Welcome October: DIY Fall Floral Centerpiece with Hydrangeas and Pumpkins

Celebrate the beauty of fall with a gathered arrangement of hydrangeas, foliage, and seed pods for an easy, seasonal centerpiece. Harbingers of autumn—including pumpkins and Indian corn—add harvest charm and create a statement piece to welcome October into your home or outdoor living space.

Happy Monday and Hello October!

It’s one of my favorite days of the month, when I join my

Monday Morning Blooms’ friends to share some flower therapy.

We’re excited to welcome back Sarah, from Hyacinths for the Soul,

joining us as a special guest ‘bloomer’ today.

You can find my Monday Morning Blooms friends’ floral inspiration at the bottom of this post.

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Fall is my favorite season and my favorite color is October!

In addition to her color, I’m ready for October’s corn mazes, pumpkin patches,

harvest of fall flavors, hayrides and Halloween!

Our common theme for this October’s edition of Monday Morning Blooms was ‘Harvest Hues’.

I’m celebrating October’s arrival with a floral arrangement and harvest of pumpkins, Indian corn, and hydrangea blooms that have gone through their fall metamorphosis, turning rosy shades of pink.

Choosing the Vessel

To create my centerpiece, I started with a favorite urn I’ve had for over 20 years. While my urn has a decorative fruit border, the details are lost when it’s filled with floral material. Use the container or vase of your choice to provide an anchor for a seasonal arrangement that allows the flowers and foliage to shine.

I highly recommend this Pillow Floral Cage Arranger which is my new go-to eco-friendly flower arranging tool!

It works like chicken wire without the sharp edges, and is made of durable plastic so it doesn’t rust.

The 6-inch size nestles into my urn without tape, but you can use waterproof floral tape to secure it for flower arranging as needed. It’s also available in a 4-inch size.

For additional support, especially for longer branches in this larger arrangement, I placed a heavy metal cage flower frog at the bottom of the urn. You can often find these metal flower frogs along with pin frogs at antique malls for around $10.

Prepping the Flowers and Foliage

Next, I filled the urn with room-temperature water and mixed in flower food / floral preservative to help extend the life of the blooms.

Flower longevity tips:

🍂 Harvest early: Cut flowers and foliage in the early morning while they’re fully hydrated and not stressed by the heat.

🍂 Cut smart: Trim stems at a 45-degree angle for maximum water uptake. Remove any leaves that will sit below the water line.

🍂 Condition first: Place freshly cut stems in a clean bucket of water with floral preservative and allow them to rest at least for 4 hours, or preferably overnight, before arranging. This helps prevent wilting and drooping of foliage and stems.

🍂 Woody stems: For branches with woody stems, remove 3–4 inches of the outer bark with a vegetable peeler. This helps them “drink” better and stay fresh longer.

🍂 Although the hydrangeas are at their drying stage, keeping them in water with preservative will help them hold their color longer.

Building the Arrangement

For this centerpiece, I used:

🍂 Limelight Hydrangeas, at their fall stage

🍂 Abelia branches for structure

🍂 Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) for fiery red accents

🍂 Seed pods from crape myrtle and chaste tree (Vitex) for texture

Steps:

🍂 Begin with the longest abelia branches to create a framework and shape.

🍂 Add burning bush branches for structure and color.

🍂 Tuck in hydrangeas next, building fullness and covering the mechanics of the floral cage.

🍂 Finish with seed pods for depth, texture, and seasonal interest.

Adding Harvest Details

To ground the urn, I set it in the center of a grapevine wreath. To enhance the autumn feel, I layered Indian corn, pumpkins, and nandina berries snipped from the shrubs that are just turning color, along with bits of foliage.

A colorful plaid fringed throw echoes the colors of the season and ties the centerpiece together.

October’s arrival means rolling out the pumpkins!

I love pumpkins of all colors and sizes and don’t discriminate. . .

orange, white, gray and green, big and small, smooth and warty!

I’m sharing a few favorites quotes to pair with my favorite season. . .

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

— L.M. Montgomery

“If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then Autumn would be the magic hour.”

– Victoria Erickson

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”

– F. Scott Fitzgerald.

“Autumn paints in colors that summer has never seen.”

– Unknown

“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty. As if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.”

– Lauren DeStefano

“Autumn, the year’s last loveliest smile.”

– William Cullen Bryant

I hope you’re inspired to create your own fall floral centerpiece, gathering late season flowers, foliage, berries or other harvest treasures from your yard or landscape. You could incorporate fall leaves (our leaves don’t turn until the beginning of November), grasses, goldenrod, Joe Pye-weed or whatever you can forage. Whether placed on your dining table, sideboard, or porch, you can create a warm, welcoming focal point for autumn gatherings!

 Visit my flower friends to see their beautiful fall floral inspiration:

Pam at Everyday Living

Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse

Sarah at Hyacinths for the Soul

Thank you for your visit, sharing with:

 Between Naps on the Porch