Derek D’Andrea has really outdone himself with this year’s Halloween experience at Arch in Bloom.
While Halloween 2021 was particularly creepy, 2022 offers superlative displays of pumpkins, gourds, and perennials among an array of skeletons, dragons, witches and aliens.
Not for the feint of heart, the display windows feature creepy animatronics including a pair of lost souls gorging on severed limbs next to a skeleton floating over a Ouija board.
Perennials include cockscomb, which not everyone knows is a perennial flower, and happens to look like brains.
There are Chrysanthemums in a variety of colors and ornamental peppers to brighten cold fall days.
Pumpkin varieties include Peanut Pumpkins and “One too many’s,” which are striped and have great decorative potential.
D’Andrea said the Marina Di Chioggia pumpkins are long lasting and tasty despite their appearance.
“You can display them out on the porch for weeks and still bring them inside and cook them. Their shelf life is 3 to 6 months,” D’Andrea explained. “Use a little rosemary, sea salt and olive oil, and put it in the oven at 325° for about an hour.”
D’Andrea said Arch in Bloom has been busy this fall with installations at residential and commercial locations throughout town. Last Thursday alone his crew arranged 65 containers, including containers at Lyon Brasserie at The Mill and Polpo.
Pumpkins & Pints: Saturday, Oct 15 from 12:00 noon to 6:00pm
Arch in Blooms annual Pumpkins & Pints event is set for October 15 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm.
It will feature live music from blues-rock band, Massive Diva.
There will be Kielbasas and beers to sample, including local beers and pumpkin beers.
New this year there will be kids pumpkin painting, and children of all ages are encouraged to come in costume.
Of course there will be myriad varieties of gourds and pumpkins to purchase, as well as Halloween merch and perennials. See you there!
