I absolutely loved growing the pumpkins. It was the first time for me and just watching them grow made me ridiculously happy. I think it’s that bright orange color that seems just so cheery. My mom used horse manure from their horses so the soil is pretty rich. Along with that she had a big patch of Borage which attracts bees galore. I’m going to try planting some of that next year. I wish that I had some of your squash output here. This was the first year for me that my squash didn’t do super well.

Hopefully the straw and cardboard trick will work for the garden. One of my neighbors said that she used newspaper and mulch and it did a good job. That and it makes the soil really nice after a few years of doing that from breaking back down into the soil. I need to try something different as it felt like a jungle trying to walk through the pathways towards the end of summer.

Do you think that you will be able to get Randy interested in doing honeybees? I have to say that I probably wouldn’t do it (kinda scared of bees) so it will be Lee’s project. It doesn’t seem like very much work at all from talking with Lee’s nephew and brother.

Your pumpkins look awesome! I will definitely have to do pumpkins next year! Our squash did so well this year – I was so surprised, so I bet if I had pumpkins, they’d do good, too! What’s your mom’s secret for 37 off 2 plants??

I know what you mean about the weeds! This year was my first garden – I tried to weed it, but the weeds were ferocious & time-consuming. I’ll have to try the cardboard & straw thing. Plus I plan on enlarging my garden next year, the squash took way more than they’re fair share of the garden this year!

I’ve been trying to talk my husband into honeybees – my step-dad had honeybees when I was a kid. It didn’t look like alot of work, and the honey was great.

Thanks for the tips, as always!

I am very envious of your pumpkins and squashes. Mine didn’t do so well; very disappointing.