Hand Me Downs

Well, I harvested a pumpkin this morning.  Between the 68 degree weather and picking my first pumpkin and school starting, it’s enough to make a body wonder if fall is coming on.

I wash hoping that this guy would be my Halloween pumpkin, but alas- the squash bugs were dangerously close to infesting his portion of the vine, and I had no intention of sharing.  It’s been hanging on the vine at eye level for ten year olds for a couple of months, and I’ve been absolutely amazed that nobody has seen fit to smash it.  Perhaps that’s because it had such a hard and prickly stem that it would have taken some big work.  I like to think, though, it’s because it’s been a source of wonder for the neighbors.  I’ve had no less than ten neighbors whom I’ve never before met stop and say “What IS that?”  So if you’re looking for a neighborhood icebreaker, grow yourself some blue pumpkins about as big as your head.

By the way- if you would like to grow your own, this pumpkin is called a Jarrahdale, and you can find seeds at http://www.rareseeds.com - happy hunting!