Fresh Choices BY KATIE VINCENT


GOURD-GEOUS DÉCOR > In late April, six months ahead of Halloween, Home Depot stocked its shelves with “Skelly,” a $300, 12-foot-tall, 60-pound skeleton that’s consistently sold out since its introduction in 2020. That rabid buying behavior is but one example of the public’s growing obsession with Halloween. According to the National Retail Federation, American consumers spent a whopping $10.6 billion (approximately $100 per person) on the holiday in 2022. Of course, not everyone favors ghoulish decorations like Skelly. For those with more sophisticated tastes, a florist’s talented hands can turn a plain pumpkin into a work of art. “Working with pumpkins is great fun,” says Leanne Kesler, AIFD, PFCI,


director of the Floral Design Institute in Portland, Oregon. One tactic she likes is to cut a shallow hole near the top of a pumpkin, where she places a liner and floral foam. “To keep with the essence of autumn,” she gravitates to products such as dyed preserved eucalyptus — “a beautiful coppery brown” — and burgundy ‘Safari Sunset’ leucadendron to build the centerpiece’s form and cover mechanics. Next comes vibrant focal flowers, such as ‘Cherry Brandy’ roses, and disbud and spray chrysanthemums. She finishes the look with branches for added movement. The key, she says, is to be mindful of how the design looks from all angles. For ease, she creates her pumpkin arrangements on a turntable.


COPPER BEECH Mayesh Wholesale Florist


GOLD ILEX Oregon Flowers


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ORANGE ILEX Oregon Flowers


FLORAL MANAGEMENT | July/August 2023 | WWW.SAFNOW.ORG


PUMPKIN ROSE HIPS Oregon Flowers


PHOTO BY NICOLE CLAREY


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