Typically as summer winds down and the garden dries up, I rip everything out and live with bare garden beds until the next spring. This year, however, I decided to try my hand at a fall garden with cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, lettuce and herbs. The summer peppers and tomatoes are still hanging on as well. To add an extra touch of pretty, I planted a section of fall colored perennials. My hope is they take root and overwinter well so I can transplant them to a larger cutting garden next spring.

Keeping watch over the garden beds is my cute DIY lady scarecrow.

With the back patio still torn up under construction and the extra dry summer we’ve had which has taken a toll on the grass, I needed some pretty in the back yard.

I envisioned making a scarecrow but I didn’t want it to look too cheesy. Using only items I had on hand, this is what I came up with for zero cost. I think the cute not cheesy factor was achieved. I hope she makes the kiddos smile when they drive by.

We used scrap 1″x2″ boards to make the scarecrow frame. We cut the stake to 6 feet and the cross piece to about 4 feet and screwed them together to make a “T”. Then I dressed her in her cute fall attire. I nailed the hat to the top of the stake to keep it secure in the wind. I tied four bundles of raffia, two for the “hands” and two for her pigtails and secured them to the stake using a staple gun. To add more color, I made a garland from jute rope, material scraps and pinecones from under the pine trees in the yard. Two nails by her “hands” secured the garland.

I originally intended to make a male scarecrow with the traditional overalls but didn’t have a pair on hand and couldn’t find any at Goodwill. Had I used overalls, I would have sewed material scrap patches on the legs and added a jute rope belt. The possibilities are endless. Maybe I’ll make Miss Scarecrow a mate next year.

The butterflies and bugs love the fall colored perennials. It’s like a butterfly garden in my own backyard. Such a happy little spot in the midst of the mess that is currently our backyard. Which is what I preach – take what you have and make it so you can enjoy it even with the imperfections.

These tiny tomatoes are the Candyland variety that I stumbled upon this spring. One plant has produced hundreds and hundreds of bite sized little nuggets. No cutting required. Just throw them in a salad or pop them straight in your mouth and enjoy.

My little fall garden is the start of my fall decorating this year. I’m excited to spend the next two weeks bringing to life the fun fall and Halloween ideas I have in my head. Since I don’t have little kiddos of my own anymore, my goal is to slowly add magical touches over the years for Halloween and Christmas that will bring joy to those driving by both – big and small.

Maybe Miss Scarecrow should have made an appearance earlier in the summer to help keep the deer out of my corn.

Happy fall, y’all!