Creating a Bountiful Autumn Centerpiece

The vibes your autumn decor gives off depends entirely on what you pair them with. While we typically associate pumpkins with Halloween, they are suitable for so much more. Left whole, they can sit at many angles to give everyone at the table a beautiful view. These shapely gourds are a symbol of abundance, and when cut open, they make excellent containers for seasonal florals and fruit.

Ready to make your own?

Choose a pumpkin with a fresh, healthy stem, no bruises, and a flat bottom so it won't roll. Cut off the top and set it off to the side. Scoop out all the seeds and pulp. Place a block of floral foam in water and wait until it is completely saturated. Then insert the foam inside the pumpkin, leaving just a few inches between the top surface of the foam and the rim. Insert flowers, foliage, and fruited branches directly into the foam, working all around the perimeter of your pumpkin. In my design, I chose a mix of proteas, grevillea flowers, spray roses, zinnias, chrysanthemum, calla lilies, beautyberry, hanging amaranths, green kumquats, pomegranate, Australian pine, and eucalyptus.

A Season of Abundance

In a season of abundance, make full use of those richly colored flowers and foliage that flourish in the transition from summer into fall. Protea and Leucadendron come an array of hues, and when paired with other seasonal blooms, they add character to your design. Pictured here, I used a mix of botanicals, including dahlias, zinnias, amaranths, yarrow, Australian pine, fruited branches, and banksia integrifolia with cones - placed in a rustic ceramic container.

Not all crops come in the traditional fall hues of reds, oranges, and yellows. Bring in new colors and textures with fruit, whether tucked amongst the floral centerpiece or displayed off to the side to polish off the vignette. In this design, I used a mix of protea, a banksia, grevillea blooms and Leucadendron, Amaryllis Belladonna, dahlias, hydrangea, eucalyptus, and passion fruit.

When autumn calls for an extra special arrangement, a cornucopia brimming with fresh flowers and fruit will surely do the trick.

So, gather up your favorite fruit, flowers + foliage and create something beautiful!