Three fall centrepieces for the harvest table

Company's coming, and you need a centrepiece for your dining table. If you want to move away from the usual mini-pumpkins and Indian corn, consider these elegant alternatives. All of them can be replicated with minimal fuss, and some of the elements can likely be found by foraging in your garden. The trick is to achieve a pleasing balance of colour and texture, so don't be afraid to experiment or make substitutions. Have fun!

Figments of your imagination
In a shallow, dark container, fresh purple figs are surrounded by exotic persimmons, then bordered and draped with small branches of bittersweet. Can't find figs or persimmons? Try combining purple plums and mandarin oranges instead.