I love the colors and fragrances of autumn and a great place to experience them is at a pumpkin patch! This year we headed out to Spooner Farms to take it all in!
We weren't alone as lots of people took advantage of a sunny Sunday afternoon in early October to select their pumpkins.
Maybe even venture into the corn maze or get a bite to eat.
Squash and gourds were the stars of the show.
Indian corn still fascinates me. There's something magic about the variety of colors and patterns!
It seems like every year there are more colors and shapes of pumpkins and gourds.
The individual differences, even in the same variety of gourds is thrilling. I could spend all day looking at these!
Ornamental and delicious delicata squash.
Alien space ships?
This variety screams Halloween!
Giant snakes?
Love them warts and all!
Can you believe that there are only 8 more days until Halloween and the end of October? Where is the time going?
Birdhouse gourds.
So many exotic animals on display.
Popular with quite a few visitors was the pumpkin sling shot. Notice the targets on top of the old R.V. behind the field of dreams.
People were trying very hard to hit those targets. I wonder if there were prizes for the winners?
No matter how many pumpkins left, there seemed to be an endless supply to take their places.
Wow, that is pumpkin heaven!! I´m impressed!
ReplyDeleteThere were sure a lot of them!
Deletewho knew there were so many gourds among us? Cool pics!
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed by the variety and how many of the squash are edible!
DeleteI'm starting to wish that I had gone to Spooner last weekend, when we had that nice sunny day. Nigel and I noticed while driving down 410, that there was a long backup at the exit for Spooner. I bet it was packed. Nigel would have enjoyed that pumpkin slingshot. All those yummy Delicata, my favorite winter squash! I wonder if you know the name of that squash with the green and cream stripes? One of the Delicata plants that I bought in the spring gave me those instead. I did have one that was really Delicata, but it didn't give me anywhere near enough.
ReplyDeleteI forgot the name of that one and didn't photograph the names the way I've done in years past. I think the trick to going to an un-crowded pumpkin patch is to do it toward the beginning of October before people are thinking so much about Halloween. Strange about your squash seeds!
DeleteThat looks so fun Peter, and I never knew until now that there were that many varieties of gourd!
ReplyDeleteIt was a good time. Isn't the variety of gourds/squash amazing?
DeleteFantastic! I miss those times when my boys were little and we used to visit such places!
ReplyDeletePerhaps someday in the future your boys will have grandchildren for you to take to such places!
DeleteThose cages were a little on the small side don't you think? Poor animals. I think I'll be sending a link to this post to the PETA folks.
ReplyDeleteThe cages were small! Such exotic beasts (I think they were all made in China) deserve better. You'll need to call the PETP folks! (People for the Ethical Treatment of Plastic)
DeleteTwo sling shots for a dollar? Not easy to pass up such a deal.
ReplyDeleteSo many pumpkins, so many choices. What did you end up getting? Do you carve or decorate? Both most likely.
It was so busy and the line to check out so long that we just enjoyed looking and experiencing the afternoon. I'd already purchased some warty pumpkins and gourds at Sterino's earlier in the month.
DeleteAs I was driving into town for the HPSO event, cars were backed up a couple of miles to get onto Sauvie Island and the pumpkin patches. Not the day for a trip to Cistus. Now, of course, we want to see how you employed all the bounty around your house. I love seasonal decorations that can then be eaten.
ReplyDeleteCrazy cool! Just when I think I've seen every possible color/combination/shape/size, I see a whole 'nother bunch! What an incredible time of year!
ReplyDeleteIt is an incredible time of year full of so many harvest surprises!
DeleteI would really like to have a pumpkin slingshot. The Indian corn and all the hardshell squash are quite beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI bet you could rig up a pumpkin slingshot in your garden somewhere. It would certainly scare away the rabbits who like to eat your plants!
DeleteThe colors are gorgeous and the whole place looks like fun. The plastic circus zoo is an odd but festive addition to the mix.
ReplyDeleteAnother pumpkin patch that we also usually visit is a farm and they have various livestock on display which is great fun. The circus zoo is, I agree, a bit odd but fun.
DeleteI'm getting hungry looking at all the fine squash, I actually like to cook them!
ReplyDeleteNever met a squash that I didn't like! They're beautiful and delicious. My current favorite is delicata but they're all yummy. I feel a batch of butternut squash soup being made at our house in the near future!
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