Quick…what’s the first thing comes to mind with the word PUMPKIN? Orange, amirite? Some round, some squat, some somewhere in between…but ALWAYS orange.
Well, news flash: It’s not your grandma’s pumpkin anymore. There’s been some hanky-panky goin’ on in the old pumpkin patch, Charlie Brown!
Pumpkins gone WILD! The fashionistas of the curcurbita clan have broken the mold. Do you want stripes? We got ‘em in yellow, green and orange. Pot-bellies? Yep, we got that too. And colors? How about WHITE a la Tim Burton’s Nightmare? Or tan? Covered in warts? Or even a rare and scary BLUE from Australia? Check out the selection at GreenHorn Gardens’ tent…they just made choosing the right one quite a bit harder. And I’ll give ya that those gaudy gourds do make great door decor. But c’mon! Fads come and go, but ask any 10 year old…a great orange Jack-o-lantern is where it’s at… then and now. But, hey! You do you.
Pumpkins were first discovered in Central America somewhere around 7000 BC, so it’s taken some time and travel to become the stuff of legends around the world. Those Aztecs didn’t know what they started. There are more fascinating facts about pumpkins than could fit in my little weekly word salad, but, just to prove that I do my research, here’s a few:
- The original Jack-o-lanterns were invented in Ireland to scare away evil spirits. And they were carved from turnips…this also wins for best use of a turnip.
- Morton, Illinois calls itself the Pumpkin Capital of the world…well, if you gotta be called somethin’…
- The word “pumpkin” first came into use in the fairytale Cinderella. Bibbity bobbity BOO!
- Antarctica: famous as the ONLY continent that does NOT grow pumpkins.
- Lewes, Delaware’s claim to fame is its annual Punkin’ Chunkin’ Championship…so take that, Morton, IL
- Pumpkin blossoms can be stuffed and fried…just like their zucchini cousin.
Don’t just take MY word for it: Good Housekeeping will back me up.
Please note…I’ve gone more than 300 words before even mentioning pumpkin spice as a flavor in any…make that everything from lattes to lip balm. Not to mention an apparently collectible toy Pumpkin Spice Squishmallow. And that’s ALL I’ll say.
Along with the change in the weather and the crunch of leaves, nothing says Autumn like a few grinning and yes ORANGE jack-o-lanterns…scary, friendly or funny. It’s been that way since …well, since we discovered that turnips were wicked hard to carve! ALL HAIL the GREAT PUMPKIN!
Heads up! It’s hard to believe that we’re almost at the end of our LFM weekly run. So be sure make use of the time to stock up on goods for the pantry or freezer…and it’s even better if you do and then forget that you did…like when I find a frozen quart of Wilson’s Curiously Good mushroom soup during a snowstorm. That can make me cry happy tears.
So make a list.
Be sure to read the rest of this LFM newsletter to see what else may be happening around town, and what artist will be at the tent this week. (hint…she may have painted your house.) And for any last minute updates on the vendors, go to our FB page.
And as the jack-o-lantern says…Here’s lookin’ at YOU, kid.
Terry Baraldi