Tag Archives: halloween

Garden Ghosts, Goblins And Gore Part 2

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So this week we shall consider the fun of a Halloween garden for non-gardeners. It’s easier than one for gardeners who they are not phased so easily by the routine/normal stuff. Working with Nature has made them knowledgeable – as we know, knowledge is power.

Which then naturally means that we’re preying on the unsuspecting/innocent/naive. To scare them with the ordinary.

Note: Non-gardeners is a term I use playfully. Everyone loves a good garden but unless you are very familiar with horticulture and/or gardening, there is much that is not apparent.

To start with, there is the physical or visual – consider plants brandishing thorns and spikes on limbs (and even on some leaves) that threaten and intimidate. Roses, Pyracantha, Hawthorn, Bougainvilla, Firethorn, Barberry, Holly, gooseberry, etc.,

How about low growing, innocuous looking greenery whose serrated edged leaves casually lacerate exposed legs as they walk by – only to discover the culprit is the common hellebore.

They all shout Beware!

Some seedheads and pods can look pretty creepy too. Snapdragons look like skulls and Canna can give the appearance of eyes spying on you. Devil’s Claw seedpods have a certain air of menace about them. Those with tryophobia, the fear from viewing objects with clusters of holes can break into sweats, get chills or panic attacks can be triggered by looking at something as common as a lotus seedpod.

Sound effects from rattling seedpods can be rather effective in creating alarm. Or even the rustling of dry leaves. The imagination can do quite a number!

Then, there are the creatures one typically desires in the garden, Spiders, bats, garden snakes, bees, wasps are all valued by gardeners but give many the heebie-jeebies. Walking into a spider web or having a bat stealthily swoop by or coming upon a garter snake coiled on your path can make you jump out of your skin.

How about the smell of skunk cabbage, carrion flower, Starfish Cactus or worse but uncommon, that of the Corpse Flower can be very foul. They’ll make anyone want to leave in a hurry!

Even the familiar can take on a frightening role. Imagine a murderer’s garden full of plants known to be well-known sources of poisons and toxins. Monkshood/aconite, Digitalis/foxgloves, Datura, Convallaria/Lily of the Valley, daisy, daffodil, Lonicera/honeysuckle, the list is extensive. And yet, they bring so much color and beauty to a garden, look entirely harmless and are wildly popular. Most non-gardeners are unaware of the more sinister nature of these garden staples. It has been my experience that once the toxic properties are brought to their attention, they literally take a few steps back from the plants. Amusingly, some give quite a wide berth as though the poison is being dispersed out into the air.

It’s remarkable how our own imaginations can either trick or treat us!

There you have it. A typical garden can become quite the scariest place to be! Beat that Haunted House.

Here some images to haunt you –

Seedpods are my watercolors.

Snapdragon skulls
Lotus ‘holes’ to creep you out
Canna has its eyes on you!
Lying in wait
Watch out!
Beware the Brugamansia
Pretty and poisonous
Can strike a blow to the heart
Tantalizing and thorny
Come into my parlou…
Dread the daffodil
Ouch!

(c) 2025 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Garden Ghosts, Goblins And Gore

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Halloween decorations abound in my neighborhood. In some cases, they’ve been up since mid-September. I’ll come right out and say it, most are neither scary nor attractive. For such a highly anticipated holiday it would be so nice to see some serious creativity on display. But, each to his/her own and I will just mind my own business.

For a long time I’ve considered the fun of setting up a garden of Nature’s horrors to spook visitors. I really think there’s nothing we can come up with that could compete with what the natural world can offer. If I had the wherewithal, I’d create a Halloween Garden. Actually, I’d make two. One for non-gardeners and another for gardeners.

This week, I’ll share my ideas for the Gardener’s Garden of Horror. The correct time to visit would be in the hour before sunset. When the light can be quite dramatic but the details are not sharp. It sets the requisite mood of mystery.

On approaching such a garden, all looks lovely. Splashes of seasonal color herald the visitor. On closer inspection, the garlands of bright orange draping the fence are bittersweet running amok. Miniature balls in shades of pink, mauve and blue abundantly adorn all manner of plants – porcelain berry! And poison ivy resplendent in deep reds and bright ocher is running riot.

A path cuts through a meadow of nothing but stilt grass. Monsters lurking around prove to be shrubs completely covered in English ivy. Huge swathes of gooseneck loosestrife wave gracefully in the breeze.

And what are those lovely iridescent ‘stones’ on the roses? Japanese beetles shimmering away that’s what. Tree trunks covered in both adults and nymphs of the spotted lantern fly look gory.

Walking by what you know to be the vegetable plot, you see a slew of slugs having an extended supper. Every plant has been decimated or defiled.

And so it goes. Invasive plants, dreaded pests! Which gardener will not be petrified by this garden? Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Next week – the Non-gardeners Halloween Garden.

Note: Since I don’t want to traumatize you gardeners any further, I’ll spare you any scary images! Instead, here are images of a Patrick Blanc vertical garden I had the joy of seeing in Aix-en- Provence, France a couple of weeks ago. What a treat. What a diversity of plants! On the side of a bridge under which cars whiz by, I’m not sure how many drivers realize just how amazing this installation truly is. Nevertheless, their world is rendered significantly more healthy and beautiful. This should become a global movement I say!

(c) 2025 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Timely Tasks

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It’s been a hectic pace in the garden. I spent the weekend entirely attending to seasonal demands. The tiny greenhouse is now packed to to the gills with the tender members of the garden. Taking advantage of the extended warm weather, I took my time to carefully trim and clean all the plants (and pots) before moving them into this prime space.

With some of the clippings, I started root cuttings. A nice variety of various geraniums both fancy leaved and scented, bay, rosemary, boxwood, myrtle, plumbago (an experiment) and Dichondra. Little bundles of bouquet garni were made with more clippings of bay, rosemary and thyme – they will be used through the winter to flavor hearty stews, soups and sauces. I made several batches of nasturtium pesto to freeze and some bottles of rose-geranium lemonade.

All the snakeroot was pulled out – this native is simply too aggressive. It had spread itself all over and was choking any plant that got in its way. A true thug. With the removal, I could feel the garden give a sigh of relief.

In comparison, the ornamental raspberry seemed almost shy. Almost. That got ruthlessly edited but not eliminated. A small bit was left in the meadow and will be monitored closely so as not to let it get unruly again. In the newly opened up space, I’ll add asters and other well-behaved natives.

A weed patrol was also conducted. They too take advantage of unseasonable warmth but I’m determined to prevent any of them setting seed. I know weeds are wily things yet hope springs eternal.

As other pots are relieved of their annual contents, they are washed, dried and stored away. It’s a lot of effort but so important for plant hygiene. Come spring, I’m always thankful for the work I did in the fall. With pots clean and ready, it is so pleasurable to get them planted whilst waiting for the plants in the ground to catch up.

All the discarded potting soil,clippings and fallen leaves mean the compost pile in the woods is well fed in autumn. Each spring, it is such pleasure to get rich compost from there. If you haven’t got a composter set up, this is a good time to begin.

Finally, for fun, a pumpkin witch and her cat took up residence in the front garden. Just in time for Halloween. Already they’ve become quite popular and the subject of many photographers as they pass by. Halloween was such a sorry affair last year that I wanted to do my part in making this year much better.

Made up of pumpkins/gourds and other garden materials, they will retire in total to the compost heap after the holiday. Win-win for all.

Full disclosure – I’m also hoping to set an example by demonstrating that using natural, compostable materials is environmentally responsible and can still be fun and creative.

Note : One week to go before my PHS talk! Don’t forget to sign up!

Natural born witch and cat by day.

By night

Clipping, cleaning and washing in progress

Awaiting propagation

A load of leaves headed to the compost

Bouquet garni ready for use

Rose-geranium lemon cordial and nasturtium pesto

(c) 2021 Shobha Vanchiswar

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