We've been out and about locally this week. It is also half term and everywhere is very busy. Cars were queueing to get into Trentham Gardens as we left after our walk around the lake yesterday morning. Inside pumpkin carving was underway. I didn't take any photos of this as there were lots of people around.
I did take a few photos late last week of some of the pumpkin games that had been set up in the formal gardens.
Dahlias and Pumpkins
Noughts and Crosses
Giant spider (there were lots of those) and below Hoopla
Meanwhile in the kitchen garden things were looking lovely and the displays more natural.
Much more to my taste - in the shed
Squashes
In the greenhouse
I loved this delicate display of heuchera and grasses.
In the garden centre a table had been set with displays of pumpkins, squashes and grapes. Non of them real of course.
They were very pretty but I still preferred the displays in the kitchen garden.
Up towards the city centre the Emma Bridgewater factory and shop was also decorated with pumpkins.
We popped in for a coffee and took a peek in both the shops. One present was purchased.
We haven't bought a pumpkin to carve this year but
sweets have been bought ready to hand out at the door now it is All Hallows' Eve, Hallowe'en or Halloween. I wonder how many little ghosts, wizards and witches will visit this year?
So very seasonal!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe have rain, so not too many Trick or Treaters, probably. But we have little candy bars, for those who do, brave the weather. Hardly any little ones, now. The neighborhood has grown older. -smile- But we still have a little "Grand," next door.
Happy Halloween...
Blessed Samhain...
😊 😊 😊
Thank you WoW. As it turned out we had fewer 'trick or treaters' than last year. Three litle boys,three little girls and then one little boy all with adults nearby thank goodness. Glad you have 'little grand' next door:)
DeleteI remember I grew some of the small ornamental squashes one year, they were lovely. I varnished them and had them in a bowl, I obviously did something wrong as they went mouldy, lol
ReplyDeleteBriony
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Thank you Briony, what a shame about the squashes going mouldy. One wonderful year we grew pumpkins in the garden and we had three or four to carve and make pumpkin pie with the flesh - we've tried to grow them since but they never grew, oh well:)
DeleteSome very attractive displays you've found there. Where are all these pumpkins grown I wonder? I must ask the man in the farm shop. Last week I saw him making a display of them, but today it's nearly all gone.
ReplyDeleteThank you John, I've seen one field of pumpkins off the road between us here and Market Drayton near a farm shop but where all the thousands sold in supermarkets come from I've no idea, there must be fields across the country full of them:)
DeleteWhat a colourful post! Do you know, I have never carved a pumpkin in my life! I have a paper pumpkin lantern I bring out every year. x
ReplyDeleteThank you shazza, we usually buy a pumpkin to carve but this year haven't bothered. One year we actually grew some which was great but have never been sucessful since. Your lantern sounds lovely:)
DeleteA super Halloween post and photos of the pumpkins. As you say the displays in the kitchen garden are particularly lovely. I love seeing pumpkins outside houses and shops - we often used to be in the Lake District at the end of October and there were always many to see in Hawkshead.
ReplyDeleteMy son has carved a pumpkin and I've made Wizard's Hat pasties from squash and some spider cobweb cupcakes. The homegrown pumpkin is not quite ripe so we are saving that and when it is will try a pumpkin pie. We rarely get trick or treaters these days although did get some last night - early!!!
Thank you RR. I love to see pumkins in gardens and windows as you pass by. In the village of Caverswall which is close to us they always have a pumpkin and ghostly display around the village. I didn't get there this year to take photos. The Lake District at Halloween sounds wonderful. Your pumpkin and Wizard Hat pasties sound good. We had fewer little visitors this year. Three little boys, then three little girls and lastly one small boy on his own who shouted 'Trick or Treat' so loudly that he may grow up to be as loud as Brian Blessed:)
DeleteI like that giant spider!
ReplyDeleteThank you William, there were quite a few of them around the gardens:)
DeleteWow what a lot of pumpkins! All really inventive displays perfect for Halloween. I hope you've had lots of little visitors this evening, they've all grown up round here and gone off to university! 🎃
ReplyDeleteThank you Karen, yes there were a lot of pumpkins. We had fewer visitors this year just seven in all - more parents than children. Lots of the children we knew around here are now grown up and gone but new ones have moved in and taken their place so still so little ones around:)
DeleteVery quiet Halloween in this corner although pumpkin activities abound in lots of places during half term. Lovely photos of your visit. Have a good weekend. B x
ReplyDeleteThank you Barbara, there were so many activities here for half term, children have such a great choice of things to do nowadays don't they? Hope you too have a lovely weekend:)
DeleteSuch a lovely post & although Halloween is only a newer thing out here & still not real big, I do have a giggle about some of the things you see. Your garden centres in UK are unreal. Have a great weekend & take care.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan. I don't remember Halloween when I was a child it seems to have krept up on us in the last two or three decades and trick or treat even more recently. Over here it was always mischevious night then bonfire night. It's rare to find a garden centre that is just a garden centre - they all seem to sell anything and everything. Have a lovely weekend:)
DeleteThe games using pumpkins looks different and fun for the children. I too like the natural plant and pumpkin displays although the pottery pumpkins are very realistic! Have a lovely weekend! I hope that it's not raining where you live or if it is the weather brightens so that you can get out-and-about.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda, I thought the games were a good idea and saw one or two children playing them. I loved the displays in the shed and green house. It rained over night and is drizzling this morning. Hope it is dryer tomorrow. Have a good weekend:)
DeletePumpkins certainly add a splash of warming colour when it is so gloomy and dull (like today!) Didn't get any Halloween visitors last night or the previous year. Hope you have a good weekend Rosie. x
ReplyDeleteThank you Simone, I love the garish orange of the pumkins when it is grey and dull outside, they are very cheerful. Fewer little visitors here this year. Hope you have a lovely weekend too:)
DeleteAl lovely post filled with such delights from your outing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Julie, glad you enjoyed the post:)
DeleteLovely signs of autumn, Rosie. We got a few visitors, including Harry Potter. Enjoy these last days of autumn sunshine. Marie x
ReplyDeleteThank you Marie, not many visitors this year - we were left with sweets. No Harry Potter or any other wizard:)
DeleteI love seeing all the autumnal displays, it's such a picturesque time of year!
ReplyDeleteThank you Pam, it is a very colourful time of year:)
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