Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to another edition of THE PENCIL CASE! Each issue explores a fresh theme to inspire new ways of thinking about garden design and graphics.

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This week, we’re talking about GROWING YOUR DECOR…those little moments when the garden itself is a great source of decoration. The glow of dried grasses, pops of color from berries, pumpkins on a porch and how nature provides its own seasonal inspiration.

WHEN THE GARDEN DECORATES ITSELF

Lately, I can’t stop pausing at the kitchen window to soak in the golden light, the trees full of orange and yellow, and the shadows dancing across the garden. It’s so magical. Tommy and I have been taking more walks just to soak it all in. Crunching leaves underfoot and the sharp chill on our cheeks. I honestly can’t get enough.

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What I love most about fall is how it decorates itself. Pumpkins on porches. Dried grasses glowing in the low light. Berries clinging to bare branches. Seed heads nodding in the wind. Even pinecones, twisted vines, and mossy branches feel like treasures.

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When we grow our own gardens, we grow these decorations too. Materials for wreaths, garlands, centerpieces…waiting quietly outside our doors. Gathering them feels authentic, grounded and alive. Its such an extension of the beauty we’ve been admiring all season.

FAVORITE GARDEN-GROWN TOUCHES

⚘ Grasses + Seed Heads. Leave them standing for movement and sparkle. Fountain grass, little bluestem, echinacea, and allium heads catch the light beautifully.

⚘ Branches + Twigs. Bare branches add height and structure to containers or entryways. Try redtwig dogwood, curly willow, birch, or any sculptural branch you find.

⚘ Pumpkins + Gourds. Sculptural shapes and muted tones in orange, yellow, green, white and even pink blend perfectly with fall plantings.

⚘ Berries + Fruit. Crabapple, viburnum, winterberry, rose hips...all add a touch of color and texture through early winter.

⚘ Evergreen Cuttings. Cedar, boxwood, pine, juniper, and magnolia branches last for weeks in outdoor arrangements. Mix textures for more pop.

⚘ Pinecones + Nuts. Scatter them along steps, tuck into pots, or fill bowls on tables (indoor and out!).

⚘ Dried Blooms. Hydrangeas, strawflowers, gomphrena, and statice hold their shape and color beautifully long after the frost.

BEAUTY THAT GROWS

Decorating with what we grow feels connected. Less about perfection and more about presence. Every branch, berry, and seed head tells the story of your garden.

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As the days grow shorter, step outside and see what your garden offers. Let these natural treasures remind you: beauty doesn’t always need to be bought. Sometimes, it’s simply grown.

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Try this: Take a 10-minute walk around your garden or yard and gather three natural treasures: branches, berries, seed heads, or leaves. Use them to make a small arrangement inside or outside, and notice how they change the space and your mood.

As the season cools down, wrap yourself in a warm blanket, grab a hot cup of tea and join us for these upcoming learning opportunities: CLASSES

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If you know someone that needs a bit of garden inspiration, please feel free to share this newsletter. Anyone can subscribe right here. I also keep a VAULT of past issues in this secret location.

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Here’s to cozy layers, glowing windows, and gardens that keep giving long after the blooms fade.

From the studio + garden,

Lisa 

PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP

Thank you to Mandy Orgler for designing the lovely graphics in all these newsletters.