Pumpkin Patch Wars by Kathryn Hills #RomanceGems

Like many this summer, I’m spending a lot of time outdoors, and our vegetable garden is bigger than ever. Each day I’m proud of the bounty we harvest – an array of squashes, cucumbers, string beans, tomatoes, and herbs. But there’s one part of our garden I’m particularly proud of. My pumpkin patch!

I was that kid growing up. Running home after trick-or-treating to watch Linus in the most sincere pumpkin patch. Heck, there was even a Beagle. What’s not to love?!

Almost every year since I’ve purchased pumpkins—loads of 'em, in all shapes, sizes, and varieties—starting just after Labor Day. But this is 2020, and I’m staying home as much as possible. So…what can a dedicated pumpkin aficionado do if she can’t scour the farm stands, markets, and garden centers for pumpkins? She grows them!

Everything has gone better than expected in my personal pumpkin patch. Seeds, growing into great hunking, thriving plants. I chose bush variety pumpkins – small, multi-colored ones (named Kandy Korn – Cute!) and big, jack-o-lantern carving types. They’re fantastic! Promising an abundant crop in just a few short weeks.

That was until the other morning when IT happened. *GASP* I was out watering when I saw it. Little orange, yellow, and green chunks on the dark brown earth. Someone, or rather something, was EATING my pumpkins!

Okay…no big deal you might say. What did you expect? You live in the north woods of New England. There are bound to be many creatures, checking out what’s good to eat in your garden. But this is MY PUMPKIN PATCH! The one I’ve tended and nurtured for months now. The one with special flowers to attract the bees, and bunny fencing, and scarecrows. I’m sorry Mr. Squirrel and Mrs. Chipmunk, but with harvest time just around the corner, this means war!

Mr. H and Darling Daughter discovered me, out of sorts and grumbling, hunched over my laptop doing research. More fencing, special netting, garden cloches… Okay, maybe. Scarecrows. I’ve got those. Plus beady-eyed, black cat decoys that supposedly frighten the marauding munchers away. Total waste of money. They’ll be Halloween decorations after this. Maybe I need an owl scarecrow?!! Could work. Or hot pepper spray? What could possibly go wrong with Jalapeno Pepper spray combined with three crazy hounds? No way will I kill our little forest friends, so… *sigh* and *bigger sigh*

After much hemming and hawing, an ultrasonic, solar-powered animal repeller is on its way from Amazon. I feel giddy. Like Harry Potter when he received his Nimbus 2000. My techno-toy, rodent repeller will arrive any day now. I’ll keep you posted on how well it works. Or, if I simply horrify the neighbors. TOTALLY could happen! 😊

As of today, the woodland creatures are winning the war. BUT we’ll see when that brown package arrives on my doorstep. MUAHAHAHAH

If you have any sage advice for stopping pilfering pumpkin poachers, please share.

Until next time... Stay safe and be well. Thanks for reading!

~ Kathryn

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