feel cluttered rather than calm, and I found it slightly overwhelming rather than relaxing. It’s a style some guests might love, but I wished for a cleaner, more tranquil setting to match the elegance of afternoon tea. 

 

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🌿 A Little About My Tea Background

I should share a little context, because my love for tea — and my expectations — come from many years of both personal and professional experience.

I grew up in London, England, where tea is part of daily life, and I’ve been drinking and serving tea for as long as I can remember. When I owned my spa business years ago, I offered a complimentary tea service and lunch in partnership with a tearoom next door called The Escape, where we paired treatments with afternoon tea. Our Spa and tea experience was even featured in The Plain Dealer Magazine at the time.

I also collaborated with a charming bed and breakfast called The Emerald Necklace, where I offered facial services during their tea parties when my business was first starting out. Those experiences deepened my belief that tea isn’t just a drink — it’s part of a ritual of care, connection, and relaxation.

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☕ Final Thoughts

My afternoon at Bella’s Tea House was a mix of lovely ideas and disappointing execution. The space is charming and full of character, but the details — from cleanliness and communication to the freshness of the food and quality of the tea — need more care.

With more attention to these details, Bella’s has the potential to become a truly special destination for tea lovers in Havre de Grace. As it stands now, it’s a charming spot with a lot of potential that just didn’t quite deliver the magical tea experience I was hoping for.

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⭐ Overall Rating: 3 out of 5

A sweet and whimsical tearoom with heart and potential, but the experience fell short in key areas.

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 and quality of the tea — need more care.

With more attention to these details, Bella’s has the potential to become a truly special destination for tea lovers in Havre de Grace. As it stands now, it’s a charming spot with a lot of potential that just didn’t quite deliver the magical tea experience I was hoping for.

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⭐ Overall Rating: 3 out of 5

A sweet and whimsical tearoom with heart and potential, but the experience fell short in key areas.

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✅ Pros

• Charming, storybook atmosphere

• Generous dessert platter

• Great spot for group gatherings

• Offers private rooms for larger parties

❌ Cons

• Dirty china and lack of attention to detail

• Charged for extra guest despite lower headcount

• Rock-hard scones and average sandwiches

• Tea quality inconsistent, with no presentation or explanation

• No retail tea available 

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Propagating Cuttings

 I’ve never been able to throw away a healthy sprig of anything. If it has a bit of stem and even the slightest potential to root, into the water or soil it goes. Over the years, this habit has turned into a quiet little obsession—and one that has saved me a good bit of money. Propagating cuttings is one of my favorite ways to grow the garden without buying more plants. It feels a little like magic every time.

Some plants practically beg to be propagated. Mint, for example, roots in water before you’ve even decided where to plant it. Lemon Balm and Begonias do too. Begonias will often send out fine little roots within days. I keep jars on the windowsill filled with hopeful clippings, and more often than not, they deliver.

Roses take a bit more convincing. I dip the cuttings in rooting compound first, then press them into moist soil and tuck them in someplace shady. It helps to trim away most of the leaves and leave just a few at the top. I’ve had the best luck when the weather is warm but not scorching, and when I remember to keep the soil evenly damp. Some years, they surprise me with strong new growth; other years, I try again. That’s part of the fun.

Geraniums are another favorite. They root in water too, though I’ve found I get the best results in early spring, just when the plants are waking up. If a stem gets leggy or breaks off, I trim it and stick it in a pot of soil, give it a little light, and wait. Most of the time, it rewards me with a whole new plant.

Petunias are less fussy than people think. If a sprig breaks off while I’m deadheading or tidying up, I pop it in a jar of water. In a week or two, I’ve got roots and the beginning of a brand-new petunia. I’ve even done this mid-season, then tucked the rooted cutting into a pot to keep things blooming longer.

And then there’s pussy willow. These will root in water without a second thought. It’s no wonder people use willow branches as natural rooting stimulants—some even soak willow in water to create a homemade rooting compound for other cuttings. I haven’t tried that yet, but it’s on my list. Many house plants root well in water too. 

There’s something deeply satisfying about growing new plants from ones you already have. It feels generous, in a way. Like the garden is offering up more than you asked for. A little jar on the windowsill becomes a nursery, a broken stem becomes a second chance, and before you know it, your single plant has multiplied. 

The Front Door Garden in August Heat and Humidity

 

August Check‑In: Front Door Garden on the Maryland Coast

Maryland in August feels like living in a greenhouse! This first summer on the East Coast has been a lesson in hot, humid days and thirsty plants. Coming from Portland’s mild summers, I never expected to water my pots and fabric grow bags two or even three times a day, but container soil dries out faster in a heatwave. Here’s what’s happening in my little front‑door oasis this month and how I’m coping with the challenges.

 

 I only had space for one basil plant, but I would definitely plant 2-3 next year.   Can’t cook without fresh basil! It’s the perfect companion for tomatoes, and I love stepping out to snip a few stems for Italian dishes or to toss into a salad. I also feed the Basil to my two rabbits. They love it. Basil seems to adore Maryland’s heat and grows like crazy. I pinch off flower buds regularly to keep it leafy and bushy. The intense sun does dry the pot quickly, so I water deeply in the early morning and again in the evening during heatwave. Sometimes a third time. 

 My Sweet Peppers seem to love the heat. They started producing peppers a short time after planting. They are a short compact plants with a big yield—perfect for a small front‑door garden. I love peppers for veggie stir‑fries and Caroline suggested I try stuffed peppers.

🍃 Growth Note: These plants are budding and growing quickly thanks to the humidity. But I think with that being said there are more pests than I have been used to.  Especially spider mites. This week I noticed lots of tiny holes in some leaves. I looked it up and spider mites thrive in hot, conditions. I avoid insecticides ( I read that  they don’t work on mites and can kill beneficial insects) and instead hose down the tops and bottoms of the leaves every few days. A strong jet of water raises humidity and knocks mites and their eggs off the plant. 

 

 

A trio of tomatoes gives me a  variety for salads and sauces. But the harvest has been little light.  I really think it is the mites. The tomato plants seem to be affected the most. The tomatoes are flowering and starting to set fruit, but the fruits are hiding under a dense canopy of leaves. Warm temperatures plus high humidity mean everything grows fast, so it’s no wonder the foliage is so lush. BBC Gardeners’ World advises thinning out bush tomatoes when fruits are hidden so that sunlight can reach and ripen them. I am going to aggressively prune some leaves next time I garden. 

One bush cucumber, a variety that suits container growing is perfect for my small space. I still have the vines tailing the fencing but I did not want a too aggressive vine so I used a bush variety. The vine has exploded with growth—Maryland’s humidity has it racing up the railing! Because fruit and flowers are hidden among the leaves, I need to improve airflow and make harvesting easier. The cucumber leaves also show some stippling and webbing, another sign of spider mites. 

This little front‑door garden has been a joy despite the August heat. I never expected to water so often or battle spider mites, but the reward of stepping out to harvest basil, peppers and sun‑ripened tomatoes makes it all worthwhile. I’m learning to love gardening in Maryland. Like any other change, it takes time and patience to adjust to the new way of doing things. Have you ever made a big change in location and had to start over? How difficult did you find it? How long did it take for you to adjust? We would love to hear about your experiences or tips in the comments.

Petals in Paper: Pressing Flowers for Rainy Day Project

One of my favorite quiet joys of summer is slipping flowers between the pages of old books and forgetting about them. It’s a little ritual I’ve kept since I was a youngster, one of those slow, patient hobbies that rewards you weeks later when you open a forgotten volume and find a perfect little bloom, paper-flat and still full of color.

Lately, I’ve been pressing pansies and begonias from the garden, along with a few wildflowers from my walks. Pansies press especially well. Their faces flatten neatly, and their colors deepen into something rich and velvety with time. The begonias are trickier. Their petals are thicker and more fragile, prone to browning if you don’t blot them first, but if you catch them just right, they hold onto their coral and rose tones beautifully.

The wildflowers are always a surprise. Some fade into dusty pastels; others seem even more colorful once they’ve been pressed. I press them the old-fashioned way: tucked inside a big hardcover book, and weighted down with a few more. No fancy equipment, just time and a bit of care. Sometimes I check them after a week, but I’ve learned to leave most alone for two or three. The longer I wait, the flatter and sturdier they become, ready to be used in collages, bookmarks, or glued to handmade cards.

If you’ve never tried pressing flowers, start with something simple, such as pansies, violas, or fern fronds. Collect them when they’re dry and freshly opened, and press them right away. Months from now, when the skies are gray and the beds are bare, you’ll open a book and find a garden tucked inside.

 

Tiny Bugs on My Grapevine Leaves

I was out in the garden the other morning, checking on the grapevines like I usually do this time of year, when I noticed something strange. The leaves didn’t look quite right. When I turned one over, I found them: tiny white bugs, flitting around.

They seemed to be on my younger grapevines. I have a 15-year-old grapevine that produces grapes each fall near my arbor. But I also have several young grapevine volunteers that have seeded in from the old vine. The bugs were only on the young vines. As of yet, these vines produce no grapes.

At first, I thought they might be aphids. But these were different. They were smaller, more active, and had wings. Some of them jumped when I tried to get a closer look. I’ve seen enough garden pests over the years to know these weren’t aphids.

After a little research and a closer inspection with my magnifying glass, I narrowed it down to either grape leafhoppers or whiteflies—two pests that seem to love grapevines. Both are tiny and white, both hang out on the undersides of the leaves, and both feed by sucking the sap from the plant. 

I’m encouraging the good bugs with my wild and natural garden. The more beneficial insects I can attract, the better the balance. I’ve also made a mental note to do a thorough cleanup in the fall and remove any fallen leaves so nothing overwinters near the vines.

I may also transplant my small grapevines to a better location, but I need to research how best to accomplish that. These little vines chose their spots all by themselves! As a result, they aren't in the most well-ventilated part of the garden. 

These little white bugs may be small, but they’re persistent. Fortunately, they aren't bothering other plants. With a bit of vigilance, I think I’ll be able to keep them under control. 

If you know what these pests are, leave a note in the comments. 

Havre de Grace Farmers Market

Some of my Favorite Items this week:

 

A small bouquet of summer flowers for $5

 

  

Fresh Chard 

 

Fresh Kale

 

Tiny Vases

 Years ago I was shopping at a thrift store and found a whole collection of tiny vases for 25 cents each.

                           Over the years I have used them to display tiny blossoms.

        This is a small milk glass bud vase but works very well for tiny flowers with longer stems.

This tiny vase isn't a vase at all. It's a vintage perfume bottle. 

It was from England in the 1920s, and contained a perfume called Cornish Violets. 

It came from the home of an ancestor I never met was then given to me by my mother. 

These mock orange blooms were on very long stems, which I cut down and pulled the tiny blossoms off. 

So if you see a tiny vase or two at a thrift store or yard sale, consider the uses and how sweet a tiny bouquet can be. 

Tea by Two Tearoom-Bel Air, Maryland, Part 1

 

Tea by Two - A Charming Tea Experience (Part 1)

 

 

 
I'm not entirely sure why, but I always have high expectations when I visit a tea house. Perhaps it's
because I grew up in the UK, or maybe it stems from my own experience combining a mini tea
house with my spa services. Whatever the reason, I tend to evaluate each tea room I visit using a
few key categories:
- Location
- Building
- Parking
- Theme
- Tea quality
- Menu
- Tea service
- Retail shop
- Pricing
- Friendly, knowledgeable staff

 

This review will be in two parts. In Part 1, I'll focus on the location, building, parking, and overall

 

theme of a charming local
 gem-Tea by Two.Part Two will focus on the retail area and the service in the tea room 

 

  A Mother's Day Introduction

 
My visit was inspired by a delightful surprise. During a large Mother's Day tea event (which was
lovely, though a bit under-organized), I was lucky enough to win a beautiful gift basket from Tea by
Two, including a gift certificate. That serendipitous w 

in brought me to their door-and I'm so glad it
did.

 

 Location: Location, Building & Parking

 

 Tea  by Two is located in a quaint house nestled beside a florist. The tea room occupies the first floor, making it wheelchair and walker friendly.

The  flower beds surrounding the property are well-kept and filled with romantic, cottage-style
perennials and shrubs-a perfect welcome.
A large parking lot is available in the back, which is a big plus. However, the house sits back from a
busy road, and while there is signage, it can be easy to miss. If this is your first visit, definitely plug
the address into your GPS.

 

 Theme & Atmosphere

 
The vibe here is romantic, soft, and "cottage core" to the max. You enter through a purple door into a
retail area that immediately sets the tone.
And let me tell you-this retail shop does not disappoint. It's beautifully merchandised with a curated
selection of teas, accessories, and gift items that make it hard to leave empty-handed.
It can get a bit crowded on weekends, but the staff works quickly to seat you. Reservations are
highly recommended, especially on Saturdays. If you're just coming to shop or having tea for one,
it's best to call ahead and check their current policies.

 

 Tea Room: First Look Inside the Tea Room

 
The tea room itself is cozy and intimate. Several well-dressed wooden tables are

 topped with pretty tablecloths and china, giving it a warm, inviting cottage feel.There's a surprisingly broad menu, including: - Traditional British High Tea or - A la carte options to mix and match
Now, let's get to what really matters in a tea house. The quality and taste of the scones!

 
Scone Test: The Scone Test (It Passed!)

 

The true test are the scones :

British style 
Freshly made, not hard as a rock  
Round and flaky not doughy  

 sweet, but not too sweet and 
Bonus points if served with lemon curd and clotted cream.

 

More about Tea by 
Tea: Coming Up in Part 2...
In the next post, I'll dive into:
- The tea selection
- Service experience
- Overall rating of Tea by Two
Stay tuned!

Preview Video of my Visit to Tea by Two, Bel Air, Maryland

 

Longwood Garden Pre-visit VIDEO

🌿 A Preview of Longwood Gardens--Possibly the most Stunning Public Garden and Botanical Experience

In just a few weeks, I’ll be visiting Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania—widely regarded as one of the most spectacular public gardens in the United States, and even the world. This will be my first time experiencing this world-renowned horticultural destination, and I couldn’t be more excited!

These preview photos were taken by my sister, who has visited Longwood Gardens several times. She warned me to rest up—because with over 1,100 acres of breathtaking landscapes, indoor conservatories, and themed gardens to explore, it’s truly a full-day adventure.

Much like Ladew Topiary Gardens,  Longwood was originally purchased as a country estate by Pierre S. du Pont, who transformed it into a horticultural masterpiece. My sister also raved about the ornate fountains, glass-enclosed greenhouses, and rare tropical plants that make Longwood a must-see for any garden lover.

She said the Longwood Christmas display is absolutely magical—featuring elaborate Christmas trees, seasonal blooms, and twinkling lights—so it sounds like I may have to make a return trip this winter!

🌸 Here’s a little photo preview of Longwood Gardens to inspire your own visit.

Crane Estate, Part 3: The Beauty Speaks for Itself

Even after two full posts, I still can’t stop looking at the beauty of the Crane Estate. Sometimes a place is so visually rich that words start to fall short. So for Part 3, I’m letting the photos speak. Enjoy!