Gibbs’ designer shares fall decorating ideas for welcoming yards
By Barbara Schneider, Gibbs Gardens
Gibbs Gardens Seasonal Designer Hayley Davis mixes the timeless beauty of pumpkins, mums, gourds and hay bales to create a sense of tradition and seasonal joy. PHOTOS BY HAYLEY DAVIS.
While Gibbs Gardens is a magical place all year long, the month of October ups the ante with dazzling autumn vistas in every direction. There’s something about fall that inspires creativity and fun.
Embrace the spirit of autumn
Outdoor seasonal displays are a wonderful way to embrace the spirit of autumn and warmly welcome guests.
“Who can resist the timeless beauty of pumpkins, mums, gourds, and hay bales? These classic elements inspire a sense of tradition and seasonal joy,” explains Hayley Davis, Seasonal Color Designer at Gibbs Gardens.
“I love crafting these displays, using a mix of traditional Jack-O'-Lantern pumpkins in various sizes, complemented by whimsical fairytale pumpkins, squash, and a few grand prize pumpkins. Miniature pumpkins make excellent fillers, adding depth and texture throughout the arrangement.”
Davis likes to incorporate fall favorites like crotons, mums, ivy baskets, hydrangeas, ornamental grasses and celosia. By thoughtfully repeating key elements in specific areas and harmonizing the colors with each section, the overall composition achieves both visual cohesion and functionality, she said. “These vibrant colors and textures capture the essence of the season.”
World-class destination garden
Enjoy the beauty of the season. Nowhere are trees more beautiful in fall than Gibbs’ magnificent 40-acre Japanese Gardens. Thousands of Japanese maples in every shade, size and variety lift ruby-toned swatches of color skyward with each leaf. More than 5,000 Japanese maples—representing 300 varieties—thrive throughout the gardens. From rare weeping varieties to majestic sky-scrapers, these trees are everywhere in Gibbs Gardens.
Hundreds of Euonymuses alatus (burning bush) are sprinkled throughout the gardens to provide pops of brilliant red. Maple trees, dogwoods, crape myrtles and hundreds of companion plants bring layer-upon-layer of color to Gibbs Gardens each year.
Albert Camus once wisely said, “Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf is a flower.”
The National Garden Clubs’ Award of Excellence; Flower Magazine’s one of “The 10 Best Places in the World to See Daffodils” and “Thirteen Best Botanical Gardens in America” are just a few of the awards Gibbs Gardens has received. To learn more about Gibbs Gardens, go to gibbsgardens.com.
All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.
Big news in the design world: The color for the year encourages true relaxation and focus. To find inspiration for weaving this elegant color into you garden designs this year, click here for an interesting article.
Click here to sign up for our monthly NEWSLETTER packed with great articles and helpful tips for your home, garden and pets!
