The Rural Voice, 1998-10, Page 44Home Decorating
Taking advantage of Fall's bountiful beauty
By Patti Robertson
A fcw years ago, I pushed our big
blue wheelbarrow onto the front
lawn, filled it with large pumpkins,
tied some cornstalks to the handle
and this was to be my fall decor
statement. Early the next morning,
while Ward and I were still in bed
we heard a little boy exclaim with
great excitement "Mom, Dad; look
at how many biggest orangest
popkins these people have! Can we
have some?"
Well, that's all it took for mc to
become an avid "fall decorating
addict". Each fall I now look
forward to the day when Bill and
Doran Taylor from Bclgravc call
me to let me know what thcy have
for me this season to make my yard
come alive with the season's finest
bounty!
There arc so many statements a
READY TO LAY
PULLETS
BABY CHICKS
WHITE & BROWN EGG LAYERS
FISHER POULTRY FARM INC.
AYTON ONT NOG 1C0
519-665-7711
body can make with pumpkins,
cornstalks, gourds, apples, squash,
fall leaves and
the like, all of
which arc
affordable and
relatively "fuss
free!"
A pretty
statement can be
made as simply
as positioning
your old tin
watering can on
your front stoop
and filling it
with branches of
coloured leaves
or artificial sunflowers. Take an old
wagon wheel and weave grape vines
through the spokes, add a bunch of
bittersweet or mountain ash berries
for impact and colour. Hollow out a
grouping of pumpkins and use them
as containers to hold pots of fall
asters or mums. The bright orange of
the pumpkins combines beautifully
with mums in rust, burgundy or deep
mauve for an interesting colour
combo!
A large bushel basket or an older
wicker basket works wonders for fall
decor when heaped with apples,
squash or gourds. Orange or yellow
leaf and litter bags can be easily
fashioned into large showy bows to
adorn your decorating accents.
On fall walks I love gathering
Decorating
with
nature's help
SAVE $$$ NOW ON CARPETS
AND FLOORING AT THE ))\,..
YCeTlie >Q 2 6en'4e )1
Carpet Warehouse
(on the Owen Sound Bypass - 2 miles south o1 Springmount)
376-0975
Open Wed., Thurs. & Fri. - 10:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m., Sat. - 10:30 a.m - 3:00 p.m.
Evening appointments available for your convenience
40 THE RURAL VOICE
arm loads of cattails, wild fall asters,
golden rod, oak leaves and the like
and once home I combine my finds
with sedum and hydrangeas. I
fashion it all into large showy
arrangements in my outdoor urns.
These arrangements weather and dry
amazingly well and look good
through until the first snow flies.
You can also use old milk cans very
effectively for your arrangement
container.
And, of course, there arc the ever -
faithful cornstalks to work into our
fall dccor. Cornstalks work as
welcoming sentinels at either side of
your door or bunched up along a
fence row. Tie up a grouping and
fashion a weather proof velvet bow
for impact and appeal.
Be daring in your colour combos.
Try bows in burgundy, deep mauve,
sage green or mustard tones. For i
good measure, add silk sunflowers,
or bunches of red berries into your
grouping, or why not fashion
cornstalks into a swag to hang above
your doorway, embellished with
cobs of Indian corn. A touch of
elegance can be added by spraying
stalks with metallic paints in gold or
bronze. Or try adding pheasant or
peacock feathers. It is a perfect
opportunity to invent your own
unique touch — really the sky is the
limit!
Once you let your imagination
explore all the many possibilities and
variations in making the fall season
come alive outside your home, your
creative juices will really begin to
flow.
And come Halloween I simply
carve my pumpkins and trail
synthetic spider webs throughout my
fall decor for a spooky effect.
Not only do my fall decorating
exploits entertain and catch little
peoples' eyes and imagination, the
exercise also keeps the "child"
within me enchanted and alive!O
Patti Robertson operates Classic
Interiors in Wingham.