Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 12 Entries. Thursday, January 31 View Page Even after the third driest January in our history, my patch has been covered with snow since before Christmas. And yes, this IS California. Wednesday, April 24 View Page Starting these seeds but only have room for three plants. Probably going with the Lieber, Engel, and Werner and the others will go to relatives if everything germinates. Sure like the color of the Johnston though and I think both parents of the Bryson grew 1800 pounders. And the Gansert was an HD winner. Wish I had more room. Friday, May 24 View Page What a day. Thirty-one degrees this morning with frost but my pumpkins are all okay. Then a 5.7 earthquake this evening that really gave the house a good shaking. No damage but 13 aftershocks so far. Thursday, May 30 View Page Two years ago today a bad frost hammered my 1236 Harp and 1401 Urena. We had a light frost this morning but all my plants were covered and are fine. This is the 1456 Bryson which is doing great and I have high hopes for. Both parents of this seed grew 1800 pounders and it has potential for orange. The long range forecast says today should be the last cold morning and I'm thinking about taking down all of the plastic and replacing them with shade cloth Friday, June 7 View Page The 1456 Bryson had its first female open today. Unfortunately it's only two feet out on the main and there are no males available anyway. Had frost a week ago today and tomorrow it's supposed to be near 100 degrees. However I will be at a Relay For Life event in Chico where it might hit 110. Thursday, June 20 View Page It looks like the 100 degree weather a couple of weeks ago did in my Bryson. There was a gopher hole in the patch though and since my other plants survived, it might have been the gopher. It has somewhat recovered but the tip of the main was fried so I'm thinking about turning one of the secondaries into a new main and at least growing one for seeds. Thursday, June 20 View Page Are you kidding me? This is ice on the top of my pickup; one day before the longest day of the year and twelve days after a hundred degree day. The plants seem to have survived despite the temperature in the thirties. Thursday, July 11 View Page I had really hoped to do some pollinations with males from my 1770 but so far none of them have developed any stamens. I've never seen this before on anything that I've grown. Tuesday, July 16 View Page This can't be helping the honeybee population. Two dead honeybees in this flower with a bizarre white spider eating them. Friday, August 9 View Page 522 pounds for my 1634 Werner on day 40. Not going to set any records but it is ahead of last year's 1,115 pounder. I can't seem to get over 25 pounds per day and I'm thinking it might be the cool nights. Last week every night was in the forties and this week has been just as cold. Saturday, August 10 View Page Last year I grew three pumpkins and entered all of them in contests. In fact I thought it was almost impossible to lose a pumpkin. Woke up this morning to find my last giant this year (1634 Werner) had split. Oh well, lots of time to get the patch ready for next year. Friday, September 27 View Page I thought my 1456 was finished back in June after a hot spell. Now it's my last plant left and after a hard freeze last night, it's finally history. At least a first grade class from the nearby elementary school got to visit it yesterday while it still had some foliage. Both pumpkins are going to local businesses this week.