The Pumpkin Patch |
Gardens are a form of autobiography.
~Sydney Eddison
My fella 10/27/14 carrying the pumpkin purchased from Miller Farms Market |
Half the time in life and in gardening, I have no
idea what I’m doing. I’m not being down on myself; I honestly just have no idea
what I’m doing. I’m a pretty darn curious person and I like a good project.
The pumpkin in question-- bottom right of picture |
So last week when I discovered that the *weed* I was
about to pull was actually a pumpkin vine, my initial feeling was glee because
I had completely skipped the “is that darn seed ever going to grow” state and
was now witnessing growth. Then I remembered that pumpkins require a good
amount of space.
Winter 2014 |
As far as townhomes go, my backyard is pretty generous. It’s
about 27 X 15. I have a 6 ft privacy fence which still doesn’t keep out the
peeping neighborhood kids but sometimes I think they’re peeping because my
backyard is pretty darn magical. In full on summer, I let the three butterfly
bush plants have their way. I remember going to a gardening seminar and letting
it slip that I didn’t prune back one of my plants and this older woman berated
me for “doing it all wrong” because it would grow too large. I’m sure I silently
whispered FU in my head which certainly could have been read through my squinty
eyes because this girl does not have a poker face. So anyway, her scolding
backfired because I remember thinking, “I’m going to let that mother fucker get
as big as it wants…tree size even” (sorry y’all for my potty mouth) and you
know what, it does each summer. The
butterfly bush in the corner along with the scotch broom each grow 7-8 ft tall.
They also offer great privacy from street traffic and the before mentioned
peeping children. Plus, the birds, butterflies, bees, bugs, and bats love it
which makes me happy because my garden is their garden!
So while I like plants to grow big… such as this
elephant ear from two summers ago.
Oddly enough, I did not plant a bulb in my
side yard this year but I have an elephant ear growing there! Thank you
birds???... I just wasn’t sure what I would do with a pumpkin patch.
Butterfly bush |
Scotchbroom |
March 2015 |
When my
fella saw it, he reminded me that not only was it the pumpkin that I decided
was just going to go back to nature in our backyard during winter but it was
one of our WEDDING PUMPKINS! He’s a sensitive and sentimental fella so he
thinks it’s pretty magical… and I do too. Plus, how often do any of us have the chance to know the story of our pumpkins?
This pumpkin came to us the day after our wedding. The little guy decorated our front yard until the association rules state we have to remove holiday decor. In November, the pumpkin was moved to the backyard because he was still stunning and I didn't have the heart to let him go... so he went back to nature. In early spring when I was hopeful and looking for growth, he was nothing but a mushy ol' pumpkin. Now, eight months from when he came to us he's turned into Magic!
After encouragement from Connie over
at Hartwood Roses and finding a
few articles about growing pumpkins in urban gardens, I found this inspiration
post. This family grew their pumpkins vertical because they have a small
urban garden. I can totally do this! At least I’m going to give it my best try!
Butterfly bushes can get pretty big, I`ve cut back some where the trunk was over 5 inch wide, and they came back and flowered the following year!
ReplyDeleteHoly moly!
DeleteThats wonderful that your special pumpkin created new life in your garden! Hopefully you'll have some pumpkin offspring to decorate the porch this coming autumn!
ReplyDelete*fingers crossed*
Delete