The weather is beginning to change. Evening temperatures are cooler then we are used to are soon autumn will be upon us. With the change of seasons, the trees will begin to morph into amazing Technicolor landscapes along the highways and streets. That’s just when the fun begins!
In a couple months, the lawn mower will be replaced by the rake. Leaves will decorate the yard, stick themselves into every conceivable corner of your property. As tempting as it is to just burn or mulch them, there are so many other useful purposes for leaves – well at least for a little while.
Here are some great uses of fall leaves:
Mountain of Leaves – There is no better way to signal autumn them to rake the leaves in the front yard into a big pile and then jump in them. I’m not talking about just for kids. There is a kid in everyone no matter their age. So, take a breath and enjoy life for a change. The fun of jumping in a pile of leaves, smelling their unique aroma and tossing a few in the air will remind you of the happy, carefree days of youth. Just do it!
Halloween Decorations – Your local craft store sells large plastic bags that serve a dual purpose. At Halloween, they can be stuffed with leaves and sat in the front yard as a Giant Pumpkin or glow-in-the-dark skeleton. When the season passes, the contents can be recycled or burnt.
Door Wreath – Select a couple dozen large flat leaves that still have the stem attached. Take a single paper plate and, on the back side, glue each leave in a circular pattern around the plate until the entire plate is covered. The stems should all be gathered pointing to the center. Use either another leave or a collection of pinecones to serve as the center portion of the wreath. Add a hanger and you have the perfect door decoration for the autumn season.
Table Centerpiece – I saw this at a friend’s house a few years ago and was impressed by her ingenuity. She took a rectangle wooden dish about 12 inches long and placed large oak leaves in the middle with each one slightly overlapping the other. This served as a blanket on top of the dish. On top of the leaves she placed small appetizers in the mini-sized cupcake papers. It was a cute idea that set off the rest of her rustic table decorations.
The possibilities are endless, but don’t forget to enjoy the leaves while you are raking them. You’ll do it a few times and be glad that you did.