Celebrating the Seasons

Autumn Equinox

As the temperatures begin to drop and the days shorten, cover crops are planted and fields are mulched.

Dates: around September 21
Colors: orange, red, brown, purple, blue
Items: cornucopia, corn, harvested crops
Rituals: thanksgiving, harvest
Customs: preparing for cold weather, bringing in harvest

The Autumn Equinox is the point of balance in the waning year. It is the late harvest - of fruit & berries in the hedgerows. It is the time to give thanks for bounty and abundance received gratefully and stored for times of want during the coming winter months.

Of course Marian Amies is up for the challenge to provide an excellent "end of the year" event for our neighborhood children.  She sets the Garden a-glow with Gourds!  Children bring their jack-o-lantern designs on paper and the gardeners help them crave a pumpkin that they take home with them.

With a bonfire, toasted marshmallow and pumpkin carving....the perfect way to end our gardening season!

Pumpkins and Halloween go hand in hand, but have you ever wondered why?

What do jack-o'-lanterns have to do with Halloween? The tradition dates back to 18th century legend. One of these tales tells the story of a miserable old trickster, Stingy Jack, who liked to play tricks on the devil, often on All Hallow's Eve.

As one story goes, one night Jack convinced the devil to climb up into an apple tree and while he was up there, Jack cut crosses around the trunk of the tree so that the devil was stuck up in the branches. The devil bargained with Jack, promising to leave him alone if he would only let him down.

Years later when Jack died, he was refused entry to Heaven, but because the devil stayed true to his word, Jack could not enter Hell either, thus he was cursed to an eternal life as a spirit in limbo. "As Jack left the gates of Hell, the Devil threw him a hot ember to light the way in the dark. Jack placed the ember in a hollowed-out turnip and wandered off into the world."

From this legend jack-o'-lanterns have made their way into Halloween culture, with the notable difference that pumpkins are now used instead of turnips. The jack-o'-lantern has lost some of its traditional significance over the years, but the fun of carving pumpkins hasn't been. Pumpkin carving is a quick and fun activity

Again, the Garden Committee has worked very hard to pull off another successful celebration of the gardening season!

With a cornucopia of Pumpkin Soup, Cornbread, cookies, hot chocolate, apple cider and mulled wine.....

....its no wonder why so many neighbors attend these events.

With a small bonfire to burn off the chill, to also provided a great opportunity for toasting marshmallows.

Step 1: Draw your picture on the pumpkin

Our get your mom to help you

Our decorate your little pumpkin before you come

Step 2: Give the pumpkin to one our "professional pumpkin carvers" volunteers.

but, if it gets too late, you may have to enlist someone to hold the flashlight.

Step 3: Show off your pumpkin with pride!.

Step 4: Light a candle and set your jack-o'-lantern a-glow!

Last updated: Friday, November 14, 2008