Pumpkin Layering 101
Fall is officially here, and we have two significant holidays to decorate for - Halloween and Thanksgiving. I tackle Halloween first with pumpkins and ghoulish items. Then, after Halloween, I swap out the ghosts and goblins with more layering of gourds, leaves, and other fall-specific items. For both holidays it’s essential to start with a good layering of pumpkins.
When I’m looking for pumpkins the more unusual, the better. I particularly like the Rouge Vif D'Etampes or vivid red, White Lumina, the bumpy Knuckleheads, and the lighter orange fairytale pumpkins that look like ones from Cinderella. For the largest ones, I only buy one, for medium size, two and for minis and gourds I buy three or more.
This is my dream stoop with a twisted assortment of unusual pumpkins in every size and color.
I utilize the pots that are already on my porch and build around them. Here, I’ve taken an old rusty urn, lined it with grape leaves, and rested a small pumpkin in it.
The leaf garland is from Michael’s and withstands the elements quite well.
Pumpkins and gourds are hearty. I use whatever I think will last. I even have a couple of acorn squash in the mix that I will cut up and use for a soup or side dish after Thanksgiving.
The fun is in the collecting. Wherever I’m shopping, I stop to see if they have pumpkins.