Look in your own backyard for materials to make this inexpensive fall display . Gather materials such as dried grasses, seed heads from plants such as Echinacea, Sedum (I used Autumn Joy) and Yarrow. Small branch clippings from Burning bush, cotoneaster or any other fall foliage add a splash of color and texture to the arrangement. Even thistle adds great texture to the mix, (although be aware of scattering unwanted seeds unless you spray them with a sealant). Take a walk and discover the beauty in our fall landscapes, bring along clippers and a tote to collect your fall treasures.

What you will need:

Assortment of pumpkins ( I used ‘Lumina’, ‘Cinderella’, ‘Howden’, and ‘Jack be Little’)

Fall clippings from the garden.

A hand drill with a 1/4 inch drill bit.

Child’s wagon, wheelbarrow, hay bale, or large flowerpots upside down.

Directions for large pumpkin:

Choose a pumpkin with a flat side for bottom stability.

With a magic marker, make dots across the pumpkin 1/2 inch apart in a line. Create 4 rows, but stagger the dots in order to get good coverage when inserting the foliage.

Drill the dots all the way through with the 1/4 inch drill bit.

Starting with the tallest grasses, insert a clump in the back row, stepping down the heights with each row until the front row has the foliage directly on the pumpkin. Have areas that need filling in? Drill additional holes and place more plant material to create fullness.

The white ‘Lumina’ pumpkin flower below was made by drilling holes in a circular pattern on the top, and inserting Sedum and Smoke Tree clippings.

Fill your wagon or container with leaf clippings, place your pumpkins together at various angles inside and around the wagon.

Happy Fall!

Susan