Philadelphia gardeners know that "Fall is for Planting;" but fall is also for collecting plant materials from your garden for gifts, home décor and crafts. Here are some ideas:
We can start with two well-known plants:
- Black-eyed Susan - Pick some of those stunning Black eyed Susan and put them in vase now!
· Use for floral arrangement in vases or a single bud in a small vase
· Make a hydrangea wreath
- Baby’s Breath - Dry and use for floral arrangement in vases
- Lemon verbena – Make lemon verbena potpourri or cache
· Store rose petals - For a romantic night
- Flower Petals – Mix a variety of plant materials such as berries, assorted petals, apple slices, lemon slices, oranges slices – Make potpourri or sachets.
- Flower Petals and Ferns - Press flowers for picture frame or placemats, etc.
- Fall Leaves - All colors and shapes - Press leaves for picture frame or placemats.
- Reeds - Cut some tall reeds found in fields or near water – Use for floral arrangement in vases or a single reed in a small vase.
- Perovskia - Cut some of the twigs - Light purple/lavender stems Create twig arrangement in glass vase alone or with flower arrangement.
- Yellow-twig dogwood - Cut some of the twigs - Yellow stems – Arrange in glass vase alone or with flower arrangement.
- Red-twig dogwood - Cut some of the twigs - Red stems – Arrange in glass vase alone or with flower arrangement.
- Pussywillow branches - Cut some of the twigs – Arrange in glass vase alone or with flower arrangement.
- Harry Lauder Walking Stick branches - Cut some of the twigs – Corked or decorative stems - Arrange in glass vase alone or with flower arrangement.
- Dandelion Wine - Use grapes, apples, peaches, melons, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and even carrots and potatoes, to make homemade wine.
- Grape Vine - Make a grape vine wreath and decorate it for any holiday or according to the season.
- Pine cones – There are tons of pine cone craft projects.
· Spray or dip pinecone in cinnamon oil for Christmas potpourri. Let dry and store in sealed bags until you use. Put in empty netted onion bag and place hidden for Holiday aroma
- Use for fall decoration indoors as centerpiece
- Decorate the Christmas tree
- Abandoned birds nests - There are many bird nest crafts. Use for Christmas tree decorating.
- Bittersweet
- Dry for vases and flower arrangements
- Make wreaths from bittersweet for Fall
- Keep an eye out for nature’s jewels this fall, and start collecting!
Twigs
Crafts for Kids:
Seashells in the Garden:
http://www.examiner.com/x-18980-Philadelphia-Gardening-Examiner~y2009m9d4-Seashells-in-the-garden
For a complete guide to fall gardening, click here:
Comments