Mum's the word for fall-at least when it comes to quick and easy floral decorating.

You'll see these inexpensive beauties sold everywhere at this time of year, from the grocery store to the greenhouse. Small arrangements sell for less than $10, making them an ideal choice to add a blaze of color to your tabletop.

With new varieties that come in pretty colors like bronze, purple and burgundy, there's virtually no limit to possible color schemes.

A hollowed-out pumpkin shell makes the perfect flower pot for holding a centerpiece of pretty mums for Halloween. It will last until Thanksgiving if you use the foam variety.

For added appeal at a fall luncheon, hollow out a small gourd for each place setting. Divide the blooms from a small pot of mums, placing small clusters of blooms inside each small gourd.

No time to hollow out pumpkins and gourds?

Try wrapping the base of your pot of mums in a pretty dinner napkin or tea towel and tie it in place with ribbon or cording. This particular arrangement always works better in multiples-and an odd number is better than an even number. Triple the impact with a trio of mums in the center of your table.

For the best effect, create staggered height by selecting one large, one medium and one small pot of mums. If your pots of mums are all the same height, create your own "staircase" effect simply by sliding stacks of books underneath the pots until you achieve a visually-pleasing scale.

Hide the books under a few clusters of silk ivy, and tuck colorful apples and gourds throughout.

Or, for a different look, try leaving the books exposed and using the "ledges" this creates to display colorful fall leaves and small gardening tools: spades, trowels, etc. A collection of gardening books works particularly well for this look.

This hub was contributed by The Party Fairy, a birthday party and special events service in Richmond, VA.