If you're like me, you'll want to fire up your drills when you see this project. I wish I could say it was my original idea but it came from the pages of last years (2008) Southern Living special issue called "Fall Decorating." I found the issue too late in the season (last fall) so I saved the idea to re-create this year. I'm so glad I did. I love the results and my neighbors are asking if I'll make them one too so I think it's a hit. Southern Living used real pumpkins for their project but I wanted mine to last a lot longer so I bought 3 fake ones in various sizes ~ that way I can use the project next year too. The plastic pumpkins were very easy to drill ~ I used two different sized drill bits (this is what I was working on last week when the weather had me in such a bad mood). You also need to cut the tops out of the two bottom pumpkins & the bottoms out of the two top pumpkins. Clear as mud? Good. Now here's a look at the finished results (all duded up) during the day: (I still plan to add a few more real pumpkins around the base)
The pumpkins were stacked together after a 100 count string of white lights was spread evenly throughout all three (which is why you need to cut the tops & bottoms). I pulled a bit of the light string out of the bottom pumpkin to weave around the grapevine at the base of the urn but you could also just add another string of lights instead. Isn't that the best project ever? As gardeners, you most likely already have any number of containers handy that you could use as a base. Or you could also use a pedestal instead of a container, just a thought.... Want to see the night-time effect? I thought so.
oops. Looks like I had my camera turned at an angle. I didn't realize that when I snapped the picture. It really isn't crooked as you can see in the daylight photo! I'm thinking I'll leave this up right thru October because it would be nice for Thanksgiving as well, don't you think??
Edited to add: That crooked photo was really bugging me so I just went out and took another one. Here it is not leaning!!
I love this project. Very clever, thank you for posting it so I'll have plenty of time to mess up two or three pumpkins before it looks as good as yours. gail
Posted by: Gail | September 27, 2009 at 04:25 PM
What a great idea and it turned out really nice. I just may have to try this, we've just started our fall decorating.
Posted by: Catherine/gardenerprogress | September 27, 2009 at 05:41 PM
Very pretty and smart too using the fake ones.
Posted by: tina | September 27, 2009 at 06:58 PM
Hi kathleen! Cool! I like the pot, too, it'd go well with my front garden!
Posted by: Tatyana | September 27, 2009 at 07:31 PM
Kathleen, What a Great Idea!! Oh, I'm so impressionable. I hope I can do something like this Very Soon! :-)
Posted by: Shady Gardener | September 27, 2009 at 08:18 PM
That looks great all lit up!
Posted by: Sweet Bay | September 27, 2009 at 11:48 PM
Fantastic! I love it. I'm not much into fall decorating but I love this one.
Posted by: RainGardener | September 28, 2009 at 02:07 AM
What fun. I know what you mean about getting things right....if it bothers you, take another photo! Good for you.
Posted by: Janet | September 28, 2009 at 06:56 AM
That's really cute, especially all lit up. I think I've seen those pumpkins at the local craft store. Great job, Kathleen. Very unusual and seasonal.
Manrie
Posted by: Marnie | September 28, 2009 at 08:00 AM
I forgot to say thanks for the tip on overwintering potted annuals. I've done it with pelargoniums but no other annuals. I'll give it a try, nothing to lose;)
Marnie
Posted by: Marnie | September 28, 2009 at 08:11 AM
That's quite festive and pretty. What a great idea for fall.
Posted by: Pam/Digging | September 28, 2009 at 08:18 AM
I love it! I haven't started decorating for fall yet...just can't bring myself to leave summer behind. It's still pretty nice here and not at all fall-like, although the temps are no longer in the 90's! I am starting to think 'fall', though, and this project sounds like something even 'I' could handle! It looks classy, too! Thanks for sharing. I think I'll actually remember the steps involved;-)
Posted by: Jan (ThanksFor2Day) | September 28, 2009 at 08:19 AM
OK...you are just brilliant, this is so very cool! Kim
Posted by: the inadvertent farmer | September 30, 2009 at 10:44 AM
This is sooooo gorgeous - I love it!!! Thanks for sharing - you have transformed me fro a girl who doesn't really care for Halloween or the fall colors to getting in the groove with your ideas! Thanks, Jennifer
Posted by: Jennifer | October 07, 2009 at 01:00 PM