Friday, September 21, 2012

Fall is in the air

The heat of the summer, one of the hottest ones on record in the Midwest, took it's toll on my beautiful flowers. In previous years my flowers lasted well into October but not this year.


With fall in the air and flower boxes waiting to be filled, I added what I had...gourds and pinecones.


I took a bag of gourds {thanks to my father in-law who grows them, I have an abundance of free gourds}, some black ribbon, thumbtacks and hair spray. 


Yes, you read that right.  Hair spray.

It's not just cosmetic, like it is for my hair, it's to keep the squirrels from eating them.  Although, maybe that's why the squirrels leave me alone too :)


The hair spray, at least for the time being is keeping the squirrels away AND...


as an added bonus, gives the gourds a nice sheen. 


 So, my flowers may have died an earlier death than normal this year BUT


thanks to my gourds...


 I've moved on because, after all, fall is in the air.



Link Party Websites

{T} * Be Inspired by Elizabeth and Co.   * Tutorials and Tips on Home Stories A 2 Z   * I gotta try that   * Tips and Tricks Tuesday at Stringtown Home  * Delicate Construction * The Winthrop Chronicles  * Open Call Tuesdays on Salt Tree * Adventures of a DIY MOM * Take a look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Crafts * Blackberry Vine Tuesday To Do Party Coastal Charm * My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia  * Tip Junkie   

{W} *Adorned from Above * All Star Blogging Party *Well Crafted Wednesdays *What I Whipped Up Wednesdays * Homemade by You Wednesday * Whimsy Wednesdays  * Blue Cricket Design  * The Fun In Functional * What I learned Wednesday *   Home Happy Home * Someday crafts 

{TH}* Thursday Linky Party at Osie MoatsTaylor House ThursdayThursday's Temptation Link PartyDelightful OrderA Glimpse Inside  *  The Crafty Blogstalker * Made In a Day  * Somewhat SimpleA Little Knick Knack* House of Hepworth's * Chic on a Shoestring * 52 Mantels *
 

Two Succulent Sisters

34 comments:

  1. Looks so beautiful, Amy! The colors really pop and great tip about the hair spray! I'll have to remember that one. :) Megan

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  2. This is great, Amy! Will the gourds dry out so that you can use them again next year?

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  3. Hairspray: Brilliant!!

    You're full of great tips. My oven mitts are now hanging happily inside a cabinet door as proof of your brilliance.

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  4. such a great idea - thanks for the tip our deer, raccons and pssums eat our pumpkins so we try to wait until the last minute to get them for carving.

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  5. I'm so glad fall has fallen! *love* your porch display and the gairspray idea...brilliant! Enjoy your weekend:)

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  6. Great idea...Hairspray...I always paint mine with a clear varnish. This will work great. Thanks for the tip.

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  7. Oh my gosh...I LOVE that you used gourds instead of flowers! I've never thought of that! My flowers last year were gorgeous through October (and even that was unexpected and unusual) but this year...they are looking pretty sad. I think I may skip the flowers and follow suit! If I omit the hairspray, does that guarantee cute fuzzy squirrels devouring gourds on my doorstep? Because that is a wonderful bonus!

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  8. nice trick with the hair spray...never would have thought of that!

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  9. Your window boxes look great. Love that you used gourds. I don't have any squirrels at my house...In the 9 years I've lived here I haven't seen one squirrel up by the house. Can you believe it? They stay down at the old railroad trace that crosses the farm and don't ever seem to venture up to the house unlike other creatures.

    Have a great weekend! I'm so glad fall is here.

    Holly

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  10. Your display of the gourds in the flower boxes looks great... I love the idea!! As well as the gourds in the flower pot. I'm thinking of getting flower pots and displaying them on my balcony... but not sure how visible they will be. Will have to play around with the idea:) And thanks for the hairspray tip. I didn't know that one. Since I live in a condo I don't have to worry about squirrels... but it's a tip I will definitely keep in mind if I ever move to a house.

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  11. I am pretty sure I would stalk you if I lived nearby. Dreamy windowboxes and fall decor!!!!!

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  12. gourds in window boxes = genius! also, the hairspray tip is a keeper! pinned that tip! hugs friend :)

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  13. Lookin' good, Amy! The gourds make a fantastic fall display.

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  14. Oh Amy this was a really nice post with some beautiful pictures to match. You know I love fall and have been waiting for it with a passion. I not know your father-in-law grew gourds! I love them and they look great in your fall decor! I love that window box...hmmmmm..you've inspired me again!

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  15. I'm so glad you passed on the hairspray tip. I'll have to go out and spray my gourds.

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  16. Hey, great idea! I can't seem to grow anything edible in my garden, next year I'm planting gourds and nothing else. Then I can make my window boxes look awesome too. And it give Brawn a whole year to make me window boxes.

    ~Bliss~

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  17. These are so cute! I love this look . . . hmmm . . . . where can I add a window box . . . ?

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  18. My flowers in my flowerboxes died this year, too. Impatiens in Connecticut contracted some mold disease or something and they all died, even the ones in the ground. This project is perfect for me even though I don't have unlimited gourds I do have unlimited pinecones. Thanks for the inspiration. Also, we are having a pumpkin party over at my blog and I wonder if you would come over and link up this post at our party. Hope to see you. Linda

    http://twosucculentsisters.blogspot.com/2012/09/thirty-days-of-pumpkins.html

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  19. What a great idea to use the gourds! ~ Maureen

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  20. That's a great tip! I have a pesky squirrel who likes to scrape paint off of the trim around the garage door (nowhere else on the house, just there) I've primed and repainted that same spot more times than I can remember. I'm going to try your hairspray trick there. Wish me luck!

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  21. I had no idea of that hairspray trick! I'm loving it! But do I need to use my expensive salon W8-less hairspray? Or will good ol Aqua Net work just as well?

    :)

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  22. I live in the Midwest like you, and my garden has been hit so hard. My fall flowers are not blooming and looking pretty bad! So like you I'll be filling my planters with gourds. I wish I could get for free - your planter looks so pretty! Thanks for sharing your inspiration with Sunday’s Best – you helped make the party a success!

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  23. Quite lovely! Never knew about hairspray. Thank you for sharing this at my Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  24. That's such a great idea to use hair spray! And it's always on hand! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog, I'm about to be your newest Facebook follower :) Love your blog!

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  25. This is gorgeous! I love all the shapes and colors of the gourds. And great tip about the hairspray! I will definitely be trying that!

    Angela

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  26. i've never heard that about hair-spray! good tip! and they look so festive and bright! thanks for linking this up to tip-toe thru tuesday!

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  27. Love the gourds and pine cones! The hairspray trick sounds like a great idea! Wonder if it would stop the squirrels from digging up my flower pots too?! Thanks so much for sharing on Busy Monday.

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  28. Love it, those gourds look great! And the hairspray idea is super smart. Thanks for sharing at The Fun In Functional!

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  29. LOVE the hairspray tip! Visiting from Stringtown Home

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  30. Oh, how pretty!! I love the idea! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!

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  31. I love what you did. I had no idea about the hairspray. what a great idea. Thank you so much for sharing with Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party last week. This weeks Link Party is opened at
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/10/almond-sugar-body-scrub-and-wednesdays.html
    from Wednesday until Sunday.
    Hope to see you there.
    Debi Bolocofsky
    Adorned From Above
    www.adornedfromabove.com

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