This month gardening expert P. Allen Smith brings the outdoors in with some great advice on “decorating from the garden.”  Enjoy! – Tobi

The bounty of the season surrounds us during the end of summer and there is every reason to bring it in so we may keep its beauty nearer to us.  As the seasons turn, transform the displays around you to enhance the gardenlike quality of your home.

In early autumn the herbs begin to move inside and take their place along the windowsill.  A veritable herb garden above my kitchen sink allows for regular pruning and the flavoring of our soups and omelets.  

A curious ‘bouquet’ from the Chinaberry tree stirs the curiosity of my guests.  Long lasting in water, these berries slowly turn from green to chartreuse and last longer than most flowers.

Potted ornamental grasses from the local nursery in containers are a surprising and relaxed way to accent a table.  The varied shapes of the gourds add visual interest to a casual combination of seasonal favorites.

These acrylic vases were a great find.  The frosted shade of lime green complements almost any flower hue.  The garden is bursting with end of the season darlings such as wild sunflowers (helianthus), salvias and globe amaranth.  Clustering the vases on a galvanized tray is a simple and easy way to bring attention to the center of a table….whether entertaining inside or out.

From the Garden Home®,

Allen’s Blog