Pumpkins feel a bit late this year, but we’re thrilled to see them growing!

It hasn’t exactly been an easy ride in the garden this year. If you’ve ever tried your hand at growing pumpkins, you know the feeling … watching the vines stretch, waiting endlessly for blossoms, and praying the weather plays nice long enough for something to actually set. For weeks on end, scorching temperatures tested both the plants and our patience, slowing growth to a crawl and leaving us wondering if we’d get any yield at all.

That made it all the sweeter when we walked out to the plot this week. With late August and September finally ushering in much more normal, seasonable weather, the vines have caught a second wind. Sprouted among the soil are round, speckled green globes taking full advantage of the cooler air. Against all the odds, the fruits have set, the vines look sturdy, and the gourds are noticeably plumping up by the day. Sure, the calendar is ticking toward autumn, but seeing these bright little heavyweights stretch out on the dirt makes all the sweat and heat completely worth it.

As seasonable autumn temperatures return, our patch is putting on a quiet show of endurance and growth.
As seasonable autumn temperatures return, our patch is putting on a quiet show of endurance and growth.

It’s a bittersweet time around our small living lab. With the long weekend upon us, our summer arts incubator and living lab programs are officially starting to wind down. The youth are heading back to school, with plenty taking advantage of these final sunny days for one last end-of-summer camping trip. In just two weeks, we’ll be kicking off our next big arts exhibition alongside our annual market and music jam, which always brings a fantastic burst of energy to the community.

Even with everything lined up on the fall calendar, the real star of the show right now is sitting right there in the dirt. These pumpkins might be late to the party, but with the extreme heat behind them, they are making up for lost time with sheer enthusiasm. We’ll be keeping a close eye on them over the coming weeks, making sure they stay off the damp soil, stay well-hydrated, and get every last bit of soft September sun they need to toughen up their rinds before harvest.