Pumpkin Season

MY GIRLFRIEND AND I WERE DELIGHTED to come upon a farm (Collins, est. 1877) in Leelanau County halfway to Suttons Bay along Highway 633. It featured rows of newly harvested pumpkins in the front yard.

Such a nice surprise!

The setting reminded me of being a kid again. That feeling settled nicely with both of us as we exited the car with an energized step, in awe of the adventure we were on during this sunny but cool Sunday afternoon.

We roamed the rows of pumpkins and gourds that came in many shapes and sizes, deciding which gems to select for our own.

How fun was that.

I spent more time than usual choosing 5 pumpkins from the $4-size row. My girlfriend seemed drawn to the wart-covered, oval shapes that you increasingly see grown in our region. Personally, I am a traditionalist, opting for the smooth, fleshy orange globes shown in the photo above. I'm more influenced by my Charlie Brown upbringing.

If only they had served apple cider and fresh donuts flavored with a light touch of cinnamon, as they did at the Franklin Cider Mill during my youth.

It is a such a wonderful time of the year.

Thank you for planting a pumpkin patch on your farm in one of our favorite counties.