Out and About _ This Year's Pumpkin Patch Outing

Hi! Isn't October just zipping right along! We're getting flood warnings, high tides with another full moon, what I always called the Harvest Moon, at Halloween.

Yesterday I was so happy to get a morning call from my friend inviting me to a last minute unplanned trip over the bridges to the nursery with the delightful Pumpkin Patch.

This has been our tradition for many years, since our children were small enough to sit on the pumpkins for their Autumn photos shoot.

We never win. [probably just as well, right?]

I especially wanted chrysanthemums to perk up my deck.

Aren't the mums gorgeous this year! This garden center specializes in  tri-colored pots of mums. Big and heavy so I only could get one.

So here we are! Come enjoy everything, stroll along with me and L.

Pumpkins and gourds galore!

Next year I think want a pink Cinderella pumpkin. ***see pumpkin guide at end of post***

I love gourds and Baby Jacks.

I wish I'd noticed the black gourds though. I love them, different and dark. center, below

I got a few gourds to dry for my white gourds bowl; I paint them if they need it after drying for a year. And some tiny new to me gourds to drill and make an autumn garland, with acorns and cinnamon sticks maybe?

No fairy gardens, no maze, no petting zoo. Fun decor, indoor and outdoor.

These remind me of the cool gas can jackolanterns we are seeing online recently.

Day of the Dead in case you're running late with Halloween.

Planters but wouldn't they be so fun with one of the mini fountains like I got this summer.

Very large, beautiful blue. I have my eye on them for next summer. $$$$$$$

Spooky fall garden plants were very much a theme this year. They were very cool and novel.

And of course, Christmas was going up, even as we clutched our pumpkins and a few seeds and bulbs for next year. No cider though, and no apples. Were we too late?

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Last week when we didn't think we'd get to the garden center, we did a mini-pumpkin shopping trip to Trader Joe's.

Far more affordable, huge pumpkins like my big  Blue from my friend were 9.99, not $25-35.oo

And TJ's squash and pumpkins are mostly edible, always a treat. 

The small honey nut squash were esp good. I want to get them again and make them stuffed---two ideas: blog friend QB's with apples, nuts, maple syrup--or my filling of sweet sausage and rice or farro. Both?---oh yes.

What I didn't buy or take a pic of was the cut branches TJ's has---the fall mini pumpkin tree branches and this year, new, branches with little long red peppers, just the cutest thing.

Quick stop in Home Goods, I just can't ever resist a look/see. Was looking for a pink glass pumpkin for a little friend, but not much left.

Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead, as we say farewell to this beautiful month of October. I just made shepherds pie, beach day tomorrow then cold on Sunday. [this spattered like crazy, add oven clean to to do list, sigh]

Now, after Mo's walk, I'll use up some apples in a rustic tart or galette. What are you cooking, doing?

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.....

 *****🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃****

  "I want to be minimalist influencer witch this year, mommy. 

Please, no tutus!"

***Good Martha Stewart article describing all the fancy pumpkins. 

I was surprised to learn many are French heirloom hybrids. Heirloom Pumpkin Guide