Raise your hand if you're feeling thankful for Fall flowers! I've got both of mine in the air. I know the year isn't over yet, but these last 8 months have felt like an eternity. No doubt many of you (I know I have), has felt some degree of stress, depression or anxiety. First of all, that is completely normal you guys. I don't want any of you feeling less than adequate because of it. We truly are in this together (but 6 feet apart).
With the change of seasons I am reflecting on how much has happened this year. Many of us have been in the house for 4 seasons now. How crazy is that? But it's given us an opportunity to appreciate the season we're in because we've been forced to slow down and notice the world around us.
For example, the best thing about Spring and Summer is how GREEN everything is. It's so welcoming after the dirty brown snow we've been looking at since February. And just as we're starting to tire of the colour green, in walks Fall with its beautiful hues of orange, red and yellow.
In my last blog post Bringing Fresh Blooms Into Everyday Living, I highlighted some ways to have those Fall colours in and around you at all times (because who doesn't want that??). But now that it's nearly Thanksgiving, we need to up our game!
Decorating for Thanksgiving is incredibly easy, and not to mention environmentally-friendly (more on that later). I love fresh gerbera daisies, sunflowers, burgundy carnations and yellow roses nicely displayed with real pumpkin as its vase.
But let's think bigger than that! Here are a few ways I like to decorate my home and table so everyone is in the harvest mood:
While nothing looks better than a real pumpkin on the table, the alternative is fake pumpkin. Cut the top off and stick in a mason jar. Place your flowers in the jar and add water. Depending on the colour of your pumpkin, neutral coloured blooms are a safe bet. They'll go with almost anything. Think white carnations, dried lagurus, baby's breath and ivy branches. As a bonus, using a fake one, you can use it every year! Use twigs when decorating your napkins. A nice burlap ribbon tied around a black and white buffalo check napkin and some twigs and greenery stuck in will look awesome! Fruit. That's right, fruit! Apples, oranges and plums look so good in a bed of greenery. It's a nice way to add a fresh look to a thanksgiving table. And we can't forget to mention small gourds and pumpkins. Those pie pumpkins are so cute. If you hollow out the top, a tealight can be placed in the hole to add some mood lighting to your table. Eucalyptus, in my opinion smells really good. For a simple table display, just run eucalyptus branches along a burlap runner and add tall pillar candles. Bud vases. Placing a large ranunculus in a bud vase at each place setting is very pretty. Go to a second hand store and see if you can pick up some bud vases. Then each guest can take theirs home as a souvenir. If you don't find any bud vases, look for the 250 ml mason jars. They're a little wider so you could cut the entire stem off and let the flower float in the water.
These are just a few simple ways to make your table looking fresh, smelling delicious and feeling welcoming. And of course, don't forget about Frugal Friday! I'll have some fall bouquets ready. These make a perfect hostess gift for those cooking Thanksgiving dinner for you. Even if you're playing it safe and staying home with family - your mom, wife, or even dad or husband - will appreciate the gesture.
If you decide to use real pumpkins, fruit and gourds in your decorating but don't have any intention of consuming them, dispose of them environmentally. Locally some of our communities have a green bin program. Check with your municipality for when they're collecting large pumpkins. Smaller ones like the pie pumpkins, gourds and fruit can go directly in your green bin.
Another alternative is a local farm. Look for one that's a rescue type farm like Primrose Donkey Sanctuary. If there little piggies afoot, they love to eat pumpkins! Round them up and deliver them. But make sure you call first in case they are not accepting any this year.
They also make great compost for your own garden. Even if you don't have your own compost pile or curbside compost collection, many communities create drop off sites for pumpkin disposal immediately after Halloween. Whichever way you choose to compost your leftover pumpkins, they'll be a welcome addition to create natural fertilizer for next year's garden. Check with your local community garden to see if they're accepting any.
In this season I definitely have to say I am incredibly thankful for all of my customers, supporters and followers. As a one woman show you have no idea what this has all meant to me over the last 8 months. It's been a blessing!
Stay tuned for my next blog post! Ya'll know it's about to get spooky up in here!
Raise your hand if you're feeling thankful for Fall flowers! I've got both of mine in the air. I know the year isn't over yet, but these last 8 months have felt like an eternity. No doubt many of you (I know I have), has felt some degree of stress, depression or anxiety. First of all, that is completely normal you guys. I don't want any of you feeling less than adequate because of it. We truly are in this together (but 6 feet apart).
