What do you get when you mix and match two of our fall favorites? A mumkin! Yeah, we spelled that right. Mumkins are super fun and inexpensive gardening DIY projects to do at home with the kids or even with a group of friends over a glass of wine and now is the perfect time to make your own so that you can decorate with yours over both Halloween and Thanksgiving. It's easy! Give it a try...
October is here and there aren't many front porches or stoops that won't soon be graced by gourds and bright orange (or white!) pumpkins making way for the season of candy corn, scary movies and children dressed up as cheery princesses or creepy ghouls. And while we love the tradition of carving faces into pumpkins–creepy or cute, we have another idea that might just tickle your Halloween decor fancy. Why not make your pumpkin your fall front porch pot? Here's how:
Jack o Lanterns
Halloween is right around the corner! To most of us, Halloween means costumes, candy, and pumpkins, but did you know that this holiday dates back about 2,000 years? It became popular in the early 1900’s, having been brought to America by Scottish and Irish immigrants. Halloween was first called Samhain, which means “summer’s end” in Gaelic and it marked the Celtic New Year. Ever wondered where some of our Halloween traditions have come from? Here are three explained:
Jack-o’-lanterns: The tradition of carving pumpkins for Halloween has its roots in Celtic folklore. The legend tells of a man named Jack who was unable to get into heaven or hell when he died, and his lost soul was condemned to wander purgatory. He used a lit turnip to light his way and the Celts believed that putting Jack-o’-lanterns outside their homes would help guide lost spirits when they wandered the streets. The Irish people originally carved turnips but had to resort to pumpkins when they came to the United States because turnips were scare here at that time.
Trick or treating: Trick or treating started in the 1930s and became a popular US custom in the 1950s. It’s not entirely clear where the US practice of dressing in costumes stems from, but it was believed in olden times that Halloween marked a time where the barrier between our world and the spirit world was the thinnest. It was thought that ghosts could cross into the world of the living and might disguise themselves as humans and knock on doors asking for food or money. People believed that if you turned them away with nothing, you the spirit could curse or haunt you.
Bobbing for apples: Apples used to be thought of as a sacred fruit that could be used to predict the future. Bobbing for them was a fortune-telling game where it was believed that the first person to get hold of an apple from the water would be the first to marry. If the bobber was able to catch an apple on their first try, it meant that they would get to experience true love. Those who took many tries to obtain an apple would have fickle and unreliable romantic experiences. Another belief was that if a girl put her apple under her pillow on Halloween night, she would get to dream about her future husband.
All of us at Garden Supply Company wish everyone a Happy Halloween! If you need a pumpkin or any decorations, stop by and see us!
Pumpkins
It’s pumpkin time and there are just so many fun things you can do with a pumpkin! They are nutrient-rich, with lots of antioxidants and vitamins. One cup of pumpkin is less than 50 calories and provides a healthy dose of beta-carotene and fiber, so they are great for cooking with. Here are 5 cool ways to make use of a pumpkin:
Eat the seeds: Pumpkin seeds are incredibly healthy! They contain protein, magnesium, potassium and zinc. So, cut off the top of the pumpkin, scrape out the insides, and rinse off those seeds. You can roast them in the oven with a little olive oil and salt and they are a delicious and nutritious snack. Even if you don’t like to eat them, birds love dried pumpkin seeds, so put leftover seeds out as a treat for the birds.
Make pumpkin stock: The inside of the pumpkin has its uses too. Separate out the seeds and put the stringy pumpkin innards into a water-filled pot and bring to a boil. Let the mixture boil for about 30 minutes or until the water has changed color. Strain out any leftover pieces and now you have pumpkin stock! It is great for adding flavor to casseroles or soups. You can easily freeze for later use. If you don’t want to make pumpkin stock, birds also love pumpkin guts, so you can put that out for them as well as the dried seeds.
Cook pumpkin fries: A quick Google search brings up dozens of recipes for pumpkin fries. Making pumpkin fries is a fairly easy process: you simply need to peel the skin off and cut the pumpkin into strips. Spices can be added as you like, and then bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Here is a really easy recipe from Savy Naturalist: http://www.savynaturalista.com/2013/09/30/roasted-pumpkin-fries/.
Make pumpkin hummus: How about some yummy pumpkin hummus? Dreena Burton’s Plant-Powered Kitchen has an amazing recipe for pumpkin hummus: http://plantpoweredkitchen.com/pumpkin-hummus/. Pumpkin hummus is a fun appetizer for autumn parties!
Cook homemade pumpkin puree: If you’re interested in making your own pumpkin puree, which can then be used for any number of recipes, check out this guide from City Girl Farming: http://www.citygirlfarming.com/Recipes/ByVegetable/CookingPumpkin.html. She gives information on a couple different methods of creating your own pumpkin puree and it’s surprisingly not very difficult. Pumpkin puree is used in a ton of recipes, including pumpkin biscuits, pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup, and even pumpkin cocktails.
And here’s a bonus tip in case you have flowers that you’d like to do something fun with:
Create a flower vase: Use a pumpkin as a festive flower vase. Cut off the top and remove the innards as you would for carving, but then place a container inside. Fill that container with water and flowers and you have a fun, one-of-a-kind vase!
We have pumpkins, so stop in and see us! Our friendly staff can get you set up for all your fall pumpkin and plant needs.
At this point in time, all the kids have once again returned to school in Wake County, and if you're anything like me, your thoughts are starting to turn to the change in season. Seems like hints of fall are definitely making an appearance. I've noticed a few leaves starting to turn, a slight crisp feeling to the air, and darkness coming a little bit earlier each evening.
Fall is one of our favorite times of year at the garden center. This is a great time of year to plant new plants, or transplant crowded older plants in the landscape. We have lots of fresh plant materials in stock now for all your fall planting needs, with more arriving weekly. Now is a great time to put in new trees and shrubs, as well as perennials and ornamental grasses. We also have cool season veggies in stock, plus a fresh supply of herbs that will get you through until winter. Planting now will help your tender new plants get firmly established before the heat of next summer sets in.
Besides lots of new plant materials, we also have plenty of exciting new home decor and gift items in the Greenhouse for the upcoming change of season. Halloween, one of my all-time favorite holidays of the year, has hit the shop. Here's a peek at just a few of the new goodies we have for you down at Garden Supply Co.
This is truly just a peek of what's in store for you! Come on over to visit us, and see for yourself!
If you love the fall and Halloween as much as I do, then you probably already know that Garden Supply has some of the best decor and gift items out there, perfect for decorating your homes and gardens this holiday season. Whether you're on the hunt for cute and sweet spooks, or eerie and creepy Halloween haunts, you will find just what you were looking for in the garden center.
We are truly excited about all the beautiful seasonal items Deb was able to find at market this year. And starting today, we are even more excited to announce some SPOOKTACULAR special offers for you.
Aren't these wooden jack-o-lantern plaques the cutest thing? Just purchase $45 or more on Halloween decor items, and choose from one of these decorative signs as our gift to you . That's a $16 value, yours free while supplies last.
Spend $50 or more on anything throughout the garden center and you can purchase a plaque for only $5. An incredible savings.
Ask our friendly designers for tips and tricks on decorating your home for the season. They have some fabulous ideas. Just look what they did with one of these cuties.
Attach the sign with some holiday ribbon to a grapevine wreath form and add a few decorative floral picks, and you have a fantastic Halloween wreath for your mantle or front door.
At these SPOOKTACULAR deals, these Halloween goodies won't last for long, so hurry in. We always love to have a visit from you.
Come take a walk with me through the Greenhouse. There are LOTS of new goodies arriving daily that will brighten your homes, celebrate the upcoming change of season, and put you in the mood for a little holiday fun. I've brought my camera along. Let's see what's new together.
This is just the beginning of the new treasures to see down at Garden Supply. If you're in the area, stop in and say hello. We'd love a visit from you. Remember, also, we would be happy to mail you a goody or two from the Greenhouse if you can't make it in soon.
Thanks so much for dropping by today! I'll be back before long with more snippets from the garden.
Hi everyone and happy Wednesday to you all! I've just come from Garden Supply where I toured the Greenhouse to peek at all the new goodies that have been arriving for Fall and Halloween. And of course I brought my camera. So how would you like to take a little tour with me? We can see what's new together.
This is just a small sampling of what you'll find in store for you down at the garden center. Come see for yourself.......
If you DARE!!!!
