Season of mists and
mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of
the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him
how to load and bless
With fruit the vines
the round the thatch-eaves run;
To bend with apples
the mossed cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit
with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd,
and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel;
to set budding more,
And still more, later
flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm
days will never cease,
For Summer has
o’er-brimmed their clammy cells.
from To Autumn by John Keats
I had trouble finding these cuties last year. One needs to be fast, visiting local farm stands in September before they’re sold out.
Pumpkins and gourds are easy to grow, so I
bought seed in hope of saving money, and I did.
For $7 I purchased seed from Harris Seeds (about $3 for 25 seeds plus
shipping & handling) and sowed them in an indoor seed starting tray in late May,
then my husband kindly transferred them outdoors in early July (way after danger of cold--the vines die easily).
By mid-September I have so many! Harvest early so they don’t turn yellow. This big
wire basket displays an amount that would cost about $10 - $20 at a farmstand
or lifestyle shop. There are many more coming – if you happen to be in
Upstate New York contact me and I’ll give you some!
Until next time, stay shabby!
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