Continued: Harvest tabletops

GROUP THINK

Mass unusual seed pods for impact, and use them to display nuts or other items.

Another idea: Encircle a glass vase with a discarded round of birch bark and fill the glass with a fistful of cattails.

Resource: "Elf Hat" seedpods, 95 cents each, Stonecrop, 13728 83rd Way N., Maple Grove, 763-416-4035. You can find rosehips at the florist's, but if you got behind on deadheading your roses this fall, you'll have a ready-made supply.

AU NATUREL

A variation on the traditional horn of plenty. We used a naturally shed steer horn and filled it with hypericum berries and the ultimate low-cost material: feathery seed heads from a volunteer gourd growing next to the garage in the alley.

Another idea: Stuff several short, leafless branches into a vase and place one dramatic flower in the center.

Resource: Steer horn, $15. Color, size vary slightly. Luehmann, 5005 Bryant Av. S., Minneapolis, 612-285-8467.

GO LOW

Fill a small garden urn with chartreuse reindeer moss to hold a single pear or pomegranate for a simple centerpiece low enough to be talked over at the dinner table.

Another idea: Go even lower. Scatter pressed autumn leaves down the center of your table and at each place setting for a colorful, inexpensive look.

Resource: Cast-iron urn, $35.95. The Nest, 8 1st Av. S., Buffalo, Minn., 763-682-7773; moss, $25.50 for 11-oz. bag. Twiggs, 4753 Chicago Av. S., Minneapolis, 612-823-8944.

DOUBLE DUTY

We used hobnailed mercury glass votive holders as vases, filling them with chocolate cosmos from the florist's and pom-poms from the grocer's.

Another idea: Mix it up, using containers of different sizes but in the same shape; let a single type of flower unify the look.

Resource: Votives, $6.95 each in varying shades of gold and salmon. Patina, several metro locations; see www.patinastores.com.

REPEAT PATTERN

Seed pods with an opening will hold a colorful sprig of dried rosehips. Line up several down the middle of the table for a minimal, modern centerpiece.

Another idea: Tuck a quail or small pheasant feather inside for a more sculptural presentation.

Resource: "Porcupine" seedpods, 95 cents each, Stonecrop, 13728 83rd Way N., Maple Grove, 763-416-4035.

BIG STATEMENT

A tall vase with stately bittersweet or curly willow makes a dramatic presentation for your mantel or sideboard.

Another idea: A single bunch of curly willow makes a sweeping centerpiece. Or use maple or oak branches from your own trees.

(The leaves don't stay fresh as long, but are ablaze with color for a short while.)

Resource: Your back yard or florist for the bittersweet. Find 4- to 5-foot branches of orange and green curly willow, not pictured, $1.95 each. Laurie's Trunk occasional store, www.lauriestrunk.com. 9066 Lyndale Av. S., Bloomington, 612-558-2886. Next sale dates: Nov. 14-16.

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