s m a l l w e e d s

Garden in a Craft Pumpkin

What’s needed:
• craft pumpkin from Michael’s (on sale for $5.99 now)
• 1 package of Spooky Town tomb stones from Michael’s
• 1 small bench & 1 owl
• orange pumpkin home-made with Sculpy
• wooden fence (from me or Michael’s at $3/ea. 18"x2")
• 2-4 plants from Armstrong’s Nooks & Crannies series and cuttings of Ogon Sedum
• moss, gravel and potting mix
• sharp X-Acto knife

How to do it:
• Cut a big piece out of the craft pumpkin with a knife and a couple of holes on top for twigs (optional).
Note: avoid the seams and take care not to cut too low or you’ll end up with a splitting pumpkin that's too shallow to hold enough soil.
• Fill pumpkin with potting mix.
• I used oak twigs found in my front garden for accent. Insert twigs and adjust the size of holes as necessary. Leave them in for the time being while deciding where to put the plants.
• Distress miniature wooden fence with sand paper and dirt. Cut a piece and put it wherever you like.
• Remove twigs, if they’re in the way, and put in plants (at an angle if needed since certain spots may not have enough soil) and back fill with more soil. This is the messy stage of the project. Lots of removing, adding and shifting going on.
• When you’re happy with the layout, add moss to bare spots, gravel to create a path and accessories to finish.
• Water your garden once and mist few times each week. Bright light is needed so take it outside in the morning for a few hours or put it near a window.

Learn from my mistakes: My first graveyard garden (right) lasted only a week indoor. The Lobelia I used died and the Mondo grass at the back got yellow stripes. So I replaced Lobelia with Sedum (ogon) at the front left corner and put in a new Mondo. Then it was moved outside to my north-facing garden, receiving morning filtered sun. It’s been more than 3 weeks now and everything still looks healthy!!!

If you use a clay pot instead, the garden can last for weeks, months or even a year. For more design ideas, plant care info, and to buy miniature accessories, check out my other pages or contact me by phone (626-664-7520) or via e-mail.

After Halloween, simply replace accessories for your Thanksgiving table. If a container other than a pumpkin is used, the little garden can be transformed into a winter wonderland for Christmas display. With minor changes it can even last through Spring, Easter, Mother’s day...
Stay tune for my Winter Gardens in Nov.