Succulents In Old Cans

My mom and I went “pickin” a couple years ago and got these old cans from an old merchant store. When I picked up some succulents at half price I knew just what I wanted to plant them in!

 After a gentle cleaning, I sprayed them with a clear matte spray paint to help seal them up from further rust.

Because they are rusting inside I didn’t want to plant directly in them and expose them to more moisture. I used 2 little flower pots I had already and cut off the bottom of a juice container. I pull these out when I water the plants.

There were miscellaneous pieces that had broken off during planting and I put those in another container to root. 

Growing Pumpkins

As my favorite season has come to an end and the color has fallen from the trees, I feel it’s time to recap October and this year’s garden. Last year I purchased a number of pumpkins and gourds from various places and saved the seeds to plant this spring. This was my first attempt at saving seeds and I’m happy to report they all grew! We had about 12 orange pumpkins and a dozen small striped pumpkins.

 My 2 two favorite pumpkins! 

Turks Turban Squash! 

 Flower pots got re-purposed after the flowers were done! 

 I wasn't ready to put away the wash tubs yet, so they got some pumpkins and sunflowers!

This year I went to an apple orchard with a friend and while she picked apples, I picked up a few new beauties. Prices ranged from $2-5 dollars each and I knew that I would get way more seeds this way rather than ordering seeds online, plus I get the benefit of enjoying the pumpkins this fall.

Porcelain Doll Pumpkins

 I don't have a great photo of the one I got, but I took a photo of each type and name at the orchard so that I could remember all the variations of each pumpkin. 

Peanut Pumpkin

Long Island Cheese & One Too Many

Cinderella

Its not like I have a favorite or anything!

One special pumpkin got to be Iowa State's mascot for trunk-or-treat! 

I can't wait to see what we will harvest next fall!!!