October can be a dreary month in the outdoor garden since most flowers – even the toughest of the perennials – have usually succumbed to frost by then. One way to add a bit of colour and interest to the outdoor landscape during the autumn is to create a dried porch arrangement. This will work best if you have a covered porch or an entranceway that is sheltered and somewhat protected from the elements.
During the summer I collect and dry plant material from roadside ditches and the garden. I cut wild pampas grass, tansy, dark-brown dock, goldenrod, cattails, attractive grasses and baby’s breath from the wild. From my own garden I harvest golden yarrow, Chinese lanterns and dried seed pods from poppies and love-in-a-mist.
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The cattails must be cut when they are very small and just emerged from the leaf sheath; the pampas grass should be cut when it is still burgundy and quite fresh. Flowers cut for drying are cut just before they are at their peak, while seed pods must be hard and dry before being removed from the plants. After the plant material is picked, it is hung upside down in a dark, airy place to dry.
For the porch arrangement, it is best to choose a large container that is weatherproof. I have used wooden planters, metal containers, large plastic urns and have even used a large black nursery pot covered with burlap. I put some sand in the bottom of the container to add weight so the arrangement will not be blown over on a windy fall day. One could use small rocks as well, or fasten the container securely to the deck with wire to hold it in place.
I place a layer of oasis in the container to hold the plant material in place, and then I start arranging. My porch arrangement is placed against the wall of the house, so I make it to be viewed only from one side. Thus, the taller material is placed at the back and shorter material at the front. For a colourful focal point I often use a few bright strawflowers or Chinese lanterns and a bow. If you aren’t a “purist,” a few brightly coloured artificial leaves or flowers in a suitable fall colour would also create a great focal point.
The late-fall season can be a drab one, but one way to brighten it up is to make a colourful autumn arrangement to place beside the front entrance of your home. By using wild plant material and/or material from your own garden, a beautiful porch arrangement can be created with a little work and not much cost.
– Albert Parsons writes from Minnedosa, Manitoba
