Nothing says fall like pumpkins. They are just big clumsy winter squash and in the past we used them for a lot of different things but these days we basically use them for holiday pies and Jac-o-lanterns. But I like to use these traditional pumpkins in a very none traditional way by using a pumpkin as a container for a fall arrangement or thanksgiving centerpiece.

All you have to do to get started is to cut a section out of the pumpkin where the arrangement will go. Remove the seed and drop in a piece of well soaked floral foam, the kind you use for fresh flowers.

Now, I am only using this type that you soak in water because I am using fresh materials in this arrangement along with dried. But if you are using exclusively dried materials, you can just use ordinary Styrofoam. Now let us get started.

I like to use things like dried flowers, the seed heads of grasses, seed pods, and fruit. And throw in a few fresh flowers if you have them around, just use your imagination and look at the results. Now, the key here is to keep the arrangement low particularly, if you are going to use this as a table centerpiece. If you want something smaller, look to smaller members of the pumpkin family like these winter squash to put your arrangement in.

And if you do not have time to put something this elaborate together, just carve out the pumpkin and drop in an ordinary florist Chrysanthemum. As you can see, there a lot more uses for pumpkins than holiday pies and jac-o-lanterns. From the garden I am Allen Smith.

If you would like more information on this topic or any other gardeningtopic just check out my website PallenSmith.com.