Bringing Autumn In

Although autumn is spectacular with its beckoning colors, it is also the time of year when the temperature drops and staying in may be your idea of fall fun.  But that doesn’t mean you need to give up fall’s beauty once inside.

Wendy Manes, the owner of Annabel Green Flower and Finery Shop in Cannondale Village, was a visual merchandising director prior to owning her decorative store. She suggests using what nature has to offer this time of year to create seasonal centerpieces and wreaths. 

“It’s amazing what you can do just being out in the woods,” Manes said. 

To get started, Manes suggests heading out and looking for bittersweet, an invasive plant species that grows wild all over Wilton.  One of the plant's massive vines grows behind Manes' store, which she uses in her floral designs, winding its berry-like seeds into fall wreathes. 

“Be cautious of poison ivy as it tends to grow with bittersweet,” warned Manes.  “You can distinguish poison ivy because the vines have fur on them.” 

Sumac is another locally growing plant to use in an autumnal arrangement.  An inky and deeply colored berry, one must be cautious of the distinction between poisonous and non-poisonous sumac.

“I believe that since most of the public is only familiar with poison sumac there is a tendency to think that all sumac is poisonous,” explained Manes.  “One should do the research, of course, and that’s easy to do online.”   

To use this plant, Manes suggested trimming the leaves off and using the berries as an accent piece. 

Common hydrangea, a popular yard shrub, is a flower that goes well in fall arrangements.  It should be picked and then hung upside down to dry.  For live arrangements, simply pick fresh and put in a vase with water.   Manes also suggested another variety of hydrangea called PeeGee. 

“When picking, if you catch it at just the right time, they will stay pink,” she said. 

To finish off a fall centerpiece, Manes wraps a single Variegated Aspidistra leaf around the bottom of the vase to pleasantly cover up the stems.  This leaf, as well as other flowers that you may or may not have in your personal garden, can be purchased at Annabel Green most any time.