Cutline: Nothing says fall like chrysanthemums. Courtesy photo

Enjoying fall’s bounty with your family

By Peggy Roberts

Staff Writer

When I am out talking with people, I am struck by how many are thrilled by the thought of fall.

There are a lot of activities to enjoy during this beautiful season and of course many of them involve the harvest or some aspect of growing things.

It’s always fun to see the leaves turn brilliant colors. And I’m sure we all remember ironing them between pieces of waxed paper back in school. Here’s a different leaf project that you might want to try with children:

Arrange leaves on a large piece of heavy paper or poster board. You will need an old toothbrush or soft hairbrush, an old kitchen sieve (a spatter guard works great) and watery paint. Hold the sieve over the paper, dip the brush into the paint and brush it across the sieve, splattering the paint over the paper. Continue this, using different colors if desired, until the paper is covered. Carefully remove the leaves and you will have a beautiful picture to hang on the refrigerator.

Many people enjoy picking apples in the fall. Sometimes, they even pick a few too many. If you have some extra apples, consider making apple prints with your family:

Slice an apple in half crosswise. You will see a star-shaped pattern formed by the seeds. Dip the cut edge in tempera paint or apply some of the paint to the edge with a brush. Push the painted side firmly against a sheet of paper, the same way you would use a rubber stamp. Experiment with the amount of paint you apply to the apple to get the look you prefer. You can use your finished print as wrapping paper or hang it up.

I’m sure many of you will be carving pumpkins. But what do you do with all that guck that invariably gets smeared over the kitchen table? How about roasting the pumpkin seeds?

First put the slimy mess of seeds and pulp into a colander. Remove the seeds from the rest under cold running water. After patting dry with paper towels, mix 1-cup seeds with 1-tablespoon oil or melted butter and salt. For additional flavor, try mixing in another spice as well, such as garlic or paprika. Spread the coated seeds evenly on a cookie sheet and bake about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, in a 300-degree oven.

For some, a highlight of fall is attending a fair. Although children (and many adults) may think of carnival rides and greasy food when they hear the word, the fair is a great place to learn more about gardening. With their displays of mammoth fruits and vegetables and vases of perfectly formed flowers, the exhibit halls are filled with green thumbprints.

The Common Ground Country Fair, sponsored by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) is an excellent chance to have fun as a family while learning more about gardening. Billed as a “celebration of rural living” that “offers something for everyone in a traditionally festive atmosphere,” (www.mofga.org) the Common Ground Fair is held in Unity during the last weekend in September. Scheduled events include: Mushrooming in Maine, Edible Seaweed Harvesting, and Romp and Chomp: An Interactive Vegetable Tasting. Check out their website at www.mofga.org for more information.

If all these suggestions don’t make you long for fall, try bringing splashes of fall color to your garden with some of the beautiful chrysanthemums that are available. Though mums may not survive the winter here, you can increase their chances by following these suggestions:

Be sure to buy garden, or hardy, mums, not the florist’s variety. Unlike florist mums, garden mums produce stolons that make them more likely to survive from year to year.

Select early-flowering cultivars and plant them at least six weeks before a killing frost. Planting them in spring is even better, but not an option for this year. Make sure they receive full sun, adequate moisture, and plenty of organic matter. Protection from drying north winds is important and good drainage is a must.

Don’t cut back the plants in fall. It has been shown that the foliage gives better winter protection. And be sure to mulch well when temperatures dip to 20 to 25 degrees and the surface of the soil freezes.

I hope these suggestions will help you fall in love with fall this year.