Autumnal Decoration in Pumpkins

"Pumpkins belong to autumn just like poinsettias belong to Christmas. And for that very reason, these round orange delights are perfect not only for a tasty dish on your plate, but also for wonderful autumnal decoration.

A pumpkin always makes a good impression in autumn. And so it doesn't have to stand alone as a decoration, you can conjure up a fantastic autumnal display inside a pumpkin with a few tricks. The materials are quickly gathered:"

• A pumpkin
• Floral foam
• Sunflowers
• Heather branches
• Chinese lantern plant branches
• Grasses
• Wintergreen (Gaultheria) branches

It doesn't always have to be a bowl or a vase. A pumpkin makes a visually appealing container for a beautiful autumn arrangement. First, cut off the lid of the pumpkin and hollow it out completely. The pulp should be entirely removed to prevent mold later. Then, water the floral foam for about 10 minutes and cut it to fit snugly into the pumpkin. The floral foam will later supply the autumn plants in the arrangement with water. After that, you can start filling the pumpkin with the plants.

Autumnal plants are naturally available in magnificent colors. For an autumn arrangement, heather, Chinese lantern plants, grasses, and wintergreen are especially well-suited. Of course, the quintessential autumn flower, the sunflower, absolutely cannot be missing. It forms the centerpiece of the arrangement and is therefore placed in the middle of the floral foam. Around it, the other branches can be draped and inserted into the foam until a lush, colorful autumn arrangement is created. Branches of various heights will make the arrangement look even fuller, and deeply inserted berry branches will make the floral foam visually disappear.

Many autumnal plants impress with their colorful branches. Dogwood is particularly known for its red branches. However, only the young shoots are deeply red. Regular pruning of the dogwood ensures fresh shoots that can then be perfectly integrated into the autumn arrangement.