Tips for Decorating Your Thanksgiving Gourd Basket

Decorating your home for Thanksgiving doesn't have to cost a fortune. Without breaking your budget, a simple combination of shapely gourds, fall foliage, nuts, and flowers will add beauty, color and warmth to your home for Thanksgiving. Following is a few decorating tips for creating gourd-geous Thanksgiving arrangements.

A Gourd-geous Looking Glass

Bring natural fall beauty indoors by arranging small ornamental size gourds in a clear vase. The miniature size gourds are often sold in local grocery stores and pumpkin patches. Add silk flowers or fall branches for height and warmth.

Potted Pumpkins

Carve an opening in the top of a smooth gourd and slip in potted mums or other plants. Potted flowers in 5- or 6-inch containers work best.

Candle Holders

Thanksgiving dinner guest will feel welcome with a personal fragrant gourd. For a warm glow at each place setting, tuck a votive in the top of an ornamental gourd.

Gourd Vase

Create a colorful vase with a gourd. Make sure it is level and will stand on its own. Slice off the stem and use slender knife to widen the opening of the gourd. Add bright flowers and water.

Hanging Gourd Basket

A swan gourd has and extended curvy neck and they make excellent hanging baskets. Cut a 2-inch hole near the neck of the gourd, remove some of the pith and insert flowers and or other fall foliage.

Thanksgiving Gourd Arrangement

Start with a huge gourd at the center and arrange an array of smaller ornamental gourds around it. Scattered fall leaves and nuts will help bring the beauty of fall right to your tabletop.

Gourd Centerpiece

Assemble as close to the day it will be used as possible. If you can't find the items in your yard, go to your local market to purchase flowers, branches fruits and berries. Cut floral foam into the shape you want and soak in water. Insert the foam in the gourd and arrange leaves and branches in the middle of the centerpiece by sticking branches and stems into the foam. Cover the shape until no foam is visible, and allow the greenery to flow over the sides.