Create a blooming pumpkin as a centerpiece for your fall or Thanksgiving table the easy way~ no cutting required!
Happy Monday! I’m joining my blogging friends for some flower therapy and Monday Morning Blooms to celebrate autumn! You can find my friends’ links to their floral inspiration at the bottom of this post.
Our theme for this week’s edition of Monday Morning Blooms was pumpkins.
Flowers and pumpkins are two of my favorite things and I love to combine the two for a seasonal centerpiece for a fall or Thanksgiving table!
I started with a Fairytale Pumpkin. Fairytale pumpkins are botanically classified as Cucurbita moschata and are a French heirloom variety of the Cucurbitaceae family. Also known as the Musqué De Provence squash, Fairytale pumpkins are prized for their excellent flavor, ornamental shape, and unique tan coloring.
Fairytale Pumpkins are deeply lobed with prominent ribbing and have a squat, flattened shape. This pumpkin’s stem was broken off when I bought it, but it makes ideal to create a ‘blooming’ pumpkin. You can also use any stemless pumpkin to create a ‘blooming’ pumpkin with this method.
I like to use a shortcut method to create a blooming pumpkin, eliminating the time-consuming step of hollowing out the pumpkin to make a vase for flowers. Cutting through the hard skin and flesh can be hazardous, so skipping this step saves time, prevents accidents, and extends the life of your pumpkin. This is a variation of that method, made even easier!
Start with a brick of wet floral foam. Cut your floral brick with a knife to the size you need for the top of your pumpkin (I used half a brick). Soak the floral foam in water mixed with floral preservative until it’s fully saturated. When your foam is saturated (about 5 minutes or less) use waterproof floral tape to secure the wet foam to a clear plastic plate.
I used a 7-inch clear Chinet plastic plate. The plates have a slight curve to them so they will catch any water that might drip from the floral foam. I also stacked two plates together before taping the foam to the plates to support the weight of the wet floral foam.
Tip: When using wet floral foam, use the “float soak” method and place the floral foam brick on top of the water. Let the floral foam gradually absorb the water until it’s fully saturated. Plunging the floral foam in the water traps air bubbles and will prohibit the transfer of water from the foam to the flower stems.
Tip: Place the plate with your arrangement on your pumpkin, checking periodically as you work, making sure you’re adding enough floral material so the edge of your plate is concealed.
I used a combination of carnations, mums and roses from the grocery store as well as some sprigs of foliage cut from the shrubs. . . abelia, lorepetalum and goldenrod, added as filler to the arrangement.
Top your pumpkin with your floral arrangement and voilà. . . a Blooming Pumpkin Centerpiece, without any cutting or extra work!
What I prefer about this method:
🍂 No cutting involved so your pumpkin will last longer
🍂 Easier to transport the flowers and pumpkin, separately
🍂 The floral top can be refrigerated to prolong the life of your flowers
🍂 You can add water to the arrangement if needed as the plastic plate will catch drips and excess water
I set a table by the lake to enjoy some beautiful fall weather with my blooming pumpkin as a centerpiece. . .
A black April Cornell tablecloth with fruits and veggies provides a foundation for the table. . .
And Harvest Pumpkin Salad and Wreath Plates are served up on tree slice chargers.
Hammered flatware provides a warm copper accent and join Courtly Stripe Pumpkin Napkin Rings.
Table Details:
Harvest Pumpkin Plates / Williams-Somona, used here
Napkins / Pier 1 & Kohl’s
Courtly Stripe Pumpkin Napkin Rings / MacKenzie-Childs, several years ago
Tree Slice Chargers / Bed, Bath & Beyond, several years ago
Tablecloth / April Cornell
Flatware / Cambridge Silversmiths Jessamine Copper
Goblets / Mikasa French Countryside
Visit my talented blogging friends to see their blooming pumpkins this week:
Pam at Everyday Living
Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse
Autumn is my favorite season and after a very long and hot summer in North Carolina, it looks like it’s finally here to stay. . .
There are two times of the year: Autumn and Waiting for Autumn. ;)
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Simply gorgeous !
Yes, I love autumn too! Your table looks PERFECT for brunch. We’ll bring pumpkin cranberry waffles, autumn fruit salad, maple glazed bacon and apple cider mimosas. Will 11am work for you? Sigh…just dreaming from Los Angeles.
That sounds delicious Karen! See you then ;) 🍽️🥂🍂🍁
Mary, I love your fairytale pumpkin and your stunning arrangement! Thanks again for all the tips. You are giving me confidence that I could do a blooming pumpkin with your detailed tutorial. I realize I have been plunging the oasis into the water and not being patient with the floating method. Where is the best place to purchase oasis?
How beautiful your April Corneil tablecloth complements the dramatic pumpkin plates and your blooming pumpkin! Your idyllic lake setting provides a lovely backdrop for your creatively styled table. The MC napkin rings added the perfect extra zing!
Happy Fall!
Thank you Bonnie! You could easily create a beautiful blooming pumpkin! You can buy generic wet floral foam at any craft store or Walmart but I think OASIS Maxlife is best for longer flower life. You can purchase it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/SMITHERS-Oasis-Standard-Floral-Bricks/dp/B07KQWWHMJ/ref=sr_1_27?keywords=oasis+foam+maxlife&qid=1571662332&sr=8-27
Absolutely stunning, the tablescape and the centerpiece!!
Mary, your blooming Cinderella pumpkin is gorgeous…love the mix of grocery store flowers! I haven’t thought of using a plastic plate, brilliant idea! Your mix of patterns for your table is lovely with the AC tablecloth and WS wreath and harvest pumpkin plates! May I join you and Karen for brunch, it sounds mouth watering on your stunning table? It is always a pleasure to take a seat lakeside at one of your beautiful tables. Wishing you a most wonderful day!❤️
Thank you Pam! Would love for you to join us! ♥
Beautiful and rich autumn colors! The table and centerpiece look gorgeous. Lots of inspirational ideas. Thanks!
THAT IS one of your prettiest yet!! I’ve got THAT pumpkin…must get to creating..franki
Your fall table setting is beautiful ! I’d love to sit down at your table.
Oh Mary, thank you for your tips on creating this floral pumpkin masterpiece! I like how you’ve added the mini plastic plate to catch the drips. The black background on the tablecloth and the plates is stunning! Those napkin rings add such a perfect touch. I’d love to join you at your lakeside table! 🍂❤️🍁
Mary ,Thanks for the instructions on how to make this beautiful centerpiece. These are the type of pumpkins we grew this year and after making totems for the front porch and scattering them around the front garden I now have another way to use them. Will probably have to buy some flowers to use but it will be a great Thanksgiving centerpiece. After that I plan to try using it for pumpkin soup. Have you ever cooked with this variety?
STUNNING! Thank you🌹🍁🍂
Absolutely beautiful, Mary. I so admire the colors in your arrangement! I love making floral pumpkins this way, this time since I was out of floral foam, I cut my pumpkin. : ). The scene on your dock is beautiful, Mary. Those colors!! And, I love the quote. Autumn and waiting for Aurumn. You are a girl after my own heart – in so very many ways sweet friend. It is always such fun to be part of our special Monday Morning Blooms with you. Xoxo Lidy
Bloomin’ Brilliant!
My eyes are filled with the “beautifulness” you created for us. Thank you for all the work you do to give us such beauty to see!
Good morning Mary, I am speechless. The flowers, colors, tablecloth and tablescape are simply gorgeous. Thank you for brightening up my Monday morning.
Thanks for a beautiful start to the week!
5 stars! Centerpiece and beautiful tablescape! Wow! 🍊🍂
Oh Mary, this is just fabulous! I am loving your beautiful pumpkin arrangement of course, but the tablecloth and black pumpkin plates paired with the MKC napkin rings have me swooning with delight! The wood slice chargers are brilliant and it is all over the top gorgeous in my black loving book! I do appreciate the floral foam tips, float don’t sink! And adding the flower food to the water, using a drip plate, great ideas! Just Beautiful! Prayers for Shirley…
Jenna
Oh this is so beautiful Mary! You’ve totally done it again with your magic flower touch! I love not cutting into the pumpkin – I had a heck of a time with my little baby boos! And your table, as always, is perfection! Thanks for such wonderful fall, flower, and pumpkin inspiration! 💗
That is really smart. I adore that pumpkin! This way you can extend the life of the pumpkin too! The flowers are gorgeous- you really arranged them nicely!
Oh oh oh! What a gorgeous table! And next to the lake… even better! Thanks for the tutorial… I always learn so much from you! Happy Week to You!
Your most beautiful table.
Brilliant! Beautiful!
Absolutely gorgeous!
You find the most clever plates! Love your tablescapes!!!
Mary your table is set beautifully.
Marion
The carnations and roses are gorgeous.
Marilyn
The table cloth is lovely . The pumpkin surrounded by the mix of flowers is beautiful.
Joan
Everything about the floral arrangement and your table is lovely!
Hi, Mary,
I made a pumpkin flower arrangement based upon your great idea. Of course, yours is so much better. I did go an extra step and coated my pumpkin with egg whites and then sprinkled it with turbinado sugar to give it a shiny decorative look. Thank you!
Beautiful and stunning table! Thanks for the tutorial with the centerpiece. The fairytale pumpkin looks like it would be fun to grow next spring. The maple trees here are in full color with all the yellows and reds and it is raining. Thanks for the cheery fall pictures!!!!
Awesome table…best I’ve seen this fall..the pumpkin centerpiece is stunning. The dishes are my favorite (of course) and the tablecloth is one of a kind…just love it all!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
A perfectly charming fall table that I wouldn’t let anyone sit at!!!
Love it all, especially the black plates and tablecloth! of course we both love the same pumpkin variety too 😉 i am almost getting to the point where I can pull a good mix of color from my new garden to enjoy gorgeous bouquets, you have inspired me and I want to dash out for fixings to play with flowers, pumpkins and tablescapes, but for the second time in less than two weeks I am facing another forced power outage… Life becomes so disrupted, threw out 1000$ worth of food after several days in the black out, just replaced it all on Friday and just got another alert for Wednesday 😱 yes it makes me want to scream, after seeing this post I just wanna play and create beautiful moments… With power, food, lights, water, which will all be disappearing soon 😠
You must be in Northern California! I am a native Sacramentan who moved out of state a year ago. I LOVE everything beauty wise in CA, but I can’t stand the politics and this kind of nonsense from PG&E! I lived in Camino for the last 4 years before moving and I would have been affected by this too, I would have been SO mad…I’m sorry your having to deal with this.
Love the dark and rich colors. So Beautiful.
That sounds amazing
I just subscribed to you again, but to no avail I didn’t get the email back confirming it. Please fix it!
My favorite Thanksgiving food is pumpkin pie and of course turkey! I love to watch Macy’s parade also, that’s if I have time to! Lol.
I love to see the different recipes you come up with, the table scapes and your beautiful white dogs and their cool coats they wear!
Have a fantastic day and weekend coming up Mary!
Hi J, Did you check your spam folder to see if your email landed there?
Incredible centerpiece and sumptuous table setting! That view is incredible – is this your year-round home? Gorgeous!