In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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October 3, 2007

The idea for this pumpkin vase comes from Better Homes and Gardens. The container for holding the water and flowers is set inside the pumpkin. It’s simple to do.

Cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin big enough for your container to sit inside. Clean out the seeds and make sure the container has a flat place to sit on the bottom of the pumpkin. The container shouldn't extend above the top of the pumpkin. Put the container inside, add water and flowers, and voila! You’re done.

A cut pumpkin will only last a few days to a week before turning moldy and soft, so if you want to use the pumpkin for a centerpiece or to greet company at the front door, don’t carve it too far in advance.

I used corn stalks, pistache berries, coneflowers, bamboo, yarrow, ivy, sedum and Gladwyn iris seedpods and asters in my arrangement. Use whatever is in the garden.

You'll discover it's so simple, quick and easy you'll want to create these pumpkin vases over and over again.

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