Creating Seasonal Vignettes from Garden Treasures

The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.  Alfred Austin

Welcome to the Blog, Friends!

Today, I found myself out in the garden, much like Alfred Austin describes—my hands deep in the soil, my face turned toward the sun, and my heart lifted by the beauty and variety of nature. The beds were lush with late-summer color and texture, and I couldn’t resist the urge to gather some of that beauty to enjoy indoors.

Armed with my favorite gathering basket, I clipped heavy clusters of hydrangea—some still showing their vivid blues and pinks, others beginning to take on the antique greens and burgundies that hint at autumn’s arrival. A handful of herbs came next—fragrant rosemary, feathery dill, and sprigs of thyme, each adding its own earthy perfume to the basket. To finish, I snipped a few vibrant coleus leaves, their velvety surfaces brushed with deep purples and lime greens, like nature’s own stained glass.

Back inside, I kept the vessels simple so the garden’s bounty could take center stage—a hand-thrown pottery vase with its soft, earthy glaze; a clear glass pitcher that lets the stems show like part of the arrangement; and a plain glass vase whose simplicity only enhances the beauty it holds. I placed them in sunny corners of the kitchen and Great Room where the light pours in, catching the colors in the hydrangea and making the greens and purples of the coleus glow.

Every time I passed through the room, the faint scent of herbs rose to meet me—a small, everyday luxury that feels like a gift from the garden. The grouping had an easy charm, as though the flowers and leaves had just wandered in from outside and settled in for a visit.

The first arrangement to take shape was a simple gathering of lime light hydrangea in a plain, thrifted glass vase—the perfect understated stage for such beautiful blooms. Nestled among them was a single sprig of white and green coleus, its patterned leaves gently echoing the tones of the hydrangea. At the base of the vase, I placed a hawk feather found in the yard. I’m always amazed at the delicacy of those feathers—so light and fine—yet strong enough to lift a bird into the open sky to enjoy the gift of flight.

This little vignette rests on a woven, straw-colored tray atop a handmade wooden table (courtesy of my handy husband) beside the love seat in our Great Room. In the soft glow of the nearby lamp, the flowers seem to light up from within, casting a gentle radiance across the room. Simple, beautiful, and entirely of the moment—just the way I love it.

On the other side of the room, next to the sofa, an arrangement of hydrangeas in soft pinks, blues, and greens rests on another handmade table. A simple rattan mat beneath the pottery vase ties in beautifully with the warm tones of the sofa. Just to the right, a pink throw and silken cushions carry the colors of the arrangement, weaving them seamlessly into the room. Together, they speak of a gentler fall—a quiet, graceful shift that makes the transition to a new season feel effortless.

The pictures above bring you a little closer to the arrangements. Simple can definitely be beautiful.

In the same room, a selection of flowers in hues that hint at autumn’s arrival are gathered in a simple earthenware crock. Nothing fancy—just a timeless vessel resting in front of the fireplace on the slate hearth. Its unadorned lines feel soothing, and the gentle, muted colors bring a sense of calm, offering a quiet welcome to the changing season.

This little collection of fall reminders sits on the kitchen counter, a quiet celebration of the season’s abundance. A large thrifted tray holds a decorative cutting board, a vintage wooden duck, and a simple glass pitcher—each piece a thrift-store treasure with its own story. In a well-worn vintage bowl, onions and squash are gathered together, a gentle nod to the harvests that fill our pantries and grace our tables.

The clear glass pitcher, also thrifted, is filled with fresh herbs from the garden—ready to be snipped for daily cooking, yet pretty enough to display. Overseeing it all is the colorful wood duck I discovered in a thrift shop last year. He’s a cheerful companion in my seasonal vignettes, and I like to imagine he enjoys being part of the display, keeping watch over the bounty.

Here’s a closer look at a the elements of the tray vignette. You can see they are bound together by color. The different textures add to the appeal and reminds me that life is filled with wonder.

Five simple vignettes, each drawn from the abundance of nature and brought indoors to be enjoyed in the midst of everyday life. I feel so grateful for the beauty nature so generously provides—for the chance to dig in the soil, gather its treasures, and nourish my soul with the bounty.

Thank you so much for joining me today for these little glimpses of autumn, inspired by the garden and touched with the colors of fall. It makes my heart happy to weave a few thrifted finds among the garden’s gifts, blending them into my home décor in a way that feels both seasonal and personal. May you find beauty in the simple things around you, and perhaps bring a few treasures indoors to brighten your own days.