Have you ever heard of a Pumpkin Tree? or Pumpkin on a stick? If not you have been missing out. Pumpkin Tree has a very appropriate name, it really looks just like a tree branch with tiny pumpkins on it. This really cool looking decoration is becoming more popular in fall flower arrangements. It is always an attention getter and the best part, it lasts a very long time.


Common Name: Pumpkin Tree, Pumpkin on a Stick,  Pumpkin Bush
Botanical Name: Solanum Integrifolium

Pumpkin trees grow best in mild desert climates. The plant grows three to five feet tall. It produces ribbed fruit, about the size of a miniature pumpkin. As the fruit grows, it is a deep green color. The fruit ripens to a deep, reddish orange. When the fruit is dried, it's color lightens, appearing more orange in color.  

Interesting Fact: Pumpkin Tree is a member of the solanum family, which also includes the likes of potatoes and eggplants. As you might infer, this means the little pumpkin shaped fruits are quite different inside than their namesake. Inside it resembles a pepper, with loose seeds and a mild peppery taste. However, westerners tend not to like the flavor and prefer to use it ornamentaly. In Asian cooking, the tiny “pumpkin” peppers are more popular.

A couple of weeks back I found myself making a special trip to the wholesaler to pick up some extra flowers. This was a rare occasion for me. Normally my flowers are delivered and honestly, I had never been to the warehouse before. Upon my arrival I was greeted by the super friendly and helpful staff. When I mentioned I had never been there before I was given a full tour of their facility. Truthfully, it was the highlight of my day. And when I say they showed me everything, we went from the loading docks to the extras cooler, a complete tour of the cold chain.

The cold chain can be defined as the temperature controlled supply chain. This particular wholesaler has their own refrigerated semis. This means when the flowers are picked up from their origin they are immediately packed into the temperature controlled trucks. From there they are transported to the wholesale warehouse. Upon their arrival they are unpacked into a super huge cooler, imagine a refrigerator as big as most houses. In this cooler, the flowers are sorted and prepped for the next leg of their journey. From this super cooler the flowers are loaded onto smaller refrigerated trucks and delivered to the customers, like us at Blooming Envy or the leftover flowers are moved into the extras cooler. When the flowers arrive here at Blooming Envy they are immediately conditioned and once again placed into cold storage. An unbroken cold chain is vital to the health and longevity of the flowers.

Get your flowers from Blooming Envy and know your receiving a high quality product because it has followed the cold chain.

A sad as it may be to admit, summer will soon be just a memory. But before you get too down, remember that this is a great time of year for a wedding. The change from late summer to early fall brings along a stunning color palate. Orange is still on top for the season but if your looking for a change try paring it up with deep burgundy or purples. Check out my inspiration and let me know what you think.

This week I share with you a special treat from Heartfelt Ministries called Not Your Mom's Wedding Blog. I have personally work with Heartfelt Ministries over that last few years. They are wonderful professionals and a real pleasure to work with. Their blog is full of valuable information and unique ideas for planning a wedding. You can also visit them on Facebook, when you do tell Kelly and Zita "Hi"  and that Blooming Envy sent you.