I’m in a harvest state of mind with November’s arrival and Thanksgiving just a few weeks away!
And as it’s the first Friday of the month, I’m joining my blogging friends for Floral Friday! You can find links to their beautiful floral inspiration at the bottom of this post.
Our common theme as you might guess for this edition of Floral Friday is ‘Harvest’. My galvanized bucket provided the inspiration for an easy and casual autumn arrangement on the porch, and was harvested from T.J. Maxx last year.
Since my bucket is on the large side, I placed a smaller bucket inside it, so I wouldn’t need so much floral material. Packing paper is sandwiched between the walls of the buckets to keep the inner bucket in place.
The paper also provides stability for bamboo skewers topped with tiger striped pumpkins. The ends of skewers rest on the paper in the bottom of the bucket, keeping them from shifting, while the edge of the bucket supports the weight of the pumpkins.
Lola is extremely interested in all things ‘fall’ on the porch, from any stray leaves to mums, but most especially the pumpkin stems or the fringe on a throw that she might have a chance to chew, when I’m not paying attention. 🐾
Fall is my favorite season and has been late to arrive in North Carolina. Our leaves are just starting to turn with our cooler temperatures the past two weeks and I’m beyond ready and loving every minute of it! I cut some branches from the maple tree for some height and seasonal fall color to add my harvest arrangement.
I’ve read numerous flower arranging tips to smash or crush the ends of the woody stems on flowers or branches with a hammer, to help them absorb water. Crushing the stems actually damages the plant cells, which in turn causes bacteria to grow, preventing the stems from absorbing water. Instead, I peeled the outer layer of the wood of the branch with my vegetable peeler. Removing 3 – 4 inches of the outer wood helps the stems ‘drink’ and stay hydrated and fresh longer.
I added the last of the Limelight hydrangeas to the arrangement. The hydrangea blooms are in various stages of color, from a newer flush of white blooms to the older ones with the burnished hues of fall.
Burgundy Football Mums from the grocery store add a pop of color, along with some blue hydrangea blooms I picked up, to pair with a throw on the bench. The harvest arrangement is framed with a bittersweet vine wreath from the farmers’ market.
With the reference to apples on the bucket, I added some apples to a leaf bowl.
And an assortment of pumpkins and gourds fill a lantern and basket.
Lola and Gracie are joining me on the porch and are dog gone happy that it looks like sweater weather is finally here to stay!
They’re easily bribed to pose with the promise of a treat. 🐾🐾
Visit my talented blogging friends to see their harvest inspiration this week:
Pam at Everyday Living
Shirley at Housepitality Designs
Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse
Happy Harvest!
Thank you for your visit, sharing with:
Between Naps on the Porch
You captured the rich fullness that is Harvest Time
Just beautiful!🍁🍂
Beautiful and inspiring, as always.
Lola and Gracie are adorable in their little sweaters! You have created the perfect Autumn setting on your porch – it’s no wonder they wanted to throw on a sweater and enjoy it!!
Mary, Floral Fridays are my favorite days of the month and I share your love of fall. Your harvest arrangement is beautiful in that perfect galvanized bucket and your porch decked out for fall. I love seeing your furbabies in their sweaters too! Thank you for the steps and tips, I’m pinning to remember the peeler trick with the woody stems. Happy November!
Stunning Mary! The color and textures, along with the bittersweet vine wreath around the galvanized bucket! I can always count on your for “do-able” floral arranging tips! Thank your for sharing your sweet pups too. I got a kick out of Lola watching and waiting for some “fringe-chewing” time :)
Beautiful! Thank you for this post because I did not know about the wrong and right of crushing vs peeling back the stems. Your pups are adorable!
Had to laugh at the pic of Lola under the fringe Mary! I’m sure she’s keeping you on your toes-enjoy:@)
Thanks, Mary, for all the tips from arranging pumpkins with skewers to a bucket within a bucket! Also, to peel the edges of woody stems with a potato peeler. I love the maple leaves in your harvest arrangement. The galvanized bucket fit your theme perfectly nestled in a bittersweet wreath!
Your fall porch is very inviting with cozy pillows, lanterns, and gourds along with Gracie and Lola! They are so cute they almost steal the show!
Thanks for an enjoyable Floral Friday! Happy November!
Lola couldn’t be any cuter! I can imagine her prancing about chasing leaves and anything else that catches her attention! Those sweaters are the cutest! Your arrangement is fantastic. How wonderful that you still have hydrangeas blooming! We are way past that point. Trimming the branch like that makes great sense. I remember my mom smashing of the ends of branches when I was a child but I can’t say whether it worked or not. Wishing you a continued beautiful fall season! 🍁🍁🍁
I love Lola and Gracie sweaters. I love all of your ideas. Can’t wait to see your Christmas ideas.
Thank you Kaye, doggie kisses to Bentley. 🐾
I love seeing Lola and Gracie in your Fall photos, Mary! They always make me smile. Your Fall bucket on your porch is so welcoming. The touches of blue really set off the Fall colors and the maple leaves. Thanks for the tip of using a vegetable peeler on the branches. I wish I could stop by and relax on your pretty bench and give Lola and Gracie a treat. Happy weekend to you! xx
Mary, I am swooning over the harvest that you have gathered on your porch! Your tips are always so appreciated, and I always learn something to use like a peeler for the branches, I would have never thought of that! The blue hydrangeas are so stunning against the backdrop of all the autumn colors, as we say they pop! The leaf pillow caught my attention immediately, it is perfect for your fall harvest.
Lola and Gracie are adorable with their cute sweaters, and wow they seem to love your camera as if they are posing for every picture! I would love to spend a morning on your porch just taking in the beauty of the harvest. It is a pleasure sharing Floral Friday with you!
Your arrangements are always so gorgeous—-love the tip on the maple branch. The puppies are such great helpers, too.
I love the Fall bucket Mary!….what a perfect piece for your Harvest arrangement…when I see the girls dressed up in their seasonal and holiday attire it truly makes my day…as they are the absolute tres chic ladies! You always have such wonderful tips and tricks in addition to the stunning creations you have for us to enjoy!..Love how you used the veggie peeler on the stems….great idea…so glad that you still have beautiful flowers to use from our gardens…the Harvest display just warms my heart!…Love ending the week with you and the other lovely ladies of Floral Friday!
Happy Friday and have a great weekend!
P.S. Going forward, every time I leave on a shopping trip I will tell my hubby that I am going to do some “harvesting”!!
Fall is my favorite season too, I must have planted fifty trees here this year to dazzle me in my old age, I am glued to the windows spying every ounce of fall color, nothing better then enjoying the soft fused light with burnished leaves fluttering on a warm breeze… except seeing your muffin tops help you decorate! Twins on our shopping sprees always cracks me up too 😉
As always love the gorgeous pics!
Lots of beautiful things you are sharing. Enjoying every one of them. For me, particularly Lola and Gracie. If I remember correctly a puppy will chew things up for the whole first year. Worth all the watching and correcting though. She has a good teacher in you and Gracie.
So so pretty Mary, I love the bittersweet wreath around your bucket, and oh that Lola, such a curious cutie! They are so adorable in those sweaters!! The blue hydrangeas are such a lovely treat in your fall bucket, and such a cozy spot to curl up with pooches and blankets! Floral Fridays keep getting better and better!
Beautiful!!! Darling little dogs. I have been following for a couple of years and have wondered where you found your wooden chair that sits on your porch..love it.
Lovely fall arrangement and I love the added branch. Thanks for the tip on NOT smashing the bottom. The girls are stylin’ in their adorable fashionware, too cute. HappyFall!🍂🍊🍎🐾♥️ Love the lantern too!
Just beautiful. Pretty displays.
Gorgeous as usual. I appreciate that you shared how you created such a beautiful fall arrangement. Lola and Gracie look snug and happy in in their fall sweaters.
Love the little sweaters – could you please tell me where you found them!
Hi Linda, I found them at HomeGoods several years ago 🐾🐾
All you your pictures here are so uplifting!! Enjoy the pictures of your little lovies Gracie & Lola…and especially the picture of Lola peeking out from under the fringe of the blue throw. Thank you for brightening up our days!!
Mary the flowers and leaves are lovely.
Marilyn
Grace and Lola look adorable in their outfits.
Joan
Everything looks so Fall like. Beautiful
Marion
Your arrangement is just beautiful and certainly typifies fall. I am so jealous that your limelight hydrangeas are still giving you blooms, mine gave up a month ago. The doggies are just so cute in their sweaters.
Doesn’t get any cuter than two little white doggies in fur collared sweaters. You also know I love all things fall, and your leaves are truly gorgeous. Thanks for the tip on peeling the woody stems. I’ve never thought of that! The bittersweet wreath has me swooning. Have not seen any here for sale, just bundles of bittersweet of which I’ve already brought home three or more. If Lola is chewing on the decor, be cautious about the bittersweet. I read that it is toxic for dogs. I have mine up away from Sadie, and am very sensitive to looking for any that might end up on the floor.
Happy Autumn, sweet friend! Let’s savor every day!
Love the arrangement, but I really like that lantern filled with gourds and squash. So cute!
WOW!!! Your gorgeous arrangement is a great artwork!Happy Thanksgiving!Hugs!
Love the natural beauty form your garden, and your tips are always good ones. The pups are adorable.
It looks like you’ve got another good doggie model in Lola!
Very beautiful…but Lola and Gracie are so darn cute I can’t stand it❤❤😊😘
So beautiful and your sweet Lola and Gracie are so precious!!
Beautiful fall arrangement, we missed the red maple leaves this year, somehow they went from green to ground, with a brief yellow spell😕. Gracie and Lola’s sweaters are so cute.
Pat
OMGoodness, I thought the first picture of Lola was a stuffed animal at first…she is so stinkin cute, as is Gracie of course! Love your bucket and the arrangement is great! Thanks for the tip to peel the woody stems. I never thought of that. Trying to catch up on past posts I have missed being away.
Your arrangements are to die for and the doggies are just adorable! Happy Fall!
Your display is absolutely perfect. Covers fall to the fullest. So why am I crying? I could not stop looking at your precious Bichons Frise pictures. My little boy, Theodore, also a Bichon, very recently passed at 13 years old. This holiday season will be lacking a “little” something this year.
Thank you Karyl, I feel your pain. We lost our Chloe in February, she was 13 too: https://homeiswheretheboatis.net/2018/02/19/saying-goodbye-to-the-dog-of-my-heart/