Color Commentary: The “Pumpkin Spice” Sweet Piedmont Signature Floral Color Palette

It all goes back to the first time I ever cooked a Thanksgiving meal entirely by myself. I was in what I call my Early Martha Stewart Era—a time when my enthusiasm far outpaced my common sense, and I genuinely believed that no Thanksgiving meal was complete without a handcrafted cornucopia centerpiece, stenciled place cards, and napkin rings created from sheafs of wheat. I was deep into the rabbit hole of Martha’s meticulously curated world. 

That desire led me, that Thanksgiving, to attempt to recreate her everything-from-scratch approach, which, in hindsight, was perhaps a bit like trying to run a 10K simply because you’ve just bought a pair of sneakers—ambitious, overly optimistic, and destined to end in exhaustion. 

I fell under the Martha spell when I stumbled upon her book, Martha Stewart Gardening: Month by Month, at my local library. This was before she had become a global phenomenon, and I felt like I’d discovered a secret new world. I checked that book out so many times that my parents eventually bought me my own copy—an act of community service aimed at letting someone else finally get a turn at the book. Inspired by Martha’s meticulously planned, raised-bed gardens, I did my best to recreate something similar in my own suburban backyard. My version was far from her sprawling gardens at Turkey Hill, but it still felt like a small triumph—especially when I started harvesting the vegetables, pumpkins included. 

Those pumpkins taught me a lot about color. Of course, I had grown the classic, bright orange pumpkins that everyone carves for jack-o-lanterns. But I also grew other types—pumpkins that came in an array of colors, from muted, creamy whites to deep, dusky greens and even soft, coral pinks. But it wasn't until I roasted the culinary pumpkins, scooped out their flesh, and cooked them further that I truly appreciated all of a pumpkin’s hues.  

Watching the edges of the bright orange squash caramelize in the oven—some turning a deep, burnt ochre while others softened into golden amber with hints of honeyed brown and even glimmers of copper—was like watching a sunset unfold in my kitchen. And when I blended the roasted pumpkins and cooked them into a pie, the colors transformed again, shifting to a deep caramel hue—much like the Earth itself settles into the quiet of late autumn. The Pumpkin Spike color palette captures all of those changing hues.   

The floral elements of a Pumpkin Spice bouquet look like the range of colors found in pumpkins and other fall squash.

Chromatic Coordinates:  Mapping the Palette to the Color Wheel  

Understanding the placement of colors on the wheel helps us appreciate how different shades can work harmoniously together. The Pumpkin Spice color palette demonstrates the depth of color variation that can be found in a single hue—in this case, orange, as seen in everything from the soft glow of a fall sunrise to the rich, warm tones of autumn leaves. That said, the palette does not represent a true monochrome, which is where all of the colors are simply lighter or darker versions of the same hue.

From pale peach to deep rust shades, this color palette accommodates a wide range of oranges. It includes golden amber, burnt sienna, and everything in between. Though varied, all the hues of the Pumpkin Spice palette fall within the same segment of the color wheel, making it an analogous palette. 

The color wheel on the left shows the Pumpkin Spice color palette – an analogous range of color, where all of the hues fall into the orange wedge of the wheel.  The color wheel on the right, in comparison, shows what a truly monochromatic color palette would look like. 

Palette Perfection: What Makes it Work – and What Wrecks It 

The Pumpkin Spice color palette reflects an exception to a floral color “rule” that I rarely violate—which is to avoid mixing smoky hues of a particular color with clear, bright ones. The reason why this rule (and it’s not truly a rule, just a guiding principle) exists is because when you pair the smoky version of a color with the bright version of that same color, the smoky version typically looks dingy or muted, while the bright version can come across as too intense or even garish. 

Part of the reason that this rule doesn’t apply here is because the whole point of this palette is to create a harmonious contrast—every flower is a shade of orange (which could easily become monotonous), but the diversity of the orange hues (from light to dark, smoky to bright, yellow-orange to red-orange) makes the palette visually captivating. By using different variations of a single color, the arrangement feels dynamic, showcasing contrast without losing cohesion. 

A large arrangement, like this one I made in a large compote dish, can accommodate a wide range of hues, from the dusky copper viburnum foliage to bright orange celosia, and everything in between. 

One has to be careful, however, when making small-sized bouquets. When there are only a handful of blooms in an arrangement, it’s much harder to achieve the nuance that comes from having a range of hues. A single bright orange zinnia, for example, will look out of place in a bouquet that is otherwise made up of ‘Queen Lime Orange’ zinnias, ‘Cornel Bronze’ dahlias, and other muted oranges. With small arrangements, it’s better to stick to hues that are similarly muted or bright.

In terms of what to avoid, it probably goes without saying that adding other hues—even an adjacent one, like pink—alters this palette dramatically. Even white can create too much contrast, potentially overpowering the warmth of the other hues. However, cream works beautifully within this palette—think of it as the whipped cream atop a slice of pumpkin pie or a pumpkin spice latte, adding a soft, inviting highlight without being too stark. 

Copper and gold hues, on the other hand, blend seamlessly with the rest of the Pumpkin Spice palette. These shades evoke the golden brown of a perfectly baked pie crust, adding a sense of richness and warmth that enhances the overall cohesion of the arrangement. 

These images hint at the diversity of colors that the Pumpkin Spice palette encompasses, from creamy neutrals to more deeply saturated golds and, of course, orange. With a small bouquet (as in the left image) care has to be taken so that no one bloom looks out of place—that none are either too “smokey” or too bright.

Mood in Bloom: The Psychology Behind the Color Palette 

The Pumpkin Spice color palette is all about warmth, comfort, and nostalgia. Orange is a color that evokes feelings of energy and enthusiasm, while its softer tints, like peach, bring a sense of calm and friendliness. The deeper, richer shades, such as burnt orange and copper, add a grounding effect, reminiscent of autumn's embrace and the cozy atmosphere that comes with it. This palette works particularly well for events that are meant to feel welcoming and intimate, invoking the sense of togetherness that comes with fall gatherings. 

It’s worth noting here that—unlike almost every other color palette I’ve developed—I don’t have a spring version of this one. Not only would it be harder to achieve, as the sources of muted oranges in spring florals are limited, but this color palette is so evocative of fall that it doesn’t feel quite “right” until later in the growing season.

Camera-Ready Colors: Floral Photography Tips for the “Pumpkin Spice” Color Palette 

Capturing the Pumpkin Spice palette in photographs requires a thoughtful approach to lighting and composition. Since the palette includes both bright and muted shades, using soft, natural light—like that found during the golden hour—can help highlight the depth and richness of the colors without washing them out. As always, avoid harsh midday sunlight, as it can make the bright oranges appear too intense and flatten the subtler hues. 

Finding a location that provides natural light but is out of the direct sun is key to getting good photos of your flowers. I discovered that the North entrance to our barn provides precisely this type of light. We use this location to grab shots of many of our bouquets—including the two Pumpkin Spice bouquets shown here, and the ‘Costa Summer Orange’ snapdragons (middle), a variety that works beautifully with this palette.

Harvesting Happiness: Celebrating What Matters Most

That first Thanksgiving on my own, I made EVERYTHING from scratch. I didn’t just make homemade stuffing—I baked the bread that went into the stuffing. If Martha had said she grew her own wheat and ground her own flour, I probably would have attempted that, too. As you can imagine, this level of commitment led to a Thanksgiving meal that, while certainly made with love, was far more effort than any sane person would willingly repeat.

Thanksgiving is still my favorite holiday. It comes at a time of the year when the farm has finally slowed down, and I’m ready to rest (at least physically). It’s all about spending time with loved ones, and recognizing all that we have to be thankful for. And the fact that it’s centered around one of my favorite meals doesn’t hurt, of course. But these days, I’m all about balance: the kind where I enjoy the stuffing without needing a week to recover from making it. Thanksgiving is now more about the people around the table than a meal that requires three straight days of cooking.

That’s the beauty of the Pumpkin Spice floral palette, too: it’s about finding the warmth and richness in life, but without overcomplicating things. 

You won’t see flowers on my Thanksgiving table—I only want locally-grown blooms, and there aren’t any, at this time of year. But that doesn’t mean the table decor can’t be beautiful. I use fall leaves and berries—or greenery and candles—instead.