Pumpkin Patch: Gourds Galore!
Ooooohhhhh! I have been so excited to write this post, ever since last weekend! We are fortunate enough to live near an absolutely amazing pumpkin patch where over 400 kinds of gourds are grown and celebrated every year. That's what I love- a celebration of amazing natural diversity! Would you like to come along to the pumpkin patch with me today? Here we go!
At the entrance you are greeted by all the signs for the fabulous parts of the pumpkin patch. Where would you like to go first?
What lovely mums!!!!! All the jewel colors of the floral rainbow!
Next up is the astounding array of gourds- all shapes and sizes, colors and patterns.
What a feast for the eyes- can you believe such variety in the gourd family?! In fact, there were so many gourds that they had started growing on trees!
My very favorite part was the gourd mountain- 400 varieties carefully piled up- wooooooowwwwww!
But most striking of all was the pumpkin queen, weighing in at a whopping 885 pounds!
All throughout the pumpkin patch, hay bales had been festively decorated:
And in fact, we ventured into the straw maze and it actually did take us a wee bit of a while to find our way out:
After our adventure, we were refreshed with a bit of pumpkin ice cream, handmade from Indiana- not too sweet and ever so slightly spiced. In order to make it gluten-free for Mr. Mersydotes, he ate the top, and I ate the cone!
Feeling re-energized, we headed out to the fields, which is my very favorite part! Can you see our shadows there in the late afternoon sun?
Many pumpkins were still on the vine and even though the earth was dry and cracked, the gourds were flourishing- we even saw a few new blossoms.
The brightness of the sun and the sharpness of the wind made it the perfect autumn day. I could smell the fresh soil and enjoyed tripping over the vines as we wandered. Everything was so peaceful and yet so alive!
Some of the pumpkins had already been gathered and brought into the farm yard:
All throughout, the farm animals were merrily going about their business- goats, alpacas, ducks, turkeys, pot bellied pigs, and the most amazing chickens I have ever seen. Since our visit, every time I've shared these chicken pictures with friends, they've immediately asked what kind of poodle they are, and are flabbergasted when I tell them they are chickens!
Isn't that some pretty amazing poultry?! As we continued further afield we discovered the artistic gourd displays. There was a house of pumpkins:
A pumpkin barn which provided nesting areas for hundreds of little birds:
And a pumpkin Noah's ark- can you see the gourds boarding two-by-two? Hurry up little pumpkins, the rain is coming!
We headed back home feeling refreshed and in-tune with the season, very grateful to have had an opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and nature's glory! On the ride home we had to drive very carefully as the Amish buggies were coming back from church, but we all made it safe and sound!
I hope that you feel as cheerful and invigorated as we did!
~Mersydotes
At the entrance you are greeted by all the signs for the fabulous parts of the pumpkin patch. Where would you like to go first?
Next up is the astounding array of gourds- all shapes and sizes, colors and patterns.
What a feast for the eyes- can you believe such variety in the gourd family?! In fact, there were so many gourds that they had started growing on trees!
My very favorite part was the gourd mountain- 400 varieties carefully piled up- wooooooowwwwww!
But most striking of all was the pumpkin queen, weighing in at a whopping 885 pounds!
All throughout the pumpkin patch, hay bales had been festively decorated:
And in fact, we ventured into the straw maze and it actually did take us a wee bit of a while to find our way out:
After our adventure, we were refreshed with a bit of pumpkin ice cream, handmade from Indiana- not too sweet and ever so slightly spiced. In order to make it gluten-free for Mr. Mersydotes, he ate the top, and I ate the cone!
Feeling re-energized, we headed out to the fields, which is my very favorite part! Can you see our shadows there in the late afternoon sun?
Many pumpkins were still on the vine and even though the earth was dry and cracked, the gourds were flourishing- we even saw a few new blossoms.
The brightness of the sun and the sharpness of the wind made it the perfect autumn day. I could smell the fresh soil and enjoyed tripping over the vines as we wandered. Everything was so peaceful and yet so alive!
Some of the pumpkins had already been gathered and brought into the farm yard:
All throughout, the farm animals were merrily going about their business- goats, alpacas, ducks, turkeys, pot bellied pigs, and the most amazing chickens I have ever seen. Since our visit, every time I've shared these chicken pictures with friends, they've immediately asked what kind of poodle they are, and are flabbergasted when I tell them they are chickens!
Isn't that some pretty amazing poultry?! As we continued further afield we discovered the artistic gourd displays. There was a house of pumpkins:
A pumpkin barn which provided nesting areas for hundreds of little birds:
And a pumpkin Noah's ark- can you see the gourds boarding two-by-two? Hurry up little pumpkins, the rain is coming!
We headed back home feeling refreshed and in-tune with the season, very grateful to have had an opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and nature's glory! On the ride home we had to drive very carefully as the Amish buggies were coming back from church, but we all made it safe and sound!
I hope that you feel as cheerful and invigorated as we did!
~Mersydotes
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