Create a Harvest-Inspired Thanksgiving Centerpiece

For centuries, fall has been the time to celebrate a bountiful harvest. Put that bounty on display using colorful fruits, veggies, gourds and nuts to create a lavish centerpiece that spills across your Thanksgiving table.

Stack two cake plates or low, footed dishes to create height at the center of the table. Top with bunches of grapes, assorted nuts in shell, apples, pears and artichokes. Tip: If you don't have a cake plate, center a large plate on top of an upside-down bowl using double-sided tape, if necessary, to ensure stability. 

Carry the abundant theme to each place setting with edible garnishes. An artichoke makes a great place-card holder while a small fruit-filled side dish offers a healthy appetizer or light dessert. Tip: Keep a nutcracker and bowl for shells on the table so guests can sample the variety of nuts scattered about. 

Think outside the fruit bowl and tuck some edible goodness into flower arrangements as well. Black grapes look striking against hydrangeas and eucalyptus leaves while pinecones and mini artichokes still look "floral,, but add a bit of rustic texture. Play around with combinations to see what looks best. Tip: The grapes were simply nestled into this flower arrangement, but heavier fruit, like pears or apples, will need to be wired onto a wood skewer.