Pumpkin Patch: Pick Your Own Gourds

Picture This: October Pumpkin Fest Posted Oct-25-2006
The Onset of My Pumpkinitis
Earlier this month I visited Edwards Apple Orchard in Popular Grove, Illinois. Besides the vast apple orchards one can fill a bushel or two with, the highlights in October includes a bountiful pumpkin patch harvest where you have the opportunity to pick your own pumpkins right off the vines.

The picture above is part of the pumpkin patch across the street from the apple orchards. What you see in the picture is about one-fourth of the actual patch size, where a cluster of passionate people were picking pumpkins. (Note: Peter Piper is standing right above the "m" in my last name with the gray sweatshirt on. He told me that he's given up on pickles and decided to pursue pumpkins instead. I don't blame him.)

Branching Out

Tree Tangent: If you look closely, you can see a small piece of branch poking out in the top right-hand corner of the first picture. This second picture shows more of the hanging tree limb, which I thought was spectacular against the beautiful blue sky. Blame my artful eye for including it here. I couldn't let this picture go to waste!

Freshly-picked pumpkins on a stand

So after being inspired by the warm autumn day, a horse-drawn cart ride through the apple orchards, and the eating of the orchard's famous apple donuts, I happened upon the area where hundreds of already-picked pumpkins were on display for visitors to purchase. My creativity molecules leaped at the view of these pumpkins in a variety of shapes and sizes sitting on wooden farm stands and carts. They were so picturesque that I had to grab my camera out of the car and snap some photos.

My favorite: Pumpkins ala Carte

This cart of pumpkins was my absolute favorite part of the whole pumpkin-browsing experience. I could not leave that place without bringing this memory home with me, a scene I'll call Pumpkins ala Carte.

Ever since I came home from this outing I've shown symptoms of Pumpkinitis — the increased occurrence of creativity and incorporation of pumpkiny things in my projects. It started with Pumpkin Crayon Drawings, followed by October Snow Photos, then Nit Wits #28, a Pumpkin Patch Printable, a Prosy Pumpkin Tree, a Halloween Word Search Puzzle, and this Pumpkin Picture Fest. I'm sure the Pumpkinitis will go away on November 1, but until it does, I'm coping as best as I can. •

© 2006 Chris Dunmire www.chrisdunmire.com. All rights reserved.