Year-Round Gardening

| YEAR-ROUND GARDENING | Fall DecorHarnessing nature’s bounty

By Rebekah Whirledge, House and Home Writer

Happy harvest! Happy Thanksgiving! Happy autumn! November is chock-full of celebrations centering on nature’s bounty just waiting to be integrated into your home’s fall decor. In fact, “Fall is the second most decorated season and continues to gain in popularity,” said Jason Becker, corporate officer for Fashion Farm, a Ligonier staple of all things autumn: mums, pumpkins, hayrides, apple donuts and all that fall family fun and decor.

Whether inside or outside, enjoy this last month of fall’s splendor before the ice and snow take over. The transition to cooler weather is a challenge for most, but you can keep a little color around even up to Thanksgiving with the right natural fall decor items.

GO AHEAD AND FALL INSIDE

“I enjoy using some of the same natural decor inside the house as I do outside,” said Becker. “This means that those small pumpkins, gourds, squash and Indian corn give a great natural feel to your home. Most pumpkins, gourds and squash will hold well in an indoor space. Remember to try and keep them away from direct heat and moist locations. Break out your natural clay pots and saucers to create small

scarecrows and backgrounds for these items as well. The orange clay is great for the fall. Some pressed leaves and pine cones are always a great addition as well.”

Debbie Carpenter, interior designer and owner of Sweet Water Interiors in Goshen, takes it a step further: “Add accent pillows of pumpkins (and) gourds, fall-scented candles, pull out that set of dishes for the fall, table arrangements with an elongated shape for rectangular table, turkey statue surrounded with pumpkins and gourds.”

OUT AND ABOUT WITH AUTUMN IN MIND

“The pumpkin stack is back, and everyone is creating their own color and shape combos,” said Becker. “Use the flatter specialty pumpkins to create your stack and then top it with something special whether it’s a gourd, pumpkin or squash that makes it stand out. The many colors, shapes and textures of these fall farm items can make any entrance or entertaining area stand out and get noticed. The traditional corn shock and straw bale is always a great idea to give your display the background and structure it needs to give the pumpkins and decor a pop.

“Combination planters with mums, pansies, osteospermum, ornamental peppers and flowering kale are some ideas to also think about for that fall-themed decor. Our sales of fall plantings have increased for the past several years and I think this will continue.”

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SEASONAL STORAGE TIPS

If binging “The Home Edit” on Netflix has taught us anything, it’s that a system for storage is key. For storing fall decor, Carpenter recommends some clear, plastic storage containers, and don’t forget the labels. n photos:shutterstock.com

RESOURCES: 203 Wayne St., Middlebury, IN (574) 825-8824