October has arrived, and fall is in full swing!  With pumpkins, gourds, cabbage, mums, and asters, options abound for garden-inspired decorating.  This month’s meeting was a fall container workshop, presented by ORGC President, Renee Protomastro.

Renee shared tips with us on designing an arrangement, including color, texture, and height.  As in traditional flower arranging, the interplay of these three elements add interest and depth to exterior planters.  The introduction of gourds, pumpkins, and grasses increases the variety of arrangement materials for fall-themed containers.

For the workshop, members were asked to bring soil, pots, and plants.  To supplement member materials, Renee sourced additional plants from local nurseries.  Members took the opportunity to purchase some of the plants Renee had provided.  They then combined them with their own fall plants and, using containers they had brought with them, designed their own planters.

Our October Artistic displays focused on fall flowers:  zinnias and mums, supplemented with each gardener’s choice of autumn blooms from their yards.  Table arrangements were provided by Mercedes Esposito.  Horticulture chair Joyce Fedorko and Claire Norris commented on the display.