Even though our weather screams sweltering summer, the availability of pumpkin spice aroma is already permeating our neighborhoods. I hear you can get the flavored fall drink now. That must mean that Fall is around the corner, and then comes Halloween, pumpkins, Thanksgiving, and cooler weather (hopefully not in that order)!
Let’s talk pumpkins for a minute – they are a staple of fall decorating, carving for Halloween, cooking for Thanksgiving and Decorations to last through the Holidays. The Arboretum has its campus covered with about 100,000 pumpkins and gourds in all shapes and sizes from a farm in Floydada, Texas(near Lubbock) for its Fall Festival. The “stars” of Fall have not yet arrived but are soon to show.
A Tasteful Place at the Dallas Arboretum hosts “Learn to Grow” presentations on most Fridays from 11:00am -12 noon. These talks are informative, inspirational, and interesting. Roseanne Ferguson, DCMG class 0f 2008 shared a demonstration to all ages on how to make “Pumpkins with Pizzazz”, which is creating a unique decoration with succulents and other materials that symbolizes fall and lasts for months.
All sizes and shapes are available for this project, but some guidelines need to be followed:
- A pumpkin with at flat top will be easier to work with and provide more surface for succulents.
- The variety Cinderella is a good choice. Smaller pumpkins can also be used.
- Keep the pumpkin whole – any puncture will cause it to decay quickly. Clean it before you start.
- Cut a template out of posterboard or cardboard of the top surface where you will be adding succulents- so that the adhesive will only be on the area where you are working.
- Assemble an assortment of succulents, moss, other nature materials, to use along with spray adhesives, a glue gun, some clippers for stems and a chop stick to work with the hot glue, but don’t stick it in the pumpkin!
- Arrange and glue down the above items till you have the arrangement you desire.
- The succulents may need to be misted when they look droopy, but not often. Keep it in a bright light, but not direct sun – not all succulents can handle our sun rays even in the Fall.
Check out your local libraries, garden clubs for opportunities to either see a demonstration, or to participate in making these decorations for your Fall décor. The costs will vary, but it’s a lot of fun!
Starla Willis, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
Here’s one particularly cheerful daffodil.
This tulip in the trial garden aptly named ‘Hot Honey Rag’ is on my list for next year’s planting.
The pond froze, see the ice? We promise, it’s there.
and Spring Bouquet Viburnums against a backdrop of Coral Bark Japanese Maples.
The cold weather didn’t bother this Robin
or a squirrel feasting on the Arboretum’s preferred mulch, chopped pecan shells.(I have always been envious of the Arboretum’s use of chopped pecan shell mulch and I guess the squirrels are too.)
Dallas Blooms will be open through April 7th. This year’s festival features a larger-than-life, picnic scene topiary comprised of a 40’x40’ picnic blanket, a vase of flowers, a picnic basket with pie and a giant picnic ant. The frost cover will be discarded tomorrow. Life is truly a picnic especially when you are at The Dallas Arboretum.
DALLAS GARDEN BUZZ 