Fall might be my favorite season. And it’s definitely my favorite time of year for decorating our house. I love using all of Mother Nature’s wonderful bounty to make our home feel warm and welcoming. So when Little Miss and I found ourselves with a free hour last Friday afternoon, we scooted down the road to one of our favorite farms: Scott’s Orchard & Nursery in Glastonbury.
Our first task: apple picking. I love the Honey Crisp, but Scott’s has many delicious varieties–including the elusive and much-coveted Mcoun apples.
We loaded up our bags with these enormous fruits, which are perfect as countertop fall decor (I like to display them in an oversized wooden dough bowl like this one) and double as a healthy snack! Don’t you just love it when your decorations can multitask? LOL
Next we tackled our outdoor decor in the pumpkin patch. This year we chose two green-hued princess pumpkins to top our front porch planters. I like to add a little drama to them with a couple of inexpensive faux eucalyptus wreaths placed underneath. And these little lovelies will last all the way through Thanksgiving! Done and done.
I also love to load up on these mini white pumpkins, which are perfect for filling up a decorative basket or bowl, lining the fireplace mantel or placing along a rustic table runner (I DIY-ed this one with nothing more than a piece of burlap, a pair of scissors and 5 minutes–and it looks just like it came from the Pottery Barn catalog!). I really love all the unique and twisty stems on these.
Of course, Little Miss had to pick out a pumpkin for herself as well 🙂
If it lasts until Thanksgiving I’m thinking we might use that pumpkin as the base for a flower arrangement like this one:
You can find all manner of orange pumpkins as well. I’m already on the lookout for unique no-carve decorating ideas for those– these sets from Target are a front-runner.
Scott’s also has tons of fall potted plants like giant mums and a gorgeous array of ornamental cabbages (I’ve used those as fall window box filler in years past and they are stunning, not to mention long-lasting.)
You can also find a variety of local fruits and vegetables at their farm stand, including the most delicious butter and sugar corn– get it while it lasts!
Scott’s is really a one-stop shop for fall treats and trappings, and I love that we are supporting a local business. But the best part is, it also makes for an easy, enjoyable outing with the kiddos!
I hope these ideas inspire you to check out your own local farms and orchards to see what fall bounty they offer. Let us know what you find!
1838 New London Tpk. Glastonbury, CT
Phone: 860-633-8681
Hours (seasonal; fall 2021):
Daily, 8:00am to 5:00 pm; PYO stops at 4:00pm
Details:
Stroller Friendly: YES, though you’ll want something sturdy to push out into the orchard. If you’ve got a non-walker, consider a wearable baby carrier instead.
Coffee Mug Friendly: YES
Restroom: Porta-potty
Baby Changing Station: NO
Parking: YES
Food for Sale: The farm stand offers local fruits & veggies, baked goods, candies, etc.
Outside Food Allowed: Sure, why not? Whatever keeps the kiddos occupied while you shop! (Just please don’t eat the PYO fruit until you have paid for it–that’s not cool.)
Cash Required: NO; Visa/Mastercard and debit cards accepted with $5 minimum.
Dress Code: Be sure to wear shoes you won’t mind getting a little dirty in case the orchard is wet. I have been known to bring my kids in rubber boots if there’s been rain recently.
Age Recommendation: All ages!
Interested in advertising opportunities with Out and About Mom? Get more info here.
Want to keep up with things to do with kids in Connecticut?
Check back every week as we dish up more Momsense for getting out and about with your kiddos. Don’t have time to check back in? Let us send you an automatic notification of new posts straight to your email inbox by signing up here. Also, you can like us on Facebook and Twitter and follow us on Instagram to keep up with the latest posts and get some extra tidbits we share only through those sites.