With the fall holidays come the opportunity to spend lots of time entertaining friends and family at home. It's also a chance to try something a little different -- mixing seasonal vegetables with fall-colored flowers. Not only can you use the produce as props, you can scoop out the contents and turn them into containers.

The use of produce with flowers, especially tropical flowers, showcases the bloom's vibrant colors and provides long-lasting shelf life.

We happen to be near one of California's most famous vegetable gardens, Chino Farms of Rancho Santa Fe, California. They have an unusual selection of pumpkins and vegetables at this time of year, in many sizes and shapes that add spice to the fall colors in the flowers. (If you happen to be in the San Diego County area, Chino's is a delightful stop to see the unusual mix of top quality produce. You might just catch a glimpse of a celebrity vying with the local clientele for Chino's in-demand product. Wolfgang Puck is one of their longtime customes and biggest fans!)

It may be a little heavy for your delivery person, but once these flowers are secured, they don't move. As an added bonus, I even got to eat the watermelon and pumpkin while lining the inside of the produce! Be sure to place a tray or mat underneath the arrangement, to avoid leaks.