A gorgeous backdrop for picnics and harvest parties are all the wonderful pumpkins my mother grows for me. There is something special about watching them grow day by day.

Before moving to our current home six years ago I used to grow pumpkins, the big round orange varieties with quintessential pumpkin shapes. I would delight in my evening watering rituals and I swear they grew in front of my eyes. When they became big enough I would place them out on the steps of my front porch and throw a harvest party - after all, I really did have a harvest to celebrate! I would decorate the table with pumpkins and dried corn and nuts that I had collected on my Sunday walks.

Place them on your kitchen bench to add an everyday autumnal touch. For something different, you can scoop out the inside of a pumpkin, put a jar inside and fill it with a display of Autumn flowers such as sunflowers, chrysanthemums and berries. Horse chestnuts also look beautiful displayed with the pumpkins.

Another idea is to place uncut pumpkins down the centre of your table to add a simple and rustic touch for a festive occasion. See how this was done for our family harvest dinner.