Shifting into autumn

The welcome cool of the new season brings

fresh ideas for the home.

Somewhere between peaches and pumpkins, nature gets set for its transition into fall. So can you and your home. One easy way is to spruce up your tabletop decorating with simple arrangements of easily accessible materials. September offers an abundance of candidates from the garden and the market. You can combine all kinds of seedpods, foliage, and coolweather fruit to bring a hint of autumn indoors. Here are five ideas to give you inspiration. You can replicate these playful creations or branch out with other materials you have on hand. Just get started and have fun with it.

TOUCH OF HOSPITALITY

By September nandina berries develop into a brilliant shade of green with a blush of crimson (see photo above). Clip some of these sprigs along with a few of their leaves, and tuck them into small vases. Here, a collection of three silver vases tied together with a natural-colored ribbon makes an attractive greeting at a front door. The silver complements the green and offers a distinctive look for early fall.

NO-FUSS CENTERPIECE

You can find a variety of fresh fruit at your grocery store, and your neighborhood garden shop probably carries bittersweet and eucalyptus. For an arrangement like the one at left, position an oasis in the bottom of an iron urn or other footed container. On top of the oasis, arrange a collection of fruit, grouping smaller fruit such as crabapples, limes, and plums; then nestle in larger pieces, such as pears or tangerines. Grapes are perfect for draping over the side. Gently insert sprigs of bittersweet and eucalyptus, securing them in the oasis. Scatter remaining fruit on the table and you have an elegant arrangement for a buffet or the centerpiece for a seated dinner.

URN OF PODS

Seedpods offer texture and shape to an arrangement. The pods shown in the photo above were clipped from a crepe myrtle tree and tucked into a rusted urn. Use this simple, loose cluster to enhance a bookshelf, or group several of them along a mantel as a focal point.

COLORFUL BRANCHES

Knotweed (also known as fleece flower) is a shrub that is covered in sprays of red fruit during late summer and early fall. Cut the stems and arrange them in a tall vase. Combined with a bowl of red pears, they create a focal point for a side table or a buffet. The knotweed will dry for a permanent arrangement. It will be delicate-handle carefully.

DRIED HYDRANGEAS

Late summer is the time to clip hydrangea blooms and dry them for a permanent arrangement inside. The dramatic blooms in muted tones of green, blue, and purple are a welcome addition to any room in the house. Dry hydrangeas by cutting the flowers when they feel papery (if they feel meaty it is too early); allow them to dry inside. Some experts say to cut them at the peak of their color and dry them in the trunk of a car for 24 hours. Whichever way you choose, be sure to cut more than you need because not all blooms will dry perfectly. Sandra Allen Lynn

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Sep 1999
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