Pumpkin and succulent centerpiece is easy way to decorate for fall

"It is super easy. It's not time consuming whatsoever," Sheryl Schelm, manager of Earl May Garden Center on Gordon Drive, said of the project.

Schelm said a couple make-and-take workshops are held at the store, 4141 Gordon Drive, annually. Earl May Garden Centers, which was founded in 1919 in Shenandoah, Iowa, offers premium plants and tools, as well as supplies and services, including landscaping, pest solutions and garden seeds. The company operates 28 family owned stores in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas.

The pumpkin and succulent centerpiece was the focus of an early October make-and-take workshop at the Gordon Drive store. Another workshop featuring winter greenery, pinecones and more will be held around Thanksgiving. Check the store's Facebook page for information about upcoming workshops. 

Schelm said succulents, which thrive both indoors and outdoors, are easy to take care of. They need direct sunlight and little water. 

"As long as you mist them one time a week, they should be fine," said Schelm, who said a succulent centerpiece should last until the pumpkin rots. She said keeping the stem on the pumpkin is key to preserving the centerpiece. Later on, she said you can remove the succulents from the pumpkin and plant them in a small pot, if you wish. 

What you need:

1 pumpkin -- regular or heirloom 

1 medium succulent

5 mini succulents

Chunk of preserved moss

Glue gun and glue stick

Paper towels

Clean water

Step 1: Wash off your pumpkin and dry it with a paper towel. Schelm said you can leave the stem on or break it off.

"I would prefer to leave the stem on, because the pumpkin is going to rot faster if you break that stem off," she said. "Water's going to sit in there and it's not going to be a good situation." 

Step 2: Remove dirt from the base of the succulents. If needed, rinse the succulents in a bucket of water. Pat dry.

"You can cut them off at the base and they'll be fine," Schelm said of the roots. "But I thought if I left the roots, they might do a little bit better on survival." 

Step 3: Stretch and pull the moss. Add glue around the top of the pumpkin and adhere the moss. Press the moss down to get a good adhesion. If you wish, you can pull some pieces of moss down the pumpkin, adding glue to hold it in place.

Step 4: Add glue to the base of the succulent and adhere to the moss. Put the succulents at different angles and arrange to get varying colors. 

Step 5: Embellish with a small fake pumpkin, if you choose to do so.