© Karen Andrews
There were no fairy godmothers about. Cinderella’s carriage remained firmly grounded as a pumpkin. There was a field full of pumpkins. A passing witch had left her hat in a tree. Perhaps she will call back for it closer to Halloween? A bat and spiders lurked in the hedgerow. Otherwise, the biggest pre-Halloween fright was the shocking pink, squeaky wheelbarrow. The Pumpkin Festival at Farrington Gurney promises a lot of imaginative, half-term fun. You can pick and carve your own pumpkin for Halloween.
© Karen Andrews
The Farrington Gurney Pumpkin Festival is a great, local farming initiative. Climate change means that we have to consider buying and growing more food locally. Nowadays, children seem to believe that food appears in supermarkets and on their plates by magic. Picking your own pumpkin from the field may dispel that myth, but the event is organised with appealing imagination for children.
The pumpkins and squashes appear in all shapes and sizes. The vast majority are orange. The resident witch seems to have left some with warts.
Clambering about in wellies in the muddy field is all part of the experience. The sunshine was a bonus. On a rainy day, there are plenty of indoor activities after you have selected your pumpkin and wheeled it back for carving.
Some artistic inspiration follows to transform your pumpkin from last year’s RHS Harvest Festival Show.
Starry pumpkin © Karen Andrews 
Cat pumpkin © Karen Andrews)
Happy half-term holiday and Halloween to all!
Parental Tip: If you are wary of flames around young children, it is possible to purchase flameless tea lights with a flickering effect.
Botanical Photo Gallery
Curbita pepo, Pumpkin
A further selection of shots including flowers from Farrington Gurney’s pumpkin field:
Opening Pumpkin flower © Karen Andrews 
Small Pumpkin with young leaves and tendril
© Karen Andrews
Copyright Note
Karen does not seek or receive any commercial interest or advantage from this blog. She is not promoting any business venture. She simply loves to share fascinating facts about plants. These pages illustrate her love of plants, botany, biodiversity, gardens and creative expression. There is always so much to learn about plant diversity. This blog is designed as a showcase for photography, commentary on plants and wildlife, gardens and other places visited, horticulture and related topics. Viewpoints are her own, not those of her employer.
© Karen Andrews 2018 onwards. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Karen Andrews and BotanyKaren.net with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.