Strawberries may signal the arrival of spring, and, in summer, tomatoes and corn may take center stage, but come fall, the stars of the vegetable garden are pumpkins and gourds. When other vegetables are past their peak, these are just hitting their prime.

Pumpkins are particularly versatile: You can grow them for decoration, turn them into pies, and roast their seeds for snacks. Plus, they’re just fun to watch grow. Their vines spread out over the garden, their flowers are colorful, and their fruits add punches of orange and white that are the perfect accents for an autumn garden.

Gourds may not have quite the star power of pumpkins, but they’re equally fun to grow. While generally not used for food, they’re great for decorations, crafts projects, and even for growing your own sponges. Gourds shouldn’t be harvested until they are fully ripe, which is late in the fall, so they add interest to the garden when other plants are fading.