Fall has arrived and although our days are still in the high 80’s here in the Arizona desert, the evenings and early mornings have definitely cooled. I love the produce and colors associated with this season (bring on the pumpkins!) so it always gets me in the mood to create. I collected a piece of Cholla Wood on 1 of my morning walks and it inspired me to make this Fall Table Decoration.

I was planning on doing an arrangement with bromeliads and tillandsias but I couldn’t find them in the color I wanted. Nothing like a little last minute shopping and a change of plans to send your design plan in another direction. A white Phalaenopsis Orchid goes with every season so I decided to make it the star of the show along with a few of my favs: succulents. White pumpkins with a touch of orange, so readily available these days, tie in beautifully.

Creating a fall table decoration at my work table:

The ingredients:

White Phalaenopsis Orchid.

2″ Succulents.

Succulent cuttings.

White & orange mini-pumpkins.

Pomegranates (picked off my tree).

Mini pears.

Mini sweet peppers, orange.

Shisito peppers.

Magnolia cones (collected in Santa Barbara).

Walnuts, gilded with bronze & gold metallic paints.

Not shown:

Cholla wood branch (collected on a walk here in Tucson).

Dazzling Metallics; rich espresso & champagne gold.

Sheet moss, green.

Florist’s wire.

Hot glue.

Steps taken:

1- Wrap the root balls of the succulents & the orchid going on the branch with sheet moss. Wrap the root balls as you would packages & secure with hot glue. The orchid was largest so I wrapped it with wire too.

Tip: Dampen the moss 1st because it makes it more pliable & easier to work with.

2- Attach the wrapped bundles to the cholla wood branch & secure on with wire. Cholla wood is loaded with holes so it’s great for this kind of project.

3- Remove the stakes from the orchid because it gave the piece a more natural look. I tied the longer orchid stem to the branch with a piece of green moss twine. 

Here’s the simplified version I put in my dining room after the filming.

The finished piece as I made it outdoors at my work table.

4- I start the decor on the table by placing the largest pieces – with this, the pumpkins & the pomegranates. I work in everything else where I find it pleasing. You’ll see this in the video. I always do a little tweaking at the end because of aesthetics or simply because some ingredient isn’t staying put.

5- I put succulents, succulent cuttings, moss, & foliage at the base of the pot. The look appeals to me & it covers up the rock which is anchoring the branch.

I love the Pink Jelly Bean sedum – so shiny & pretty with that blush of pink.

The walnuts, gilded with bronze & gold, add an elegant touch. I’ve always used magnolia cones in my decorations & here they help to anchor some of the smaller ingredients in.

Oh fall – we love your colors, your light and the bounty you yield. It’s such a fabulous time to create and this piece would welcome your guests on Thanksgiving. I hope this inspires you to make a Table Decoration using whatever mother nature offers wherever may be.

Happy fall, happy creating,

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