Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 51 Entries. Thursday, February 14 View Page Dick, here are 3 pictures - the handiwork of the postal gorillas! Thursday, February 14 View Page Maybe next time, mark it break me, instead of fragile, it would be interesting to see what happens. Thursday, February 14 View Page Jack thinks he can piece it back together but isn't sure about where these go???????????????? Friday, April 18 View Page This picture was taken last month. We hardly even get snow in the winter let alone March. We are supposed to get a front off of the Alaskan range this weekend, already at 5:00 pm it is only 38 degrees here. Snow level is supposed to be down in the lowlands around us. Had hail and snow already this afternoon. I'm thinking Hawaii!! Friday, April 18 View Page The picture that you will see next is listed as taken in March. It was supposed to be the snow, but is actually the floor we had to take up due to a water pipe break in our kitchen. We replaced flooring in 5 rooms. I will try to get the snow picture in. Friday, April 18 View Page Here is the real snow picture. This is our pumpkin patch on March 26th. It melted the next day. We left on the 30th for Mexico. It was nice to get to warmer climates. Monday, August 4 View Page Been busy this summer. I will try to catch you up with what's happening in our patch. The weather has been very cold, we had temps of 38F many mornings in July. August has seen such blistering temps in the high 60's so far. This morning it was 51F at 8am. We are supposed to be getting into the 70's this week. Normally we are in high 80's July and Aug. Monday, August 4 View Page We went to Mexico early April. Planted seeds around April 20th. This is inside one greenhouse in May. Monday, August 4 View Page Jack cleaned out some old seeds. These date back to around 97 or so. Monday, August 4 View Page While the plants were at the early stages we spent time enlarging our patch. Jack cut down some trees and cut into the yard. Then we had to build a retaining wall. Monday, August 4 View Page This is the finished wall (pic. taken today,8-4-08). We had to enclose the strawberries and peas and put up bird netting. We are slowly replacing our fencing with panels that will allow easy access via tractor or truck and hopefully be tall enough to discourage deer. Monday, August 4 View Page Back to April - Alaska, if you haven't been, it is amazingly beautiful. I highly recommend cruising the inside passage. This is a picture of an 'upside down' tree in a rain forest garden in Juneau. The story is that while excavating trees, one got away and landed upside down. They planted flowers in it, liked the effect so purposely planted a lot of 'upside down' tree gardens. Monday, August 4 View Page We took an excursion in Skagway on the White Pass Railroad to Yukon territory. Monday, August 4 View Page Proof! Monday, August 4 View Page A translucent iceberg in Tracy Arm Fijord Monday, August 4 View Page We got back from Alaska on June 21st, June 27th I left Jack to tend to the garden and I flew to Hawaii for a week to visit our daughter, Kayla. Her husband just got transferred there. They will have to stay for 3 years so being the dutiful mom....... This is Hanama Bay, Hawaii share beauty with Alaska! Monday, August 4 View Page Another shot of Hanama Bay. We were so lucky, the weather was fantastic in both Alaska and Hawaii! Monday, August 4 View Page Back to pumpkins. We bend our main vines when we are fairly certain that the pumpkin has set. We found this is easier to do and less stress on the stems. This is the 904 Stelts. Monday, August 4 View Page This is the 904 Stelts. It was pollinated on July 13th. As you can see we have some late sets. They will be grown mainly for the seeds. Monday, August 4 View Page All of the pics of the pumpkins were taken today, Aug. 4th. This was our latest set - July 22nd on the 1068 Wallace. It was the last seed up, the last to show a female. The baskets protect them from the crows who like to peck at the young fruit occasionally. Monday, August 4 View Page This was growing great but then the blossom end started to suck in. We increased the water. After receiving a soil report last week, we added some magnesium. We'll see if it makes a difference. We haven't measured anything yet. Monday, August 4 View Page This is the 1041.5 McKie. It is looking real good. Nice and long. Monday, August 4 View Page Our 1112 is doing well for us. Our pumpkins for the most part are looking good, they are just behind typical years due to colder weather. If August and September are nice months we still have time to get a lot of good growth. Monday, August 4 View Page A shot of some of our hanging baskets on the front deck. We have everything watered on timers, even the water bowls for the pets and the pond for the ducks. Normally the baskets are hanging more but they have been stretching for a glimpse of sunlight all summer. Monday, August 4 View Page Our front yard. We have neglected the flower gardens over the years for the pumpkins so they are in major need of overhauling. This morning when I went out to take these photos, I started a blue heron that I think was enjoying the duck pond. I had the camera in my pocket, by the time I got it out and on, the bird had flown out of sight. I will try to be more ready in case he comes back. It was an awesome, unexpected sight. Monday, August 18 View Page We lost the 227 Leland due to a stem split. Had a heavy rainstorm just a few days before. This was our biggest at the time. Monday, August 18 View Page 1068 LaRue - turned bright orange and stopped growing. Pulled out this plant along with the 227 Leland that split and the 1689 Jutras. Monday, August 18 View Page 1689 Jutras, like the 1068 LaRue, stopped growing. Pulled the plant on last Saturday. Will let neighboring plants grow into the spot if needed. Monday, August 18 View Page 1112 LaRue is growing well. Developed a problem in the blossom, sprayed it a few times with bleach solution after scraping out some ooze. Seems to be doing fine now. This is our 3rd largest at 266 OTT as of 8-17. Finally had a few days of hot weather (high 80's and low 90's)but today is back to 60's, cloudy and rainy. Everything is about a month behind, even veggies. Monday, August 18 View Page 1408 Daletas first pumpkin shriveled up on us and was culled. 2nd pumpkin didn't fair much better. This is our final choice pollinated on July 23rd. It is being grown now for a test pumpkin. We are doing soil, core and tissues tests on this plant throughout the season. Monday, August 18 View Page 1068 Wallace pollinated July 22nd. It was the second one on the plant, first had seeds in blossom and was pollinated only 4 days before. Hopefully we will get some good seeds from this one if it has time to mature. It was crossed with the 227 Leland. Monday, September 15 View Page I had a major malfuntion with the camera from the previous weeks pictures. Here's a shot of the garden where we pulled some plants. We have lost 5 so far. A few other plants are in jeopardy, leaves are starting to look funny so they may not last the season. They might suffer from 'pulling the plant disease'. Monday, September 15 View Page 904 Stelts, smaller than we like but looking pretty. Monday, September 15 View Page 1041 McKie, one of our largest. Jack likes these low long ones. If it had another 2 months it would be a monster. Monday, September 15 View Page 1081.5 LaRue, this one has been growing in the shade of an ornamental cherry tree. It was one of the last ones pollinated in late July. Next year that site won't have a plant. Monday, September 15 View Page 1092 Martin, not doing too badly. Monday, September 15 View Page 1112 LaRue, another of our larger pumpkins. Who knows, maybe it will weigh heavy! Monday, September 15 View Page 1350 Starr, circ is 134, not a lot smaller than our largest. Monday, September 15 View Page 1388 LaRue Monday, September 15 View Page 1470 Wallace. We didn't even measure or take pics of the remaining pumpkins. Monday, September 15 View Page It's been a different year in the LaRue patch. Dave Stelts told Jack that he feels bad about his own pumpkins but then he looks at our diary entries and feels better. So if that is our contribution this year, Dave, I am glad that our season has done someone some good! LOL Monday, November 17 View Page End of the pumpkin season - fall colors between storms. This is a shot overlooking the patch. November weather overall was much better than some summer days. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Thursday, November 27 View Page This is a picture of the 1159 Richards offspring. It will not show up on the AGGC because it was an estimated weight. Sunday, December 14 View Page Snow with a little fog, 11pm 12/13/08. First snow of the season for us. Sunday, December 14 View Page The garden has a light covering but sure looks pretty! Sunday, December 14 View Page It started snowing again at 11 am. We have had very light snow showers off and on all morning. We are supposed to have cold temperatures this next week so the snow may stay but it is less than an inch. We typically don't get much at a time on this side of the state (west coast) but occassionally will get up to 10 inches but then it is gone in a day or two. Sunday, December 14 View Page Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who are suffering through the extreme weather - ice storms, snow, frigid temperatures. Hopefully everyone will be fine. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our pumpkin growing friends! Jack and Sherry LaRue Sunday, December 14 View Page Snow on a Salal (evergreen bush). Looks like flowers. Sunday, December 14 View Page Somehow, the picture didn't attach. Salal with snow! Sunday, December 14 View Page The pumpkin patch in winter! Thursday, December 18 View Page Got about a foot of snow yesterday and it's snowing again now. School closed yesterday and today. We don't have snow days built into our calendar since we rarely get enough snow to make a difference. It sure is pretty! Put a stop to Jack finishing his wall for a while.