Autumn is in the air, so it’s time to switch up your seasonal decor as the leaves start to brown and the days get shorter.
At Cifarelli’s Nursery in Southold, owners David and Lisa Cifarelli are settling into their first fall operating the business, which opened in May on Ackerly Pond Lane. “Everyone’s been really receptive,” Lisa said. “We want it to be different — kind of bordering on weird,” she said of their selection.
Wandering through the large, light-filled greenhouse, you can find a large variety of air plants, succulents, cactuses and carnivorous plants and also browse their “collector’s corner,” of rare and mature plants, like variegated monstera.
Inside, you’ll find a mix of home decor, gifts, tools and indoor plants, along with whimsical live moss art by David, from small pots you can screw into a wall to larger wall installations and planters.
The new venture for the couple, who own Crystal Clear in Mattituck, has also been a chance for David to flex his creativity. In addition to his moss creations, the garden center also features custom landscaping pieces made in a welding workshop on-site in a historic barn.
Anything you can think of — firewood racks, trellises, a rock cage garden, outdoor shower, lighting — can be fabricated in the workshop, nearly every piece using reclaimed and found items.
“I found a piece of wood first,” David explained, adding that one of his favorite places to source materials is Lumber + Salt in Jamesport. “I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it.”
From there, it evolved into the focal point for one of his lamps. With an eye for transforming pieces, he’s also created an outdoor patio bar for a client from an old galvanized box and turned a vintage pool table into an indoor display table for orchids.
With cooler weather in the forecast, we can’t be the only ones wanting to update our outdoor spaces for the season. We recently stopped by Cifarelli’s for ideas on welcoming autumn with a mix of fall plants like mums, pumpkins, seasonal decor and more.
Seasonal containers
By now, your summer blooms are probably spent and perhaps your yard could use some color. Refreshing container gardens is a perfect way to embrace the season. We found containers featuring dark grasses and asters as well as annuals like pansies, celosia and ornamental kale.
Mums, a quintessential fall flower, can add a perfect burst of color before a long, gray winter. A rainbow of autumnal hues are available and while they make ideal container plants, the perennials can also be planted in beds and borders to return next fall.
Fire pits
Add an instant cozy touch to your backyard with a fire pit. Nothing says fall like a crackling fire illuminating a cool night while entertaining family and friends. You can choose from a large selection of designs or inquire about a custom-made piece. Cifarelli’s also carries custom-made log racks.
Pumpkins and gourds
‘Tis the season, after all. If you’re not up for a U-pick adventure, the nursery center carries plenty of pumpkins, from the perfectly plump to the weird and warty.
Indoor plants
Their selection of indoor plants, succulents, physalis and air plants can add color to your indoor space year round, though seasonal favorites can add visual interest during spooky season, like witches finger succulents grown at Van Bourgondien in Peconic to exotic orchids grown at Bianchi-Davis in Riverhead and Landcraft Environments in Mattituck.
Cifarelli’s Nursery is located at 3405 Ackerly Pond Lane in Southold and open Mondays, Tuesday and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are closed Wednesdays.
