AUTUMN ARRANGEMENTS AND WORKSHOPS

Autumn offers such a spectacular variety of blooms, greens and fruits for arrangements.

Rose hips, grasses, goldenrod all give an autumn thrill to the season's design work. Photo Pat Feher.

Fall workshops are special, indeed. Who wouldn’t want to put together floral designs starring dahlias and so many wonderful autumn specialties?

Rose hips are one of my favorite autumn additions.  They give such a nice airy look, and carry so much the feel of autumn with their striking orange-red berries and loose sprays. Several years ago I purchased some rose plants known for producing nice rose hips – fruit of the rose plant, that holds the seeds. As it turns out, my favorite hips come not from those plants, but from Rosa multiflora (multiflora rose), which seems native because you find it everywhere, but is, in fact, an invasive from Eastern Asia. Because of its reach, it is listed as invasive/banned by the State of Connecticut. I do my share of weeding and/or mowing to eradicate this plant in many locations around my home and gardens. I doubt it will ever by eradicated, sort of like Barberry, which is so widespread as to seem native, but is another Asian plant introduced to Europe and then introduced (and escaped) to the this continent in the 1600’s. Just look for white flowering rose “bushes” along roadsides and field edges throughout the summer and you will see exactly how invasive the Multiflora Rose plant has become.  

This is the time of year when ornamental kales can also take a prominent position in garden-styled arrangements. They nicely cover both sides of the divide between foliage and flower, offering floral color and greenery. For loose and airy additions, go no farther than some of our Solidagos (goldenrods) and asters. I gladly cultivate a number of our native Solidagos and asters for a succession of bloom – each in its own time. One little gem has the most precious small white flowers and delicate branching, and has become my September go-to every year. No, I haven’t bothered to look up its scientific name, sorry. It’s such fun to work into bouquets as a finishing touch.  These, and other accents during other months of the growing season, truly shine and give a garden-inspired centerpiece its full beauty.

All types of grasses and grains are available for autumn design work - perfect for giving your centerpieces the seasonal touch.