In a Vase on Monday - No Tricks, Just Autumn Treats

In a Vase on Monday is graciously hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.  Click here to see more Monday Vases!

In the neighborhood near the church where I work there are a couple of maple trees whose large  leaves are burgundy all summer but in autumn, the leaves change to all sorts of colors from lemon yellow, orange, scarlett, and almost purple.  They're nice on the tree but each individual leaf is gorgeous all by itself.  Each fall, I find myself gathering loads of them from the sidewalk.  The size is perfect for making leaf roses.  The parking lot of the nearby everything store (Fred Meyer,) where we shop after work, is also full of these trees and I can't stop picking them up to more closely appreciate each one.  People must think me a bit odd but I'm delightfully past the age of caring what people think.  Life is too short not to enjoy every bit of the abundant beauty all around us.

Some of the gathered leaves are a major player in today's "vase,"  a ghost pumpkin.  Since I cut the top off, it must be the holey ghost, right?   To get a little more height, I taped some of the leaves on bamboo  plant stakes.

The Callicarpa berries from last week's vase were still looking good so they made their way in as well along with some Sarracenia "pitchers" that are starting to change color.  I can't bring myself to cut them when they're still green but at this time of year it's an easier choice.

 Joining the arrangement are two trick-or-treaters - Tom

and Peter

 And some more Poncirus trifoliata 'Flying Dragon'  (hardy citrus) fruits.  I wish they stayed on the shrub longer as they are stunning on the bare thorny branches but they are interesting to have inside once they fall.

Happy new week and may your Halloween be full of treats!