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Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 18 Entries.
Wednesday, April 11 View Page
This is the 2,307 Wallace that I received from an auction this spring. I suspect that it could still germinate, but my intention was to plant it next year. Would I be able to store a seed in this condition?
 
Thursday, April 26 View Page
The 1501 Wagner was the first to sprout this year. The 2095 Brandt and 2150 Skinner are taking a little bit longer than usual, so I dug into the soil for a look and saw some growth. Should have all 3 up and running soon.
 
Thursday, June 21 View Page
1501.5 Wagner. We are very impressed by this plant- it has been a step ahead of everything since day 1. Hopefully we can cross this plant with our 2150 Skinner
 
Thursday, June 21 View Page
Here’s our 2150 Skinner plant that finally took off running after a slow start. It actually looks pretty good for being in an unamended patch
 
Thursday, June 21 View Page
2095 Brandt
 
Thursday, June 21 View Page
Here’s our 546est. Waltz-Morgan from last year. We decided to put this one in where the 2150 was supposed to go. It was a little bit pot bound, but recovered nicely. The 546est is 2059 Daletas x 2145 McMullen.
 
Thursday, August 30 View Page
Here’s our 546 est. Waltz & Morgan x 2095 Brandt. The 546 is 2059 Daletas x 2145 McMullen and had about 1350lbs on the plant between 2 pumpkins- the 546 & an earlier open pollination. It’s not breaking an records, but we’re happy with it. It’s on a secondary vine and has a good shot a being a new personal best if it keeps on growing.
 
Thursday, August 30 View Page
The first round of long gourds.
 
Saturday, October 6 View Page
Top 2 at Altoona- 2,005 Haist & 1,652 Wagner
 
Saturday, October 6 View Page
I look pretty good next to a 2000lb pumpkin. I’m going to have to grow one someday
 
Monday, October 8 View Page
Some of you may know that I teamed up with my friend, Vince Waltz last year and got back into growing pumpkins for the first time since 2011. We lost this one just before the weigh-off. It was grown on our 546est seed from last year and split down 2 ribs after about 8” of rain in 2 days.
 
Monday, October 8 View Page
Here’s another angle of the pumpkin we grew on our 546est seed. The 546 is 2059 Daletas x 2145 McMullen.
 
Monday, October 8 View Page
In my years without a pumpkin patch, I got into rescuing dogs. Here are my 2 adult pit bulls on security dog duty on Saturday night. I bought Jimi for $20 outside of a check cashing store at Venice Blvd & Western Ave when I lived in Los Angeles. He was maybe 8 weeks old at the time and he is 5 years old now. I adopted his wife, Skye, from some folks in my neighborhood back in February. They fell on hard times and couldn’t take care of her anymore. She was only 36.6lbs when she went to the vet 3 days after I got her. She gained her weight back very fast and went into heat before I could get her spayed, so Jimi gave her 12 healthy puppies. She has filled out to 65lbs now that she has been done nursing for a couple of months. I ended up keeping 2 of their pups, Ajax the Great & Kawaii. I also rescued a mini poodle when I lived in LA. I found him on the street near the neighborhood church on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. He came to the right place looking for a new life. His name is Hobo now.
 
Saturday, December 8 View Page
this is crazy.... 3 out of 4 auction seeds I just received are damaged. Here’s the 2008 Neptune
 
Saturday, December 8 View Page
1409 Miller damaged seed
 
Saturday, December 8 View Page
2150 Skinner damaged seed. What a disappointment
 
Tuesday, December 25 View Page
Merry Christmas from me & my pack
 
Tuesday, December 25 View Page
In the years that I was away from growing pumpkins, I found a purpose in rescuing dogs. My first was a male pit bull pup that I bought off a street corner at Venice Blvd & Western Avenue when I lived in LA. We moved out to the San Fernando Valley a few months later, where I found my mini poodle, Hobo, as a stray walking past the convent on Stagg St. across from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. It was the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter. He came to church on Easter and got a new life. When I took him home, I told Jimi, “you have to be nice to the hobo, he needs our help,” and the name stuck. After moving back to Pennsylvania, we took in a female pit bull from some folks in the neighborhood who couldn’t afford to take care of her anymore. She had deteriorated very quickly- losing about 50% of her body weight in 6 weeks. Her name is Skye. Here she is with her son, Ajax the Great. Ajax weighed in at 70.5 lbs a couple of days ago, already bigger than his mom & dad at just 7 months old. I still have a long way to go in growing giant pumpkins, but I’m pretty good at growing giant puppies.
 

 

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