Fall Tabletops

Heavenly…..delightful…..invigorating. Fall temperatures have finally reached the deep South. I‘ve been putting a few touches of autumn out, but my heart hasn’t really been in it….til now.

Although I almost always have fresh flowers on our breakfast room table, I filled an old basket with grocery store bounty to serve as a centerpiece for a while. I love using pepper plants, ornamental cabbage, mums, pumpkins and gords this time of year. You can find a large centerpiece I did last year here. The locally made fall harvest pillar candles on their pumpkin topiary bases add fragrance to the whole downstairs.

You may have met this angel here before. She sits in the powder room and is always one the first harbingers of the changing of the seasons at our house. One of the nicest things about decorating for fall is the availability of design elements. A walk in the woods or a trip to the grocery store can provide everything you need!

For fall she is holding dried hydrangeas from our yard. I did a post about drying them here. I added nuts, bits of wood, and potpourri to her bundle. For now it brings out the colors in this “soon-to-be-just-a- memory” wallpaper. Change is on the way!

Last week was a busy, busy week here---two birthday luncheons, one cake, one batch of cupcakes, four hours of class, one day at work, one day helping my friend the candlemaker at a craft fair, dinner guests, and out of town company-----WHEWWWW. So tonight there is a pot of chili on the stove and I am joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life…..and I am going to make an effort to stroll through Tabletop Tuesday. Thanks Marty

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you’ll leave me a message----I love hearing from you :)~~Susan

A Flower for Two Seasons

Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers. They come in a variety of colors. The Nikko Blue is my favorite and stands up well to our sometimes very cold winters.

This hydrangea is in the lacecap family. They are more delicate and less showy than their mophead cousins, but just as beautiful.

It’s not unusual to find different color blooms on the same plant. This plant in my back yard has white tinged with lavender, lavender and green blooms on it. And although hydrangeas are synonymous with summer, they have me thinking about the fall…..when they make beautiful dried arrangements.

There are several methods for drying hydrangeas. Perhaps the simplest is to let Mother Nature take its course. Wait until late in the blooming season (August to October depending on where you live) and allow the blooms simply to dry on the plant. They will change in color going to pale green, tan, pink, or burgundy. The petals will feel papery. You can now cut them and bring them inside. No need to put them in water or hang them upside down. Just protect them and let them continue to dry out.

Another method, and one I am trying for the first time, is called the water drying method. This method promises to help the bloom hold its color and shape a little better. First cut the flower with a stem length that will be easy to work with. Strip all the green leaves from the stem.

Put the flowers in fresh water covering at least half the stem. Make sure the vase is in a cool place out of direct sunlight. Do not replace the water as it is used or evaporates. This allows the blossom to dry naturally. When the water is gone, the flower will feel papery and will be ready to use.

I made this arrangement last fall using the late harvest method. The pale greens and tans are perfect for a fall table.

I think I would like to try making a wreath like this one for my door this fall. It would be a nice way to thank the hydrangea for being so accommodating by blooming all summer and then changing colors just in time for fall.

I am joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday.

On Wednesday I am linking to a new party, Centerpiece Wednesday over at the Style Sisters. This is a relatively new party and I am excited to join it. Hope you’ll visit both parties. Thanks for stopping by…leave me a note :)