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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Friday, October 30, 2015

Visiting Spooner and Scholz Farms Pumpkin Patches

On a sunny weekend earlier this month, we made our annual visit to the pumpkin patches.  Spooner is a larger patch that has all kinds of attractions, a gift shop, numerous food vendors, corn maze, etc. and is a bit like a country fair for the entire month of October.  Sholz is a smaller operation with attractions mainly geared for younger children and more farm animals.  They both have their charms.

This guy doesn't look very scary.

Does this look like a monster to you?  

A reminder of simpler times.  Of course, then there weren't so many fiberglass bovines wandering around.

These fun squash and gourd arrangements dotted the landscape at Spooner Farms.

It's really all about the pumpkins.  I just heard on the radio that American Halloween traditions, adapted from  original  Celtic and Scottish practices (turnips carved into jack-o-lanterns/squash is a new world plant) have now made it back across the pond. Halloween is now the largest retail sales holiday in Great Britain.  There is a push to sell all of the pumpkins by Halloween as there is no Thanksgiving, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, etc. to follow All Hallows Eve.



Looks as if the animals escaped from the circus train and have taken over the lavender garden.





 Speaking of the old days...

New and old seem to mix well at this time of year!

These guys are destined for the pumpkin slingshot.

I didn't know that this was called pumpkin chucking until recently..  

This year's targets are much more attractive than the disintegrating Winnebago that had been used in previous years.  Looks like many of these can be reused.

I can never resist taking pictures of the gourds and squash!

Squash are edible as well as being ornamental. 

Gourds, not so much. 





Still am amused by warty pumpkins, new to me last year. 


concrete boots would be a great door stop!

You know, a bit of concealer and a nice foundation would make a world of difference...

Scholz displays are a  more geared to younger children.


There are lots of cute photo op cutouts.

Someone is having fun!

Look smug now, Tom.  Thanksgiving is coming.

What do you think of this warm fall weather?  It's not baaaad at all!

I would go on but fear making an ass of myself.  Oops too late. 


Where exactly is Cinderella supposed to sit?



Daisy is certainly curvaceous! 

I went around gathering gourds and pumpkins to use on my table as usual but decided to use things already around the house.  The glossy glass pumpkin just in front/right of the candle holder in the center was this years addition from the Glass Eye Studio Sale. 


However you spend your Halloween, I hope it's full of treats and no unpleasant tricks!  Happy All Hallows Eve, Happy All Saints, Happy Dia de los Muertos!


16 comments:

  1. Happy Halloween Peter and Tom!

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  2. I love photographing all those gourds and pumpkins too, and that pig is great! The turkey, of course, is magnificent - a bird like that strutting around would be an asset to any garden! :)

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  3. The pig is the most elaborate round hay bale 'art' I've seen. From my point of view, it's a waste of good hay to paint a bale.

    Why can't they eat pumpkin pie anytime across the pond? It's good all winter. My favorite squash is acorn squash -- the ONLY tasty veggie ever prepared at the hospital where I once worked.

    You have some very attractive glass and ceramic pumpkins. Every year I mean to collect some and never do.

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  4. I've never been to a pumpkin patch, or anywhere that had more than maybe 50 pumpkins on display. I don't know that I'd be able to choose from a cast of thousands!

    I don't even know how a 1600 lb pumpkin can support its own structure. Crazy!

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  5. Hmmm, suddenly I'm craving pumpkin pie...

    (love the glass table centerpiece, very fitting)

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  6. Aren't pumpkin patches great? My last visit a few years ago was with rubber boots trying to avoid mud puddles. This seems like a nice sunny event.
    Fabulous glass collection, Peter. Happy Halloween.

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  7. Never miss an opportunity for a celebration. A big "BOO" to you.

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  8. So the PNW has cornered the market on great pumpkin patches too! For some mysterious reason, in my area of SoCal, most of the pumpkin patches sit in vacant carwashes, surrounded by concrete. I love the elephants gallivanting among the lavender plants at the farm and your table display looks terrific!

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  9. I bought my pumpkin at Safeway, but now I wish I had visited a pumpkin patch. I notice a lack of crowds in your pics. You must have gone early in the month.

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  10. I love the idea of pumpkin chucking! Happy Halloween!

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  11. You have MORE fun!
    (I like those concrete boots....)

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  12. what a fun place, I've never seen anything like it. I particularly love those arrangements of the different shaped and coloured pumpkins. Have a happy, sca-a-a-ry Halloween.

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  13. what a fun place, I've never seen anything like it. I particularly love those arrangements of the different shaped and coloured pumpkins. Have a happy, sca-a-a-ry Halloween.

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  14. what a fun place, I've never seen anything like it. I particularly love those arrangements of the different shaped and coloured pumpkins. Have a happy, sca-a-a-ry Halloween.

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  15. I am always fascinated by the things you find lying around your house to use in new and interesting ways. I like your Halloween table. What fun it would be to grow lots of gourds and squashes, maybe I will try it next year. They look so lovely.

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  16. Dear Peter ... You did a wonderful job illustrating your visit to this wacky fun place .. I love seeing all the different gourds and interesting "animals" .. that first picture of the cow made me look twice .. just had to admit that ? haha
    I wish we could extend our pumpkinacity longer here in Canada but since we blow it all with Thanksgiving to Halloween in the same month .. the next big holiday is Xmas and we are getting pounded on the head with almost mid October anyways?
    So I snuggled into the comfort of all these pretty pictures and keep them frozen in time to feast on later in those dark months along with how my bulbs should look ? haha
    Thanks Peter : )
    Take care
    Joy

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.