Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 50 Entries. Thursday, January 7 View Page Happy New Year from the Cooper's!!! Moved into town october of 2008. Could'nt stand not growing, so I tilled up a spot in my back yard. Grew this 200 lb'er without amendments, straight CLAY. Thursday, January 7 View Page Abrams Falls at Cades Cove in Tennessee, The park ranger told us "it's only a 2.5 mile hike to the falls"!!!! He is still laughing I think!!! He did'nt bother to tell us there was two starting places!! My hike took 4 miles one way!!! The hike from Hell, is what I call it. It's beautiful the hole way in there,but we were totally unprepared for that hike!! Thursday, January 7 View Page Half way to the falls. We were still haveing a good time!! Sunday, January 10 View Page I barely survived the hike!! I guess I am truly a Flat Lander. Cuz dem dar hills wor me out!!!! Sunday, January 10 View Page We actually did do some gardening. In the spring we tore all the landscaping out and totally redid the front of the house. To our surprise, we were voted "Yard of the Month -2nd Place" for July 2009! Thursday, March 11 View Page Figured I would try and grow early this year.. Want to have them growing strong before the summer heat. This is the 825 synder. Thanks for the seeds Kevin ! Thursday, March 11 View Page 1096.5 privitera, Tom sent me this seed a couple of years ago. Thanks for the seeds Tom! Sunday, April 4 View Page 825, Vine is on the ground now and growing well. We have had great temps for the past few weeks, but have had to use the hoop houses for wind protection. Sunday, April 4 View Page 1096.5 is doing well also Sunday, April 4 View Page Almost forgot, the watermelons are from Marty Schnicker. Thanks Marty ! Friday, April 9 View Page suckers? Friday, April 23 View Page severe storms are predicted for tonight, they are calling for strong winds, tornados, heavy rain and hail. So I'm not taking any chances. My main vine's are about 12' long with several female blooms coming along. Friday, April 23 View Page Hopefully they will be safe for tonight. I don't want to lose them now ! I've been married less than two years. So I asked my wife " Did it ever cross your mind 3 years ago that you would be helping your husband cover his pumpkin plants"!!! Saturday, April 24 View Page Hey Randycat, you have some catching up to do!!!! This is a picture of me standing beside a female bloom on the 825!!! Monday, April 26 View Page 1096.5 privitera Monday, April 26 View Page 825 snyder Monday, April 26 View Page Both plants made it through the storm! We did get some small hail, strong winds and the tornado sirens went off around 7am 4-24. But, we did'nt have any damage. Tuesday, May 4 View Page latest fatality Tuesday, May 4 View Page males Friday, May 7 View Page After several females aborted on both my plants, I finally have an opened female. 1096 pollinated with 825 Friday, May 7 View Page 825 pollinated with 1096 Thursday, May 13 View Page split Thursday, May 13 View Page 1096.5 Wednesday, May 19 View Page hail damage Wednesday, May 19 View Page A very wise and knowledgable grower told me " coop if you are going to pollinate in the deep south you have got to have two froze chickens and a fan"!! Well we will see !!! Wednesday, May 19 View Page 1096-33.25' cir. Thursday, May 27 View Page 1096.5-----Day 20-173 ott---115 lbs Thursday, May 27 View Page 100% organic and I have the biggest leaves I've ever had. This leaf is 27" across ! The weeds don't stand a chance, they don't get any sun !! Thursday, June 3 View Page 825 snyder--24' out on main vine. 63" cir Thursday, June 3 View Page 825 snyder--68"cir. growing on side vine Thursday, June 3 View Page 131 schnicker--- trying to grow one plant in the corner of my patch. there are several melons set on the vine, will cull later. Wednesday, June 9 View Page 825.. 183ott Wednesday, June 9 View Page 825...191 ott Wednesday, June 9 View Page This catch is from one night. I used one small beer and 3 styrofoam bowls covered with paper plates. These came from my flower bed beside my front porch!!! May they rest in peace ! They all had smiles on thier faces :) Wednesday, June 16 View Page This is a tank that washed up on the beach at Destin Florida. These tanks are washing up on the beaches from the oil rig that sank. Wednesday, June 16 View Page The brown specs in the water are TAR BALLS at Orange Beach Florida. If you look in the water you can see sting rays. The Man in the picture is from Washington DC. He works for the USGS. Wednesday, June 16 View Page I'm standing in the same spot as the sting ray picture. Oil booms and skimmers!! Those sting rays don't stand a chance ! Wednesday, June 16 View Page This is Navarre Beach Florida, about 30 miles east from Orange Beach Alabama. The water is as clear as glass and not a spec of oil on this beach. But, it is just a matter of time before this beach is ruined also :( Wednesday, June 16 View Page This is Gulf Shores Alabama. They had clean up crews all over the beach becuase Obama was coming... What a joke Wednesday, June 16 View Page On a lighter note, This is how big they grow watermelons in Mississippi!!!!! Friday, June 18 View Page 1096 blossom view, it's hard to tape but it's a little over 400lbs Friday, June 18 View Page 1096 side view Friday, June 18 View Page 825 side view Friday, June 18 View Page 825 blossom view Sunday, June 20 View Page I've had to dig the soil out from under the stem. I thought I had this stem at a good level when it started growing. However, this pumpkin is forcing the stem down under the pumpkin. Sunday, June 20 View Page Just incase it gets to top heavy I put a sling around it to feep it from tilting to far. Friday, July 2 View Page This is now the 562 cooper.. It quit growing so I went ahead and picked it!!! My new personal best! Friday, July 2 View Page As the pumpkin grew it kept forcing the stem under the pumpkin. This is a view of the bottom. Friday, July 2 View Page just found out why it quit growing-----NO ROOTS !!! Sidevines looked just like this stump.. Wednesday, July 28 View Page This is the" 2010 Giant Pumpkin Patch Expansion Project" in progress!!!