Easy Thanksgiving Planters For Your Front Porch

If you are tired of your pumpkins, make these easy Thanksgiving planters for your front porch using hydrangeas!

Once Halloween is over and it’s November, I must admit, I’m over the orange pumpkins, and well, pumpkins in any color (except these). But I’m not quite ready to decorate for Christmas. Fall container gardens usually mean pots and planters filled with mums, peppers, gourds, and ornamental cabbage in all the autumn colors. But we are going to use FREE hydrangeas from the backyard!

It’s Sunday, so I’m joining my friends Mary Ann and Cindy for our favorite finds of the week. We are starting to share gift guides because it’s that time of the year! I’m starting with Serena & Lily because they have their best sale of the year going on right now!

Beautiful Fall Planters 

I love the colors of fall leaves and the autumn season, but by November, I’m ready for a more toned-down version. That’s when I discovered using hydrangeas in all shades of tan, brown, blush pink, mossy green, and even coral. So many colors in one hydrangea flower, but the tones are so soothing as we head into the cooler month of November.

So, right before the first frost, I went out and clipped about 60 stems from our very large limelight hydrangea tree. I wrapped them carefully in a sheet and put them in the garage to protect them overnight.

The next day, I prepared the tall planters that I got in the spring from Terrain with a cardboard circle cut to fit snugly in the pot, several inches below the rim. I put floral foam blocks on top, cutting some into smaller pieces to fit snugly inside the pot. 

I have since learned that floral foam is environmentally unfriendly, so I will try using chicken wire next time!

The Supplies You’ll Need:

• Planters or pots
• Sturdy cardboard
• Chicken wire
• Clippers
• Garden gloves
• Hydrangeas cut with long stems.
• Velvet ribbon

I started to insert the hydrangea stems into the foam blocks. I chose the tall ones that stood up straight for the middle and then filled in with the curvy hydrangea stems. It took no time at all to arrange the stems in each pot. I saved a few to go back and add in as needed. Twenty-five to 30 stems for each 12″ in diameter pot was just right. 

I love how they turned out! A fun fall planter that uses flowers from my backyard. The various shades of brown against the clapboard house seem to be the perfect outdoor Thanksgiving decorations. 

I added brown bows for a little extra autumn decor. I had the ribbon from the wreath, and the frayed velvet in chocolate brown is just too pretty not to use! 

The doormat is this one from Terrain. It’s quite substantial in thickness. A beautiful mat for your fall entryway. We also have this one! I’ll probably add brass lanterns on Thanksgiving, but for now, I love just the fall containers filled with fall flowers. 

As soon as we return from France later this month, it will be time for winter planters and greenery. This year, I will be using a few of these to decorate the front entry!

2. Thanksgiving Leftover Kits

With Thanksgiving less than three weeks away, if you are hosting, then you are probably in full planning mode. Have you thought about making leftover kits for your friends and family to take home with them?

I started doing this when my kids and their friends would come to visit for a holiday like Thanksgiving and then take the train home. Halfway home, they were probably thinking about dinner, and nothing was open.

Now we make an extra turkey breast with plenty of extra white meat. We buy or repurpose leftover containers, and we make them for everyone. Turkey, sides, a roll in a cupcake liner to keep it dry, and a little jar of cranberry sauce.

Having enough containers that are not too big and all the same size makes it easy to assemble several at a time. 

What you’ll need to have on hand for making leftover kits:

• Containers with a secure lid, like these round ones or these rectangular containers.
• Small jars or small containers for cranberry sauce
• Cupcake liners
• Small tote bag
• Utensils/napkins

Another option for making Thanksgiving leftover kits:

Make turkey sandwich leftover kits. Make them for a family or individuals. Include turkey, crisp lettuce, container(s) of cranberry sauce, mayo, rolls, and small bags of chips. You’ll want to add a few knives and napkins in case it’s consumed on the long train ride home. 

If people travel a great distance, consider getting small freezer packs to put on top of the containers to keep things fresh.

It’s so easy to make these, but planning is key! I always have them ready to go. When we are cleaning up, we start with the leftover kits.

3. When do you decorate for the holidays?

We typically decorate the day after Thanksgiving, but I noticed many people already have their trees up, and not just bloggers. It’s the cozy season. I was thrilled to be mentioned in The Spruce with our paper bag snowflakes in this article on Scandi Christmas Decor Ideas. Thank you, Kristin!

4. Serena & Lily is having a big sale on everything!

From cozy quilts and pajamas to the prettiest hostess gifts and a pine cone wreath!

Many of the items are over 50% off! I love the pine cone wreath, but at almost $400, that seems like too much; at $198, it might be easier than trying to make it.

Serena & Lily has the most luxurious throws, like the Milo Alpaca Throw. It’s normally $328, now $198.

The Cayman vases come in several sizes. I have this small one and use it for garden flowers. It’s the perfect size for a small bunch or bouquet. So many vases require two bunches.

I love both their flannel and linen pajamas.

Pretty hostess gifts, like this covered box and this Tidlen Bowl, has a beautiful shape.

Their New Zealand sheepskins are usually $248, now $178.

The Delwood velvet quilt and shams are 55% off, and they come in four gorgeous colors.

5. Vintage French Blue Chore Coats

We had such an amazing response for the chore coats we recently brought back from France that we almost sold out before returning. We really can’t thank you enough for your support and for sending all the photos of you wearing your new chore coat.

If you missed out and didn’t get one, don’t worry. We are heading back to France for a quick buying trip and plan on finding more chore coats. So, if you’d like us to find and reserve one for you, email me at [email protected] with your size (S, M, L, XL), and I’ll send out all the info. We can only bring back a limited number, so we’ll prioritize based on the order in which you respond.

Let’s check out what Mary Ann and Cindy found this week!

Classic Casual Home

Cindy Hattersley Design