Nothing says Halloween like our friend the pumpkin. From a decorative Jack-o’-Lanterns to tasty pies. Native to North American this versatile squash is used as food and recreation. For carving, pumpkin-chunkin (world record at over 4,000 ft.), pies, breads, muffins, pancakes and lattes, it sure gets around.
Originating in Ireland and Scotland, carved pumpkins made their United States debut around 1866. They’ve been said to protect your home against the undead and ward off evil spirits. The world’s largest Jack-o’-Lantern weighed in at 1,469 pounds and was grown in Pennsylvania, not Transylvania. Just hack off the top, scoop out the inside flesh, carve out a scary face and put in a candle.
Now your front porch is ready to greet little ghosts and candy eating goblins on a moonlit chilly late October night.
Another festive way to use the pumpkin is for a fresh floral bouquet. It becomes a perfect vessel for arranged fall flowers. The shades and hues of autumn with its oranges, yellows and reds help complement the form. Cattails, branches and leaves round out the effect. Finally, adding a detail of a mask, bat, witch or spider complements the Halloween theme. Its the perfect decoration for your family gathering or makes a great costume party hostess gift. Call your local professional florist today. They will create the perfect BOO-quet for you!
In the plant and flower kingdom, many have frightening names. Names that conger up scary images and can give you goose bumps. You just might want to keep the night light on if you have any of these specimens near you. Names like, the fiery Ghost Pepper, Ghost Plant and the shadowy Ghost Fern. The Dracula Flower, Black Bat Flower, Blood and Spider Wort, stinky Corpse Flower, not to mention Japanese Blood Grass. Witches like to cook with Witch Hazel, Voodoo Lilies and Wolfe’s Bane in their cauldrons. No plants, or people, like to be around the Strangler Fig, but the Eyeball Plant keeps a look out for them. The carnivorous Venus Flytrap and Spider Plant would love you to drop in sometime.
A blanket flower called “Goblin,” a rose bush called “Hocus Pocus,” and Black Magic Elephant Ears seem to round out the holiday theme. Other references include the Devil’s Tooth, Old Man Bones Sedum, Love Lies Bleeding, and don’t forget the Blood Orchid! And remember to hang some garlic around your neck to ward off those pesky Vampires and Werewolves.
Call your local professional florist and ask what creepy flowers and plants they have to celebrate Halloween in true form.
What’s your favorite “scary” flower or plant?