Outdoor decorating for “fake fall”

It won’t cool off until November BUT it’s finally September so let’s pump the AC and pretend it’s fall! Who’s with me?

Last year my fall porch was a sad display of dead mums and rotted pumpkins due to the heat.

Any tips for keeping mums alive in this climate? Do any other “fall” plants do well here? Or recommendations on good fakes?

Should I just buy fake pumpkins?