Welcome! If you are joining me from Stringtown Home Blog Hop, thank you for hopping on by!
My regular visitors know that I’ve been very open and honest about my addiction to window boxes…
Winter, spring, summer and fall they call my name
But I have one pet peeve I will share with you that no one outside my family knows…
I develop a twitch in my right eye when I see some of the crazy stuff people stick in their window boxes when the weather takes a colder turn as it does here in the Great Lakes in the fall.
Please...for the love of all that is good and natural in this world...just say NO to putting silk or plastic flowers in your window boxes during the fall and winter!
There are soooo many other options to consider…
Fall Window Box Options
We are still in Northern Michigan for another few days. So I won’t be putting my window boxes together until we head home on Labor Day. (Insert big BOO HOO here!)
But I took a trip around one of my favorite Traverse City greenhouses and also pulled a few of my favorite photos from past year’s window boxes to give you some starting points.
I start with a focal point for each window box — something fun and fall-like for the center.
I found these dapper little black birds at Michael’s last year…
They live in the smaller window boxes on each side of my long, center window box.
Aren’t they cute?
I keep a stash of little scarecrows and other fall goodies in a storage box in the garden so I can use them in my window boxes and containers.
Then I add all the colors and plants of fall…
Am I’m not talking plastic mums y’all!
How about some Black Eyed Susans?
And a few fun flowering kale plants…
Their subtle colors are so pretty in window boxes especially when combined with happy little pansies and mums!
As you might notice in the photos above, I have also had good success in convincing geraniums and zinnias to hang tough well in to the fall.
And of course the stars of fall – pumpkins!
Or in my case most years…gourds that look like small pumpkins
Some of the chubbier ones are perfect for window boxes. Mine generally last from mid- to late-September through Thanksgiving.
I use these handy little sticks my Pops made for me to get them to stand up in just…the…right…spot!
I finish up with some bittersweet that I pick up down the street at our local Farmer’s Market.
Add a Fall Banner to Your Window Boxes
Last year I made this fun FALL banner to use on the longest window box. Just for a little extra zip…
Don’t ‘ya just love polka dots?!
You can read about making the FALL banner here…
As soon as we head home and the pansies hit the greenhouse, I will post this year’s version of my window boxes. So excited to do that because it will be the first fall with my new window boxes!
You can check out more ideas for fall or holiday decorating (eek! I said it… the holidays will be here before you know it!) if you follow me on Instagram and Pinterest. I share updates there almost every day!
And here’s a sneak peek at what is on my project line up for Halloween for my window boxes…
Thanks again for stopping by!
Hope you enjoy all the sites on this fabulous Blog Hop that Stringtown Home has put together…
You can click on the image below to find another blog to hop on over to!
XO
Shelley
Hi Shelley,
I’m hopping over from the Harvest Tour. Love your window boxes. You picked some wonderful plants for fall color and such cute embellishments too. Have a great holiday weekend!
Thanks for stopping! Hope you enjoy the holiday weekend too!
I love your window boxes! I especially love the little touches like the mini gourds and the bittersweet vine. I also love decorating for fall with kale,especially purple. I have been picking mini white pumpkins and I am anxious for them to “cure” so we can decorate!
Thanks for stopping! I haven’t found any white pumpkins yet, but I like decorating with them too!
Hi Shelley – Visiting as a fellow contributor at the Harvest Home Tour. Loving all of your decorations! Happy fall to you! Hugs, Holly
Hey Holly! Glad you stopped for a visit! We are a little crazy getting ready for a family party tomorrow but I’m planning to make the rounds on Monday. Look forward to seeing your post!
Hi Shelley,
I’m visiting as a fellow participant of the Harvest Tour of Homes. Such creative window boxes…thanks for the inspiration.
Lori
Thanks Lori! I just love changing my window box out each season. Working on a few fun decorations for Halloween next! I will be over to visit your site soon…
Absolutely divine! Can I feature this on my FB page next week? Visiting from the Harvest Homes Tour as a fellow participant!
Hi Terri! Glad you stopped by. Sure! Feel free to feature it. Just ask that you link back to me. I’m getting started now making the rounds for the Harvest Home tour so I will be stopping by your blog soon…
I love window boxes and the banner turned out so cute! I am visiting as a participant from the Harvest Home Tour.
Hi ?Maria! Thanks for your note and for stopping in. Shelley
Hi Shelley, I’m stopping by from the home tour where I am also a participant. Your window boxes are lovely. I have some in our backyard that need a fall touch and I have certainly found some inspiration on my visit. hugs…
Thanks, Penny! Glad you found some inspiration. I am enjoying visiting everyone’s blogs on the Harvest Home tour too!
Hi Shelley! I am stopping by from My Life From Home and enjoying the fall blog hop. I LOVE this idea. I usually do straight mums, but love the variation. Great ideas.
Thanks Amy! Glad to meet a new blogger friend!
The window boxes are so cute and colourful! Lucky for us we have a farm market that also sells pumpkins every year and it is only a 5 minute walk away. I’m looking forward to when they start selling them.
Hi Elizabeth! Thanks for visiting. It’s still been in 90 degrees around here so it’s hard to think Fall! But I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of pumpkins and pansies at my local greenhouse and farmers market too. They have mums, kale and everything else!
Those window boxes are PRECIOUS! I love it! Thanks so much for sharing with us at the Harvest Tour of Homes…. I so enjoyed your post!
Thanks Heather! And thank you for the invitation to be a part of the blog hop. Looking forward to doing it again at Christmas!
Hi, Shelley
I am loving those beautiful window boxes. How lovely and can’t wait to see the other decor you are coming up with next. Stopping by from the Harvest Home Tour.
Hi Vanessa! Thanks for stopping by… I’m still making the rounds too.
Oh how beautiful. I love them. Your Fall banner is so cute too. Really lovely. Stopping over from the Harvest Tour.
Thanks Kathleen! Happy to have you stop by.