Alfresco Fall Table With an Easy Blooming Pumpkin Method

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 discovered a shortcut last year for making a pumpkin centerpiece, adding a piece of wet floral foam on top of your pumpkin, rather than it cutting your pumpkin to make a vase for your flowers. This is a real time saver and allows you to enjoy your pumpkin again after your flowers fade!
If your pumpkin has a short stem, you can use the stem to anchor the wet floral foam in place. If your pumpkin is stemless, you can use some waterproof floral tape to secure the foam to the pumpkin. Wet foam and tape are available on the floral aisle at the craft store.
I foraged for my flowers for the pumpkin using foliage and blooms from the garden with the exception of the green hypericum berries that were left from a bunch of flowers purchased at the grocery store. My Cinderella pumpkin is blooming with a combination of Limelight hydrangeas that have acquired their fall patina, Loropetalum with its purple tinted foliage and Kaleidoscope Abelia with blush pink-tinted tips.
I used the same method for the mini tiger striped pumpkins, cutting little square blocks of foam and placing the foam on the stems of the pumpkins.
If you’ve ever cut these little tiger-striped pumpkins for serving soup or for mini vases, you know how hazardous trying to cut through the hard skin and flesh can be, so skipping this step saves time, prevents accidents, and extends the life of your mini pumpkins.
I tucked some maple leaves in the centerpiece among the hydrangeas and berries that are beginning to show their vibrant crimson color. A bunch of $4 mums from the grocery store were added to the hydrangeas and foliage of the mini pumpkins at each place setting.
More photos and sources for linens and tableware at the link below!
Mary @ Home is Where the Boat Is
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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