Making the most of nature’s autumn bounty
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Although the growing season may be over for this year, nature still provides us with opportunities to add beauty to our surroundings. With a little planning, many of the flowers we enjoy through the summer can be dried and combined with pumpkins, gourds, seed heads and other natural materials to make attractive centerpieces, wreaths, garlands and more.
Many flowers are suitable for drying and there are several ways to dry them. The easiest method, and the one I use most often, is simple air drying. Baby's breath, larkspur, strawflowers, statice, amaranth and goldenrod are just a few of the selections that can be air dried by picking them just before or at their flowering prime, gathering them into bunches and hanging them upside down in a dry, dark location with good air circulation. Air drying also works well for branches from panicle hydrangea, pussy willow and curly willow. It's best to remove leaves before drying and to keep the bunches small so all parts are exposed to the air. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight which will cause the flowers to fade. Drying usually takes two to three weeks.
As the growing season winds down, I scout for seed pods, berries, pinecones, acorns and other interesting plant materials to use in conjunction with dried flowers. Cattails, sorghum and seed heads from other grains and grasses work well. Local farmers' markets offer pumpkins and gourds in a variety of colors and patterns that will contrast nicely with the dried materials and add to the appeal of the decorations.
This year, I focused on centerpieces and bouquets. Centerpieces can be made by attaching dried materials to whole pumpkins and gourds or by hollowing out a pumpkin and using it as a vase to hold an arrangement. Begin by cutting a hole in the top of the pumpkin and removing the seeds and pulp, much like creating a jack-o-lantern. Once cleaned out, I spray the interior of the pumpkin with cooking spray to slow decomposition.
I then select a plastic container that will fit down inside the pumpkin to hold the arrangement. Margarine tubs, yogurt and sour cream containers usually work well. I cut a piece of dry foam to fit into the container so that when it's placed in the pumpkin the foam is level or slightly higher than the cut edge at the top of the pumpkin. Dry foam is designed to hold delicate materials like dried flower stems. It is different from Styrofoam or wet floral foam and can be found online and in craft stores.
With the foam container placed inside the pumpkin, it's time to begin arranging the dried materials by gently sticking them into the foam. Choose materials that complement or contrast well with the color of the pumpkin. Because cut pumpkins will decompose more quickly than uncut ones, placing the pumpkin arrangement on a dish or tray is recommended to avoid damaging surfaces should it begin to rot. The dried arrangement can be removed from the pumpkin and placed into a bowl, crock or vase to enjoy long after the pumpkin is gone.
Decorating uncut pumpkins or gourds is done by attaching dried materials using glue, wire or twist ties. Selecting a gourd or pumpkin with a dried stem which can be used as a framework for fastening dried materials can be helpful. Consider the colors of the dried materials and how well they will contrast or harmonize with the color of the pumpkin or gourd before attaching them.
One of the most important components of successful decorating with dried materials is having the right dried materials and enough of them, so a little advance planning is recommended. Before the growing season begins, consider which flowers you want to have available for drying and then purchase seeds or transplants for your garden. Harvest and begin drying them as they reach peak bloom time, so you have enough by the end of the season. Or, if you lack time or space to plant your own, consider placing an order for dried materials at a local farmers' market early in the season.
University of Missouri Extension provides lists of plant materials suitable for drying and detailed information on various methods of drying them at https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6540 .
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Debra C. Burrows, PhD, is a retired Penn State Extension Educator and a certified Master Gardener. She can be reached at dcb3@psu.edu.