By: Ava Green
As temperatures begin to cool down, autumn colours set in and surround us with the beauty that is fall in southern Ontario. Suddenly summer is gone and it’s time to think about creating a cozy atmosphere inside and outside that is inspired by the world around us.
Autumn Outside
Whether you gather items from the garden or from the garden centre for a display, there are lots of natural materials all around us to draw from. Take some plumes from ornamental grasses and put them in decorative buckets. Add branches with colourful leaves or dried seed pods, and pumpkins or mums for a pop of colour. A bland background becomes the perfect backdrop.
Looking for something to grow? Create fall planters with sunflowers, ornamental kale, ornamental peppers, live grasses, and, of course, fall mums.
We offer beautifully festive arrangements with a variety of ornamental fall plants, as well as individual plants to decorate an outdoor table, or as a planter creating a warm welcome on your front porch (watch here: Jeanine create a fall planter on our IG).
Eising’s popular Porch Packages make it easy to decorate the entryway to your home. But don’t wait, they sell out quickly!
Autumn Inside
When there are fall colours outside, autumn displays inside create continuity that will carry your indoor decorating right into the holiday season in December.
Displays that are vibrant, warm, rustic or whimsical are fun and easy to make. Here are some basic design principles that will help you get started, along with examples we’ve created using items in the Eisng shop.
The Rule of Odds
Using an odd number of items (3, 5 or 7) is always more appealing. Why? For some reason, odd numbers are just more harmonious for us to take in. Designers and photographers call it the rule of odds.
Pick a Theme
Pick a theme like a common colour, a shape, a design or motif. Look for containers or items you can include that fit in with your theme.
Like the arrangements we offer at Eising Garden Centre, include the following in your designs:
- a thriller like a beautiful vase or container, a tropical plant, or fresh or dried flowers
- a spiller like a plant, dried or silk leaves or moss around the base of containers
- and a filler like foliage plants, fruit, candy, mini pumpkins and gourds, or moss
Size and Scale
Scale is important! Keep the display short if it’s for the centre of a dining table so that guests can see each other across the table! Create taller displays if you’re decorating a corner table or a mantlepiece.
Light it Up
Adding light, including flameless candles or fairy lights, instantly brings warmth to any display.
Aromatics
Include scent: using plants like eucalyptus, or fruit like apples or oranges, and spices like whole cloves and cinnamon sticks all add a homey touch.
We would love to see what you create and hope this has sparked your creativity. Don’t forget to tag @Eising Greenhouses & Garden Centre on your Instagram and Facebook posts when you share your decorations online - we would love to see them!
November. It’s not quite winter, but pumpkin season is officially over. After you’ve put away the Fall decorations and cooked your pumpkin, it’s time to head outdoors to green up your decor again!
This is the perfect time to drop by Eisings to gather fresh greenery and decorations that are weather-resistant and hardy for your outdoor urns. Perfect because it’s that in-between time of year when autumn’s splendour starts to fade and temperatures begin to drop.
You can purchase urns that are already artistically filled with beautiful greenery and decorations, or you can find the supplies you need to fill an urn or pot you already have. Whether embellishing a premade urn or creating your own, here are some handy tips to help create a dramatic display.
“Planting” Medium
If you have had annuals or perennials in outdoor planters, don’t empty the soil - reuse it for your winter greenery! You may need a bag of soil to top it up, or ideally, you can use blocks of floral foam which can be purchased from our shop. These foam blocks can be nestled into the top of the soil and secured by crisscrossing a few pieces of tape across the top of the pot. If you’re starting with a fresh urn, find a pot that fits inside it and fill it with your planting medium. Soil and floral foam retain moisture for your fresh greens, and they also hold the plant material in place.
A Little Inspiration
Find some pictures online, or draw inspiration from the decorated planters at Eisings. Having a picture to work from will help you determine the supplies that you’ll need and how to arrange the items in your urn.
Gather Greens
Evergreen boughs will keep your planter looking fresh and green. Spruce, fir, pine and cedar branches will hold up well and retain their shape and colour throughout the holiday season.
Focal Points and Accents
Birch branches, curly willow, grapevine decorations, and dogwood branches all provide upright focal points with height in your planter.
Magnolia leaves, boxwood, inkberry and holly branches add texture and interest. Use pine cones, rose hips, faux berries, moss balls, seed pods, ornaments, and bows for some great final touches.
Adding lights will make the planter stand out and give it an ambiance that’s warm and inviting.
Build It!
1. Start by placing the item that you’ve chosen as the focal point in the middle of the planter. Pick a side that will become the front of the planter, and add everything else while you’re facing that side.
This is a good time to add battery-operated LED lights to upright posts and branches or insert a solar lantern.
2. Surround your focal point with evergreens by layering different boughs like cedar and pine, which are soft and hang down with more firm fir and spruce on top. This becomes the base or background for everything else in your planter.
3. Add accent pieces like dogwood, willow, holly and inkberry branches.
4. Embellish with decorations. This is a great way to fill in any blank spaces and draw your eyes in to focus on the details.
Begin by decorating with a cluster of pine cones, a bow or any decoration grouping in a lower section of the planter, then space out other decorations around the planter. Later, as the holidays draw near, you may want to add some Christmas decorations as well.
Helpful Tips:
- Find a good sturdy “poker” (a screwdriver or a strong bamboo stake) to make holes in the soil or foam blocks, allowing you to insert smaller branches and delicate seed pods or ornaments easily. You may need to secure smaller items onto sticks or some of the stronger branches in the planter by wrapping wire around them.
- Don’t forget to water your arrangement to help your greens stay fresh longer!
In winter, the blanket of snow and grey winter skies can create a somewhat monotonous landscape. That’s when greenery urns make a big difference. Blending evergreen boughs with rustic and seasonal accents and some lights creates a welcoming outdoor display for November and beyond. Just be sure to use materials that can hold up to the frost, wind and snow that will be coming!
Other Resources
https://eising.ca/how-to-decorate-with-fresh-greenery-for-christmas/
https://eising.ca/holiday-home-decor-ideas-you-can-make-yourself/