Happy Friday GPODers!
And Happy Halloween! We’ve made it to the end of our three festive days of decor, and we’re ending it off with some spectacular displays from a frequent contributor. Howard Nemeroff, the owner of Plant Parenting in Chicago, has shared his incredible container designs several times on the blog before (Check out some of his previous submissions here: New Container Creations from Howard, Howard’s Spring Container Displays, Celebrating Summer and Welcoming Fall, New Creations From a Window Box Expert, and One Window Box, Four Seasons), but today he’s showcasing a different side to his designs—pumpkins! Along with the incredible fall container displays he creates for his clients, he also builds festive pumpkin arrangements. Here are some of his designs from this year, and be sure to check him out on Instagram to see more: @plant_parenting
There are so many elements to play with when designing with pumpkins, and Howard utilizes them all to perfection. Creating captivating color combinations is an obvious choice and some have ridges and bumps that provide excellent texture, but their exciting shapes and forms shouldn’t be ignored. This design plays with color while juxtaposing short and squat varieties with the three tall pumpkins drawing the eye up to the front door.
Shape, texture, and color are all on prominent display in this festive concoction! For a gardener who wants a little bit of everything, Howard piles a fantastic mix of pumpkins, gourds, foliage and berries. And just like his containers, he is able to perfectly mix and combine many elements to create a cohesive design.
However, even simpler designs can be captivating when constructed with Howard’s eye. From this angle, it looks like this massive pile of pumpkins is growing from a vine out of those lush, green containers at the top of the stairs.
With all of the variation out there, a simple stack of pumpkins is all you need for some fun fall decor. However, Howard always takes his designs to the next level. Some dark heuchera scattered throughout and a swirl of burgundy branches gives the display a moodier vibe while clusters of berries add more pops of orange.
Lastly, this classic combination of ornamental cabbage and white mums gets a hair-raising twist with two plastic skeletons tangled up in a trellis of vines. While goth gardening is a trend that has grown in popularity over recent years, you don’t need to plant up special plants to celebrate the spooky season in the garden!
Thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous creations with us again, Howard! It’s inspiring to see how you develop new designs every year and for every season.
As we creep further into fall and the growing season continues to wind down, what activities do you take up to keep the plant magic alive? Do you build beautiful wreaths for the holidays? Does your attention turn to houseplants? Are you already planning the seeds you’ll be starting in winter? Let us know in the comments below, or consider sharing your indoor garden and plant crafts with the blog! Follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
We want to see YOUR garden!
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Lee Valley Garden Obelisks
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Sturdy yet lightweight, these obelisks provide ample support for climbing plants while being easy to install and move. The medium obelisk stands 68 1/2″ high overall with a diameter of about 9 1/2″, compact enough for smaller containers indoors or out. The large size stands 86 1/2″ high with a diameter of 15 3/4″, ideal for larger outdoor spaces and containers.
SHOWA Atlas 370B Nitrile Palm Coating Gloves, Black, Medium (Pack of 12 Pairs)
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Lightweight and close-fitting for excellent dexterity. Machine washable. Breathable back of hand to reduce perspiration. Designed for easy movement and continuous wear. Ideal for aerospace, assembly, automotive, construction, final fix, gardening, manufacturing, operating machinery, packaging, precision handling, tiling, warehousing.
Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish in our cities and suburbs.
