PLANTS TO PAIR WITH PUMPKINS THIS FALL

“The pumpkins and squashes were piled in orange and yellow and green heaps in the attic’s corners.” -Laura Ingalls Wilder

The best part of fall is watching its decaying beauty. It teaches us to let things go, but not entirely. While we reap the harvest, there’s so many unique plants to observe, herbs to forage, gourds to dry, and pumpkins to carve. There are oodles of flowers that bloom in October and create a beautiful autumnal garden, such as chrysanthemums, goldenrod, sedum, calendula, asters, marigolds, cosmos, zinnias, Japanese anemone, and rudbeckia.

Asters are so plentiful this time of year that they cover entire fields, inviting hosts of butterflies and bees that create a cacophony of soft humming. Fall gardens are filled with popular varieties of asters like parasol whitetop or “tall white,” frost and snow flurry heath. All of which create a profusion of tiny white blossoms and spread readily when they go to seed. Most of your fall flowers shouldn’t be dead-headed or cut this fall. Instead, for winter, leave your echinacea, black-eyed Susans, sunflowers, Joe-Pye weed, goldenrod, ornamental grasses, sedum, and native shrubs intact so birds can enjoy the seeds. All of these add a much-needed touch of autumnal whimsy to any setting. Add corn husks, pumpkins, gourds, squashes, and potted mums galore to any front porch, patio, or lawn for a gorgeous fall aesthetic. Bottle and ornamental gourds are ideal for décor in the fall, and then can be dried in the winter. Once they’ve been hollowed out, they make adorable birdhouses and feeders.

“Way out in the country tonight he could smell the pumpkins ripening toward the knife and the triangle eye and the singeing candle.” -Ray Bradbury

“If you’ve visited a local pumpkin patch, you’ve probably encountered so many different types of pumpkins in various shapes, sizes, and colors. More than 200 varieties of pumpkins grow in the United States, and farmers and seed companies regularly produce new varieties.” Some of the most popular include the “orange smoothie,” which is iconic. Not only is it ideal for painting and carving, but it’s also a staple for any home, whether it’s sitting on your doorstep or being used to make pie! There’s something undeniably cozy and festive about a perfectly round pumpkin made into a classic Jack-o-Lantern with a crooked grin to reveal a flickering candle. Fairytale and Cinderella’s Carriage pumpkins certainly look the part, while Wee-Be-Little is so small it’s perfect for any cottage core table scape. Jarrahdale pumpkins are slate blue and pair beautifully with the white Cotton Candy varieties. Blue and white—as opposed to hues of yellow and orange—create a chic and unexpected façade for anyone interested in decorating this time of year. Large pumpkins such as Kakai have striking green stripes and are bred for their yummy seeds or “pepitas,” while the warty goblin hybrid doesn’t require any fuss or embellishment: it’s simply fun to look at.

Herbs to forage in October include hawthorn berries, dandelion root, spicebush, pine, elderberry, sumac berries, rosehips, and black walnut. Whether you’re into wild crafting or simply like to browse the farmer’s market for holistic goodies, these are wonderful flora to stay on the lookout for. Keep your eyes peeled for fresh October produce like apples, Swiss chard, pomegranates, mushrooms, radishes, kale, persimmons, figs, and cranberries.

For more on all your floral needs this fall, visit Chelsea Flowers at the website and the following link mentioned in this blog:

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/home-lifestyle/gardening/g66041851/types-of-pumpkins-guide