Molly McLean

My favorite season is fall. Not only do the colors of leaves bring inspiration my way, but the nip of coolness in the air gives me a boost of energy to get things done such as decorate!

Now that summer is officially over and fall is here, the window box is probably looking a little bare. Add evergreeens to your window box and accessorize with winter plants. For fall, add pie pumpkins, gooseneck gourds and corn for color.

To keep the evergreens and the mums from drying out, I’ve placed them in the window box in their pots. When the frost comes and the mums die back, I will switch them out with pansies. The evergreens can be planted in the spring and replaced with other plantings if desired.

Stack your pumpkins in a tower of several colors and add gooseneck gourds for variety. Until frost, they work well with the orange of lantana. To keep pests out of your produce and give them a glossy look, use clorox and water to wash the pumpkins. Once you have washed them, completely dry the pumpkins and gourds and then spray them with a clear finish.

Faux fall vines make a nice addition to the lampost to add a splash of color. If you’re having a party that same day, use leaves from the yard by using branches that have fallen and tying them together with florist wire around your post.

A faux fall wreath is not only fun to make, but it adds new color to your outdoors. This fall wreath works well against the background of a green garden shed.

A fall wreath for the front door is adorned with an assortment of items including fruit, hydrangeas, beaded garland as well as sticks for texture.

Go “green” this halloween with a just a few simple tips that are good on the pocket book as well as on the environment by using what you have, what you can find and eliminating excessive waste and spending.

Pumpkins painted black with poka dots add a whimsical theme to halloween decor. When the season is over, save the seeds and plant them next year.

Use fabric you may already have to cover a thrift store table to provide a place for trick-or-treaters candy. An old flower pot painted black with orange polka dots makes an inexpensive candy dish.

A skeleton found at the thrift store greets guests at the back door by hanging on a plant hanger in a pot. Purple mums give a fresh feel to the otherwise harsh look of the sticks found in the yard. Paint them black and add pumpkins for color.

Provide lighting for trick-or-treaters by using purple Christmas lights or clear. A gooseneck gourd is painted black with white polka dots and a “green” trick-or-treat bag is made from an old pillowcase with a handle tied for small hands to carry the sack. Adorn the outside with felt to create a personalized trick-or-treat bag whether it is with your child’s monogram, a pumpkin face or like this one as a ghost face. Presto felt can be found at most any store that carries craft supplies. Just cut it out and stick it on your fabric.

Lighting the path is very important, so use electric lights instead of candles for safety! Happy Halloween!