Spooktacular Pumpkin Art

The vibes your autumn decor gives off depends entirely on what you pair them with. While we typically associate pumpkins with Halloween, they are suitable for so much more. Left whole, they can sit at many angles to give everyone at the table a beautiful view. Cut open, they make excellent containers for flowers when hollowed out. While most popular in hues of orange, white and green, pumpkins offer wonderful options for color schemes, especially when they are paired with protea and other unique botanicals.

Simplely Gourd-geous!

Here is what you need to make your own:

• Fresh pumpkin 

• Knife 

• Clear plastic sheet or container 

• Chicken wire or Floral foam (optional) 

• Flowers, foliage, berries, cones, fruit 

• Clippers 

• Spray paint (optional)

Make it!

Carve your pumpkin so that you have a wide opening near the center of the pumpkin. Scoop out the seeds and pulp. Line the inside of the pumpkin with a sheet of plastic or container. If desired, cut a piece of floral foam with the knife to fit inside the pumpkin. Choose flowers and foliage with strong straight stems (proteas are perfect)! Insert the chicken wire or pre-soaked floral foam into the pumpkin and create your arrangement. Start with foliage, then add flowers, fruit, and other embellishments to create a full and interesting centerpiece.

A Time of Remembrance: Dia de Los Muertos

November 1st and 2nd, people around the world celebrate The Day of the Dead also known Dia de los Muertos. It is believed that during these two days, the souls of the dead come back to visit their living loved ones.

Dia de Los Muertos is a time for families and friends to pay tribute and send love to those who are no longer on Earth. Unlike Halloween the day before, this celebration is not about terror and tricks but instead, it is a time of remembrance.

Unfolding in a burst of color and life-sustaining joy, the fete is not limited to a few main colors like black and orange: it's a delightful display of vibrant hues like bright purples, pinks, orange, blues, white, and black. During this time, people journey to their family burial grounds and decorate their loved one's graves or ofrendas (alters) in a festive and fun way. Portraits of the deceased, along with items that belonged to them or they enjoyed (like a favorite beverage or snack) are included in the decor.

The cempasúchil, a variety of marigold flower native to Mexico, is often placed on ofrendas and around graves. Their vibrant color petals are used to make a path that leads the spirits from the cemetery to their families’ homes. Plus, the marigold’s distinct smell when paired with the right kind of candle, allows the departed to return for a brief time to enjoy the pleasures of the world they left behind once more.

Death is considered part of the journey of life. Rather than death being the end of life. Families view death as the beginning of the cycle of seasons and new life.

Fall’s Fabulous Flush

It takes just a peek out in the fields to remind us that fall has, indeed, made its way to this side of the equator. I always find that the sky is prettiest in the autumn, it seems to take on a warm golden glow that reminds me of the word ‘harvest’. That awareness as nature yields its final flush and soon the fields will begin anew - is always a hint to take pause and reflect.

There’s something so magical about this time of the year. The bountiful plants standing tall with blooms reaching high into the autumn sky, protea by the arm loads gathered into glorious bundles and pickups overflowing with the day’s yield. Fall’s fabulous flush is a cause for celebration and the ideal time to share the ambiance of the season harvest. Each gorgeous protea transforms everyday life here on the farm — growing, harvesting, and even transporting—into works of art.

Autumn...the year's last, loveliest smile. - William Cullen Bryant