FILIPINOS HAVE EMBRACED THE modern American tradition of using pumpkins to set the mood for Halloween. Every year, along with skulls, spooky masks and witches, the pumpkin takes center stage in the late October occasion.

While decorations are available in many makeshift forms like plastic and paper, the option for using the real thing is also made possible by Puentespina Orchids and Tropical Plants (www.orchid.ph; tel. 924-2730/ 929-9310).

The company’s farm in Davao grows miniature pumpkins from seeds imported from the United States. The ornamental gourd is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family which produces hard-shelled, durable fruits for purely aesthetic purposes and not for consumption. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and may be combined with other elements such as flowers. Whether in homes or in commercial establishments, these amazing little orange balls can spruce up any table and brighten up any corner for up to three months.

Get into the spirit of the season and create conversation Halloween pieces with mini-pumpkins available at Kidz Station in Power Plant Mall, South Supermarket Alabang, Landmark Makati and Trinoma, and Puentespina Orchids Sales outlets in Pasay Road, Dangwa, and Manila Seedling Bank.