“Spice up your porch by hanging a pumpkin instead of the typical hanging basket,” says renowned garden designer and personality Chris Olsen, owner of Botanica Gardens in Little Rock. “This project is so easy to create.”
Supplies include the following:
1                Large Jack O’ Lantern pumpkin with a strong green stem.
1 roll         Vine Wire (found at a local craft store)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Autumn Floral Picks (berries, etc.)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Fall Foliage Picks (I like dark, rich colors.)
1 can         Water Proof Spray Paint
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hot Glue Gun
Powered Drill
1. Make sure you find a pumpkin that has a very strong stem. A fresh and green stem is the best. Give the stem a few good tugs to ensure that it will stay in place and carry the weight of the Jack O’ Lantern.
2. Simply drill a hole into the stem and string the vine wire through the hole. Make sure you have plenty of wire so you can adjust the length that works best for your location.
3.
Plug your hot glue gun into an outlet and let it heat up for approx. 5 minutes before you start the project. Go ahead and hot glue the floral sprigs to the top of the pumpkin. Fluff the sprigs to hide the unsightly drilled hole. I like to use berries and rich, colorful foliage sprigs. I have found that burgundies look more natural and not so artificial.
4.
Glue a few sprigs to where the wire is attached to the bracket or hook.
5.
The last step is to spray the silk picks with a water sealer. This ensures that your berries will not explode with moisture and rain. This is a very important step. Trust me!
Photography by Janet Warlick
If you want to see Olsen’s paradise backyard featured in At Home in Arkansas, click athomearkansas.com. We simply love his work and are thrilled he stopped by with one of his many clever project ideas.
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