It's beginning to look a lot like. . . Autumn: Bringing out the fall decor and pumpkins in all the colors of the rainbow!

Autumn mantlescape featuring traditional colors of the season. . . but there's hues in the pumpkin patch.

 
It's the season of "sweater weather", leaf-peepers and pumpkin spice, and with regard to the latter, we're spicing up our Autumn decor with colorful pumpkins. And, while we love the traditional shades of orange for fall's favorite gourd, we're mixing it up with pumpkins in other hues to suit the pallets throughout our home. The pumpkins, in colors of the rainbow, have arrived!

Green pumpkins match colors of the living room 

In the past, I didn't raise the ante on festive decorations this time of year as, we who live in Michigan know, the season is short. The transition between summer and winter can often be abrupt with 80 degree days quickly followed by frost warnings. But, in its defense, our Mitten state provides one of best, be it brief, fall spectacular shows, imho, in the country. The changing leaves of vibrant reds, yellows and orange are truly awesome and, accompanied by crisp, cool air that pairs perfectly with chai teas and hot chocolate - well, it really is a time that should be celebrated even if it's only a fraction of the many months of our legendary long winters. 

So, in recent years, I've been adding more to this short season's decor, primarily via pumpkins, and primarily pumpkins made of glass.

Mauve pumpkinette is welcomed in the guest room.

I've been collecting glass pumpkins for just over a decade, starting my obsession at a local art fair and continuing the pursuit in art galleries in not-so-far northern and western Michigan all the way to Newport, Rhode Island. As my assemblage of finely crafted faux fall fruit grows, their different shapes, sizes and hues provide even more opportunity to add a bit of seasonal spice to spaces where, perhaps, before no pumpkin dared to go.

Much of summer mantlescape replaced with Autumn decor

After removing the summer "mantlescape", replacing the forsythia with the berry and leaf wreath, I added the complementary orange and gold pumpkins. But, most of my house is not a plain, white back drop, so here's where the fun begins. . .

Our living room has muted shades of green with a sage sofa and soft teal rug. Enter: one emerald pumpkin and one "Monet" pumpkin with colors inspired by the French impressionist. Tres magnifique!

But, one pumkin that really thinks outside the patch, is my pumpkinette from the Glass Academy in Dearborn. Each year they have a special edition color and when I saw mauve hit their website last year, I was smitten. And, yes, it adds a bit of unconventional Autumn whimsey to our guest room where pinks, lavenders and purples are very welcome.

A great season to enjoy nature, cozy sweaters, spice tea and maple leaf cookies. 

Fall is a grand time of year and I now embrace it inside and out. To tweak an old adage, I have learned it is better to light up the season with a rainbow of pumpkins, than to curse its brevity.

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

Happy Autumn from Barb' Tea Service. Enjoy nature's dramatic scenery, in your favorite cozy sweater, while sipping a delicious chai tea with maple leaf cookies!