Sashay Magazine / Fall 2011 / The Crown of Autumn

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The Crown of Autumn

Autumn abounds with the most daring, deepest of jewel tones—leaves of ruby, harvests of flaming orange pumpkins and topaz gourds, speckled with spots of dark emerald and onyx. The Indian corn is especially regal, a golden framework studded with gems in hues of indigo, burgundy, mulberry and maroon. They are the crowns of autumn and add an antiquated touch of sophistication to your seasonal décor.

The phenomenon of colorful Indian corn isn’t the result of modern genetic modification; rather, it has been handed down to us from Native Americans who shared the crop after centuries of perfecting the harvesting technique. The Indian corn commonly available in grocery stores is one of several hybrid varieties born of cross pollination of single-shaded plants. It is naturally hard and bland to the taste, but can be ground for use in recipes. Indian corn’s signature use, however, is not in the kitchen but in decorating. Below are some tips for inspiring an autumn glow in your home:

1. Using a variety of Indian corn, the Native Americans created medicine wheels to represent the stages of life. Make your own by selecting a plain twig wreath from your local craft store. Use craft wire and glue to affix Indian corn cobs into the wreath like spokes in a bike wheel. Arrange the husks in a manner to give depth and motion to the wreath. Fill in the gaps with real or fabric fall leaves, strings of berry and other ornamentation that suits your fall fancy.
 

2. Basket arrangements: Adorn your hearth with a basket of autumn glory. Line the bottom with a few layers of faux moss. From your backyard, local park or wooded area, gather sticks, short branches with dangling leaves, acorns, pine cones, berries and mums to arrange around a centerpiece of a bundle of Indian corn.
 

3. Bird feeder: Cut a small hole in the side of a cylindrical oatmeal container. With hot glue, attach ears of Indian corn (vertically) around the outside, not covering the hole. Add birdseed inside, attach a string through a hole in the lid and hang outside.