A grand harvest entrance

Pumpkins and gourds: A user's manual
All pumpkins and gourds need are soil, water, sunshine and room to spread out. Look for these weirdly wonderful varieties: Speckled Swan, green with white flecks and a long, curved neck; Warted Hybrids, textured yellow, white and green gourds; or Goblin Eggs, a mix of green-striped, white and orange miniatures.

The trick to decorating with pumpkins is to have lots of different shapes and sizes. Fit the bill with Jack Be Little and Baby Boo; Spooktacular is a great variety for carving. Lumina is a bright white variety, and Seneca Longface lives up to its name.

Visit your favourite nursery after the gardening season has ended, since many carry a wide assortment of seasonal items, including plenty of potted plants.

Local farms are another great place to acquire your fall finery. You'll find plenty of pumpkins and gourds in all shapes, colours and sizes, as well as straw bales and corn stalks. Many also offer hayrides, straw mazes and petting zoos, so why not make it an outing for the whole family?

Potted mums (shown above) add quick and cheap blocks of colour to your fall decor, particularly when shown off in worn wood baskets. The plants maintain their good looks for up to six weeks if deadheaded, and can last up until the frost if watered regularly.

Read more in Decorating and Seasonal Decorating