Drizzles, Zests and Sprinkles

• Simple watermelon garnishes add small amounts of flavor in understated ways that let the watermelon be the focus. Choose liquids with flavors that complement watermelon's and drizzle them back and forth over watermelon slices. Ideas include balsamic vinegar, honey, lemon or lime juice and zest and brown sugar. Foods to sprinkle over watermelon include toasted coconut or toasted pistachios. And for a trendy and fun garnish, turn any liquid into icy granita to sprinkle over the watermelon like snow.

Flowers and Leaves

• Edible flowers and fresh herbs provide visual contrasts with red watermelon, a sense of playfulness and interesting flavors. Strew flowers and herbs over the top of watermelon or place them around the rim of a bowl or serving plate. Either chop or chiffonade herbs such as basil, cilantro, chives or mint, or keep the leaves whole. Edible flowers include nasturtiums, chive blossoms, pansies, roses and rose petals. For fruit flowers, place grapes centered on pineapple circles or orange segments on wooden skewers or toothpicks.

Ingredients as Garnishes

• Feta and goat cheese crumbles or chunks give watermelon tang and provide contrast both visually and texturally with watermelon. Add some blueberries on the Fourth of July for a patriotic touch. Or choose a variety of berries, such as blackberries, blueberries and raspberries. Place a few berries or cheese chunks on top of watermelon slices or create geometric patterns at the edges of a bowl. The taste of tomatoes also complement watermelon and give an artistic study in reds as a garnish.

Visual Garnishes

• Any type of fun and festive non-edible garnish that you would use for ice cream or cakes also work for watermelon. Use small flags and foil sparklers on toothpicks or skewers for a Fourth of July celebration, cocktail umbrellas and paper flowers on skewers for a tropical pool party or small clear plastic animals form the party store for a child's birthday party. If you create a watermelon boat to hold watermelon chunks, adorn the boat with toy sails, a boat wheel and oars.