With the crisp mornings, snow in the mountains, and spectacular seasonal colors, there’s no question that the glorious fall season has arrived in Montana.
To help you ease into the Autumn season, our family at Hollinger Real Estate is sharing some of their top ideas on what to do during the fall months in Montana. Want to know how to pick out the perfect pumpkin, and where the best spots are for leaf peeping this fall? Need a new canning recipe or creative ideas for a DIY Halloween costume? Read on!
How To Pick Out A Perfect Pumpkin
Unlike other states, you don’t have to drive far to find a pumpkin patch when you live in Montana. From your backyard or the farm or ranch nearby, endless opportunities exist to pile the kids in the car to go pumpkin hunting.
So, where do you start? It depends on the purpose. If you have plans to host a pumpkin carving party, focus on the large, uniform shapes; they are best for carving creative creatures. And here’s an excellent tip to keep your artistry looking healthy well into the fall season: wipe the fruit off with bleach and water.
Here’s the general rule for the perfect pumpkin pie: the smaller and heavier, the better. While picking out pumpkins, be sure to get a few squashes to make one of the richest and most delicious recipes for Squash Soup from HowSweetEats.com.
Speaking of yummy and fun ideas, why not throw a party? It’s a perfect time to get the neighbors together before the snow flies. No need to spend time doing it yourself. Make it a potluck on the porch for a perfect way to celebrate the season.
Delicious Fall Canning Recipes
Here are a few more ideas to savor and save the flavors of Mother Nature for those holiday feasts to come. From plums to peaches and everything in between, preserving those seasonal favorites is a classic way to spend a fall day. Some of the best recipes can be found at BallMasonJars.com. Some of our favorites that are a little out of the ordinary yet ideal for fall feasts include:
And this ‘must-make’ seasonal favorite: Apple Butter
Best Ideas for a DIY Halloween Costume
In addition to all the costume shops throughout Montana, there are some super easy ideas to take the stress out of this holiday. We like to wander through local thrift shops to ‘repurpose’ their goods into something great. For inspiration, we searched the web and found that WomensDay.com had one of the most comprehensive lists to get your creative juices flowing. It has plenty of ideas for DIY kids’ costumes, couples’ costume ideas, scary Halloween costumes, punny costumes, and more.
Go Leaf Peeping in Montana!
Fall is the perfect time to take a road trip to see the changing of the colors. From Glacier National Park to Yellowstone and throughout Big Sky Country, you will find fairy-tale landscapes throughout the Treasure State. Don’t wait for another sunny day to sightsee; as soon as the rain and snow start to fly, those jaw-dropping views of the fall foliage will quickly disappear.
Here’s a good list posted by TravelMontanaNow for where to go to see the grandeur of the fall season.
Speaking of which, did you know that those vivid leaf colors are actually hidden from us throughout the summer months? As the sunlight decreases and the colder temps arrive, chlorophyll production in the leaves begins to slow down and reveal the true brilliant reds, golds, and classic deep orange colors of fall.
To end our Blog, here’s an appropriate rhyme created by Charles G. Eastman. He was the first Native American to be certified in Western Medicine and one of the most prolific authors and speakers on Sioux ethnohistory and American Indian affairs in the early 20th century.
The mellow moon, the changing leaves,
The earlier setting sun,
Proclaim at last, my merry boys,
The harvest time begun. –Charles G. Eastman (1816–1860)
If living the life above seems like an ideal life to live, our family at Hollinger Real Estate represents property for sale on a Montana lake, off the grid, on a fairway or on a ranch. Take a look at our Top Picks and contact us for a personal tour.
