Fall in Pennsylvania brings crisp air, colorful foliage, and the perfect opportunity to showcase your gardening creativity. Combining autumn’s signature pumpkins with seasonal blooms creates magical displays that celebrate our state’s harvest traditions.
Whether you’re decorating your porch, planning a fall gathering, or simply bringing outdoor beauty inside, these pumpkin flower arrangements will inspire your Pennsylvania garden this season.
1. Hollowed Heirloom Centerpiece
Nothing says Pennsylvania autumn like an heirloom pumpkin transformed into a showstopping table centerpiece. I discovered this idea at a Lancaster County harvest festival last year and immediately tried it at home.
Carve out the center of a flatter, wider pumpkin variety like Fairytale or Cinderella. Fill with floral foam soaked in water, then arrange mums, sedum, and ornamental kale in warm orange and purple hues.
A neighbor stopped by and asked if I’d bought it from a florist! The arrangement stays fresh for about a week if you keep the foam moist and place it away from direct heat sources.
2. Rustic Farmhouse Pumpkin Stack
My drive through rural Pennsylvania inspired this multi-level arrangement that celebrates our state’s agricultural heritage. Stack three differently sized pumpkins (large at bottom, small on top), with the middle and top ones hollowed out for flowers.
Fill with seasonal favorites like golden rod, red celosia, and dried wheat – all commonly found in Pennsylvania fields this time of year. The natural textures create a beautiful contrast against the smooth pumpkin surfaces.
Last October, I created this display for my front steps, and several neighbors asked for instructions. It lasted nearly three weeks in our cool fall weather!
3. Woodland Fairy Miniature Garden
Children from my local Pennsylvania garden club adore creating these magical miniature landscapes. Start with small sugar pumpkins (4-6 inches) and hollow out just enough to create a shallow planting area.
Add moistened potting soil and arrange tiny plants like Irish moss, miniature ferns, and small succulents. Create paths using pebbles from Pennsylvania creek beds. Add miniature mushrooms, acorns, or tiny fairy garden accessories.
These sweet arrangements make perfect gifts for neighbors or classroom projects. My niece’s kindergarten class in Pittsburgh made these last fall, and they were the highlight of their harvest celebration.
4. Succulent-Crowned Pumpkin Beauty
During a garden tour in Chester County last autumn, I spotted this low-maintenance arrangement that perfectly suits Pennsylvania’s unpredictable fall weather. Select a medium-sized pumpkin with a flattish top and glue a variety of succulents directly to the surface.
Echeverias, sedums, and haworthias create a living tapestry of shapes and colors. The green and purple succulent tones complement traditional orange pumpkins beautifully, though white pumpkins offer a modern alternative.
Since moving to Pennsylvania, I’ve found this arrangement ideal for busy gardeners – it requires no watering and can last for months as the succulents slowly root into the pumpkin’s surface.
5. Harvest Moon Hanging Baskets
Fellow Pennsylvania gardeners at our community garden introduced me to this clever vertical display. Take small pie pumpkins, hollow them out from the bottom, and drill drainage holes.
Fill with potting mix and trailing plants like creeping Jenny, ivy, and cascading pansies in autumn colors. Attach strong twine or wire through the pumpkin stem to create a hanger.
The eastern Pennsylvania garden club I belong to hangs these along the community garden fence each October. They create a stunning display that survives our early frosts and celebrates the harvest moon that shines over our Pennsylvania fields.
6. Dried Flower Pumpkin Cornucopia
This arrangement celebrates Pennsylvania’s rich agricultural history with a cornucopia-inspired design. Carve a large, elongated pumpkin variety like ‘Pennsylvania Dutch Crookneck’ at an angle to create a horn-of-plenty effect.
Fill with dried flowers that thrive in our state: strawflowers, statice, globe amaranth, and ornamental grasses. Add dried corn, small gourds, and pinecones collected from Pennsylvania forests.
My grandmother taught me this technique years ago on her Bucks County farm. The completely dried materials mean this display lasts throughout the entire fall season – perfect for Pennsylvania homes where heating systems can quickly wilt fresh arrangements.
7. Floating Pond Pumpkin Illuminaries
A master gardener from eastern Pennsylvania showed me this enchanting water feature for fall garden parties. Hollow medium-sized pumpkins and carve simple patterns or stars on the upper half.
Place a small glass container inside to hold water and floating candles. Surround with water-loving flowers like mini water lilies or floating pansies. The candles create a magical glow through the pumpkin designs.
Last Thanksgiving, I floated several in my garden pond near Philadelphia. As evening fell, the reflection of the glowing pumpkins on the water surface captivated everyone, creating a distinctly Pennsylvania autumn memory.
8. Vertical Pumpkin Planter Tower
At the Phipps Conservatory fall show in Pittsburgh, I was inspired by this dramatic vertical display that maximizes limited garden space. Stack three to five pumpkins of decreasing size, with each hollowed out on one side to create planting pockets.
Thread a metal rod through all pumpkins for stability. Plant each pocket with cool-weather flowers like pansies, ornamental cabbage, and chrysanthemums in complementary fall colors.
My apartment balcony in Harrisburg isn’t spacious, but this vertical arrangement allowed me to create an impressive fall display that withstood Pennsylvania’s gusty autumn winds while showcasing the seasonal flowers I love.
9. Autumn Brook Stone And Pumpkin Vignette
Pennsylvania’s beautiful creeks and streams inspired this natural arrangement that brings our state’s outdoor beauty to your garden. Hollow several mini pumpkins and place them among river stones collected from local waterways.
Fill the pumpkins with moisture-loving plants like ferns, moss, and small hostas. Add miniature cattails or dried Queen Anne’s lace to evoke Pennsylvania wetlands. Place in a shallow ceramic dish with water to maintain humidity.
When hosting a garden club meeting last fall, I created this as a centerpiece using stones from Valley Creek near my home. The arrangement sparked conversations about Pennsylvania’s water conservation efforts while providing a slice of our natural landscape indoors.
10. Frost-Resistant Window Box Pumpkin Planters
After the first frost hit my Pocono garden earlier than expected last year, I developed this hardy arrangement that survives Pennsylvania’s unpredictable fall weather. Hollow out medium-long pumpkins lengthwise to create natural window boxes.
Plant with frost-tolerant flowers like heucheras, ornamental peppers, and autumn joy sedum. The pumpkin provides natural insulation against light frosts, extending the beauty of your garden.
My elderly neighbor in Stroudsburg has limited mobility but loves gardening. These pumpkin planters placed on her porch railing brought the garden up to an accessible height while celebrating our region’s fall bounty.