Fall is all about the oranges and reds and yellows, right? Well, take a glance at the backyard and on the vine, and you will see that your options aren’t so cut and dried. There’s a cacophony of colour this time of year, and it isn’t restricted to the coppers and golds of traditional autumn decorating. There are stripes and stripes to choose from too, in light and delicate shades to gaudy ones that are bold. Don’t be limited to one palette — choose from a host of them!
Join me today as we throw tradition to the wind and combine some surprise colors for a fall which is more rainbow compared to rust.
Amy Renea
There continue to be eggplants ripening, purple beans to be plucked and zinnias in every colour of the rainbow which won’t stop until frost. Make the most of the colors now, when they are at their finest.
Amy Renea
These late-summer plants pair nicely with early-fall purple mums and butternut squash. The purples are delicious from the creamy yellow.
Amy Renea
One of my favourite plants in early autumn is that the white- and green-flowered hydrangea that blooms for weeks and weeks. The blossoms dry on the bush into a darker ivory tone, and at each stage, the hydrangea is perfect for display. Try pairing the hydrangea blooms with yellow and green gourds.
Amy Renea
The apple gourd is one of my preferred gourds in autumn, because of its complete green colour and fun apple form. It may mix and fit in almost any arrangement and adds a little back-to-school whimsy without going over the surface.
Amy Renea
Fill out arrangements with the luscious creamy yellow of butternut squash and the grayish blues of Jarrahdale pumpkins (top right).
Jarrahdale pumpkins and Queensland Blues, among my favourite pumpkins, originated in Australia. They’ve an almost slate-blue colour on the exterior yet boast a glowing orange flesh inside.
Amy Renea
Another bloom colour in autumn: pink! Typically booked for Easter arrangements and summer boundaries, pink is actually going mad all over my autumn garden. Why? Traditional upright sedum is at full bloom this season, and it’s stunning.
I shun the fashionable ‘Autumn Joy’ sedum in favor of the glowing pinks and deeper red-stemmed varieties, for example ‘Matrona’ (revealed). Whichever variety you choose, it is going to pair well with various greens and blues found throughout the autumn garden.
Amy Renea
The classic tartan of crimson green and blue makes a fantastic fall backdrop for an arrangement of mini corn cobs, green pinecones and blue pumpkins. Consider catching any old plaid throw from the linen closet and search the yard for complementary edibles and blooms.
Amy Renea
Obviously, there certainly is a place for tradition, and I cannot withstand the paring berries of bittersweet. Invasive and destructive to some native habitats, this plant takes over a hedgerow on our house in Pennsylvania every autumn. I do my duty each year and chop it down to size.
If you too struggle with weedy bittersweet, take advantage of its beauty in autumn and think about the task of ripping it out only a forfeit for decoration.
Amy Renea
I love mixing all the various shades of orange, red and yellow, and the bittersweet berries unite a brilliant yellow with a red orange perfectly. I include pumpkins, pimiento peppers and herbal tea to round out the palette.
Amy Renea
If you can not help but be drawn to the yellows and oranges at the pumpkin patch, try to go with a tiny bit of variety this season. Pick up a couple of striped gourds to join colors. Try spots and swiggles in your pumpkins for a change of pace, or put in in a couple of ghostly white kinds.
Amy Renea
Utilize autumn for a chance to celebrate the crop in every colour of the rainbow and bend your design muscles at the backyard. Mix, match, pair and experiment with various combinations and hues for a fun new spin on everyone’s favourite time of the year.