It just wouldn't be October without planting a few bulbs for spring and visiting a pumpkin patch! Someone was excited that we were getting closer and took this picture from the moving vehicle. A week later and that foliage in the distance will be as vibrant as the pumpkins in the field!
This year, we visited Spooner Farms in Orting. This giant jack-o-lantern, large enough for several people to play inside, greets visitors.
These babies represent the other end of the size spectrum.
Gourds have a seemingly endless variety of shapes and color combinations.
They fascinate me.
I used the excuse that my sister, her husband, a nephew, his wife, and two sons will be coming from Alaska to join with family from Washington and Oregon at my house for Thanksgiving (we'll have about 30) to buy several of these for decoration along with a lot of indian corn. Hope they last!
Who knew that there were so many varieties of squash? These are speckled hounds.
The bright orange/red color of Cinderella pumpkins is attractive and they're quite tasty. This is one of my favorite pumpkins to use for baking with soup inside. Here's a recipe that I haven't tried but it looks interesting. Look here for a funny post/delicious recipe for a creamy pumpkin soup that sounds divine.
Creamy orange pumpkin soup served in these ghostly white little pumpkins, black plate or maybe cobalt. I'm liking autumn more and more.
Who knew that there were so many varieties of squash? Turbans always make me smile with their somewhat acorn - like shape and festive colors!
Good old blue hubbard squash.
Pink Banana Sqauash.
Forgot the name of these but aren't they gorgeous? Yummy too.
Speckled Swan Gourds aren't edible but they dry beautifully and are often used to make bird houses.
Spooners had a great variety including delicatas, a personal favorite, and standards like acorn, butternut, etc.
Giant spiders invade the pumpkins. The harvest festival had an atm on site, numerous food vendors (cider, roasted corn, burgers, etc.) an espresso stand, and a pumpkin sling shot.
Not to mention the 5 acre corn maze with two miles in paths. Look here to see a view from the air of a previous Spooner corn maze.
Did someone let the pumpkins cross pollinate with the gourds? Love the warty pumpkins!
We vowed to go earlier next year as the crowd at this popular farm was very large so close to Halloween.
We'll plan to spend more time here next time but for now, it's time to get in the covered wagon and hit the trail.
These gals in the gift shop will be happy to see you too should you decide to go!
With all the great seasonal food, it's easy to make a pig of yourself!
Do you have a favorite pumpkin patch?