It just would not feel like following me without making a jack-o’-lantern out of a hefty pumpkin like this. It is always a lot of fun to come up with new and creative expressions for there faces. I have carved just about every kind, happy, sad, surprised and scary. I have even painted some and made a family stacking one on top of the other. This Irish or Celtic tradition of making jack-o’-lanterns actually did not start with pumpkins at all. It was not until Irish immigrants came to this country that pumpkins were used. Long before that, large turnips were used for making jack-o’-lanterns. Frankly, it is hard for me to imagine old Jack walking over the world, Halloween night with a light in a turnip and you can bet carving a turnip would be much more of a challenge than a pumpkin. You would actually miss out on the opportunity to stick your hands in there and pull out all of the slimy goo and seeds.

One of the things I found that helps a lot in removing this is a simple jarlet for scraping the insides. Just look at all of these big beautiful seeds. You might save a few for planting next spring or you can toast them in the oven for a delicious treat.

So, go and get a pumpkin and enjoy this season. Have a safe and happy Halloween! From the Garden, I am Allen Smith.