UGA Cooperative Extension

Bryan County Extension
Agriculture & Natural Resources

Fall Decorations

Fall is my favorite time of the year. The orange, reds and purple hues of the leaves on the mountain sides are a wonder created by Gods hands. For the last ten years my wife and I have tried to go to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee to gaze at the foliage in early fall. If the truth be known, my wife really goes to shop at the outlet malls in Pigeon Forge.

One of the things that you will notice traveling through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg is the all out attempt to decorate for the tourists. Hay bales, pumpkins, corn shucks, gourds and chrysanthemums adorn every store front, motel, antique mall, and even home owners have gotten into the spirit of decorating.

Fall decorations are the easiest, most eye catching and probably the cheapest of all decorations of the year. You don't have to live in the mountains to experience all these pleasures. The trees in southern Georgia are gorgeous as they change their hues. And I have been told that quite a few folks in Bryan like to spruce up their yards with fall decorations. A few bales of hay, corn stalks, five or six of the fall colored Mums, a pumpkin and a gifted hand and wow, you will have a lawn center piece that will catch everyone's eye. Maybe an old scarecrow and a few piles of leaves blowing and scattering will add just the right touch to the center piece. Be sure to water and care for the mums during the next few weeks. We are talking about a small investment for two months of pure and natural enjoyment and beauty.

After November when you are ready to decorate for Christmas, move the hay bales around back and use them to plant tomatoes in next spring. The mums can be set in a flower bed that will bloom again in the spring or repotted in a larger pot and you will have an extremely large plant for next fall.

Most of these items can be purchased at your local farmers market or landscape center. A few other items that can be used for fall decorations are the ornamental squash, gourds and Indian corn. You can make a beautiful center piece or a wreath for your door using these items and a few fall colored leaves. If you have paid attention lately, you would know that you can even purchase these items from your super market's produce department.

So, no excuses about not being able to find fall decorations. I am really looking forward to seeing Bryan County all decked out in the festive mood for fall.