Fading Flowers, Pumpkins & Lobster Buoys | A Coastal Maine Fall

Coastal Maine outdoor fall decorations — fading flowers in pots, warm colors, pumpkins on a stone wall, and lobster buoy swags.

Decorating for Fall Outdoors

Recently here on the blog I have been writing about decorating my home for fall.

Last Saturday I shared my fall mantel decor.

And then earlier this week I posted about my fall table setting.

I always strive to have these indoor spaces reflect what is happening outside.

How do I decorate outside, though?

That is the subject of today’s blog post!

Truthfully, I mostly just let Mother Nature do her beautiful fall thing. She is, after all, the undisputed master.

But I do like to add a few embellishments of my own.

Fading flowers in pots on the front steps.

A few pumpkins tucked in between.

A long row of pumpkins sitting on the stone wall separating the lawn from the field.

And this year, some fall fun with old lobster buoys. Yes, you heard me right — lobster buoy fall decor!

Let’s go for a stroll outside to see what’s going on!

Fading Flowers in Pots

I am one who loves the look of the summer garden as it fades to fall.

Just as I appreciate the wear and patina of old furniture, I suppose.

In early September, though, when my summer pots are starting to look just plain old and tired, I like to replant them with something fresh. This year in my favorite fall colors — purply blues, golden yellows, and warm oranges.

Yes, if you read my most recent blog post, these are the same colors I used for my fall table setting!

Changing out my pots so late in the season might seem like a lot of effort for not a lot of payback. I find, though, that I do get a couple months out of them and they really brighten the transition from summer to fall.

This year on my front steps I planted Indian Summer Rudebekia (golden yellow), Purple Fountain Grass (reddish purple), Bandana Lemon Zest Lantana (yellow), and Scalora Fancy Scaevola (purply blue). I kept the Solar Power Black Potato Vine (deep purple) and variegated Swedish Ivy (green and white) I planted way back in June.

These colors mix in beautifully with the plantings along the front walkway, as the blooms fade and the leaves start to turn.

It makes for a lovely natural, bordering-on-wild, look. Just like the larger landscape the house sits in.

I encourage you to look beyond mums and ornamental kale/cabbage when it comes to planting for fall!

It Wouldn’t Be Fall Without a Few Pumpkins

I am also a huge fan of pumpkins.

Especially now that there are so many different varieties and fun colors.

Remember when white pumpkins were so exotic? Now there are shades of yellow, pinky orange, caramel, variegated orange, yellow, and green. Traditional round. Flat for stacking. Warty. Heirloom and “fairy tale” varieties.

There is a pumpkin for every decorating scheme!

I am lucky to have a great local pumpkin farm that has not only a wide variety of pumpkins and other gourds, but also great prices. Win win!

This year I didn’t go all out with pumpkins on the front steps — just a few nestled up next to the pots. And of course I went with shades of yellow, orange, and green.

I have never seen a blue or purple pumpkin. Yet!

The Great Pumpkin Wall

I make up for the modest number of front step pumpkins, by the immodest number on the stone wall separating the lawn from field. Always classic orange there.

This is my fourth year creating the Great Pumpkin Wall.

And it brings me just as much joy now as it did the first time.

I love pulling down the driveway to see the sweep of bright orange globes sitting on weathered stone.

Or when I catch a glimpse of orange out the window when I am going about my daily life.

This year I got 22 medium/large pumpkins and 10 small. I always get asked why I am buying so many pumpkins!

It might be excessive, but sometimes you just have to go big or go home.

Or go big at home!

O Buoy, It’s Fall!

Many of you know that I live in a small fishing village.

It is a common thing here to hang old lobster buoys on your home, garage, shed, fence, or mailbox.

You can see how I decorated the guest cottage porch with colorful lobster buoys in my post Getting Ready for a Homeworthy Video Tour Shoot.

For fall this year, I took “lobster buoy as decor” to a next level by crafting buoy “swags” to adorn either side of the front door, and another for the mudroom door.

On a beautiful recent Saturday I paid a visit to my “buoy guy” down the next peninsula over. He sources his buoys from retired lobstermen/women and has the very best selection and prices.

I chose buoys in my signature colors this fall — blue, orange, yellow, and green. The more weathered and chippy, the better!

I then enlisted the help of my creative neighbor to help me execute my vision. We had so much fun playing with old buoys, worn rope, and net bait sacks!

It is nice to have a neighbor and friend who is as crazy as me!

I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out! The lobster rope “bow” my friend came up with is the perfect finishing touch.

Now, I am certainly not saying everyone needs to decorate their home with lobster buoys. That could be downright silly, depending on where you live.

But I hope I inspire you to think outside the box. To use something unusual to come up with decor unique to you or to where you live. Decor that tells your story.

And always always have fun!

This Week Into Next

Another week has flown by!

Winslow Homer’s Studio and Home

Last Friday I went with friends on a tour of 19th century artist Winslow Homer’s studio/home in Prout’s Neck, just outside Portland.

The tour started at the Portland Museum of Art and then we took a short shuttle bus ride out to Prout’s Neck.

It was fun to tour the converted craftsman-style carriage house, which has been meticulously restored by the PMA.

I particularly enjoyed taking in the dramatic ocean view that inspired some of his paintings, such as “Weatherbeaten”.

Before going on the tour my friends and I enjoyed lunch at LB Kitchen in Portland. This is a great little cafe and mini-mart open for breakfast, lunch, and “golden hour”. Their menu of bowls, salads, sandwiches, toasts, smoothies, and coffees is veg- and dairy/gluten-free friendly.

I will definitely be back!

Cottage Style Christmas magazine

Do any of you remember when there was a magazine photo shoot of my holiday decor?

You can read all about it in my blog post from January 2023, One Winter Week in Maine.

BHG specialty publication Cottage Style Christmas was supposed to come out last year, but apparently there was a paper shortage??? Who knew?

Well, the shortage must be over, because it is on newsstands now!

I haven’t received my copy yet. But I did get a quick peek at it when I was in Walmart the other day.

This was such a huge honor and the photos look great! I am particularly pleased that an image of the dining room fireplace, with my mom’s blue and white, was used on the table of contents page. My mom would be so happy.

I can’t wait to see the other homes that are featured!

I am told the best place to find your own copy is at Barnes and Noble, Walmart, or your local grocery store or pharmacy. You can also order it online.

Halloween Costumes

From Christmas to Halloween…

I volunteered to make Halloween costumes for Jamie and Poppy this year.

And then I just realized that Halloween is less than 3 weeks away! I’d better get hopping!

Jamie is going to be a dog and Poppy a cat. Pretty standard!

I have hatched a plan and this weekend I am headed to Target and Joann Fabrics to pick up supplies. I am thinking long-sleeved t-shirts, sweatpants/leggings, some fleece and faux fur should do the trick.

When my kids were little, most years at least one of them would get a home-made costume. Over the years I did a mermaid, a salad, Warp DarkMatter (Buzz Lightyear’s evil former partner), a pumpkin, and beauty pageant contestant, to name several.

Fun memories!

And new ones in the making.

I will be spending Halloween in Minnesota with Jamie and fam!

That’s it for today, friends.

Be well!