Oh, what FUN Fall can be! I wanted to create an exuberant spin on the traditional pumpkin in my next design. Driving down the lane to my home, I passed a neighbor's garden and noticed he had some beautiful pumpkins. I asked him if he would allow me to pick one for the online magazine. Without hesitation, he said, "Help yourself!" So off I went into this beautiful pumpkin patch and found my prize.

First, cut off the pumpkin's top in a zigzag pattern, clean it and retain the top. I next threaded rainbow foam cubes using the OASIS^TM Decorative Aluminum Wire, then inserted the wire into the pumpkin to create a cage around it. I inserted a small plastic container from Smithers-Oasis and a disc of matching rainbow foam into the gourd.

I filled the pumpkin with treats of all kinds, including oncidium orchids, birds of paradise, anthuriums, lycopodium, and a feathered Ti leaf. To bring the design through the arrangement, I used more OASIS^TM Decorative Aluminum Wire. The results: a beautiful centerpiece for any Autumn party! (A special thanks to Randy and Cathy for the pumpkin!)

Remember the fun you had as a child playing with sand art? Now, Smithers-Oasis has brought that fun to the floral industry in the form of powdered rainbow foam.

In this design, I used a beautiful glass vase layered with the many shades of powered rainbow foam. I then placed a yellow rainbow foam disc on the top of my "sand art". Utilizing the wildness of the lion's head papyrus, I created this fun and fascinating grassy coiffure.

Reminding me of the lioness in the animal kingdom, the banksia protea serves as my focal point. So the lioness doesn't escape, I have caged this beautiful botanical creature with stripped forsythia branches.

(0004) A rainbow of delight! This linear design is a fabulous party piece for any event. The liner style with outside negative space makes for a very interesting conversation table centerpiece. Here I have used a vase and containers from the Smithers-Oasis "Spirit" Collection.

Since this design has so many components and I wanted it chock full of color, I will explain how it is very easily constructed.

Nothing says quiet and elegant like the graceful simplicity of two orchids. Tayama's colorful orchids are a true complement to Smithers-Oasis Rainbow Foam and Spirit Collection. The colors match perfectly! This is a beautiful little piece to send to a hospital, very cheerful and very cost effective.