Mog the Dog here.

Bradbury's Dandelion Wine, together with his love for all things Halloween, has inspired me to take notice that Halloween is in full bloom today in this neck-o-the-Land-o-Plenty woods, approximately 38.2 miles south southwest of Allendale, California:



The pumpkin vine emerged from the remains of last year's Jack-o-Lantern, which we buried in the chicken manure compost pile just before Christmas.

The male flowers (which arrive first in order to be absolute first) are in full bloom now but will wither and die before the first females arrive on the scene. Their brilliant orange effort is not all for naught, though, because they have managed to attract the bees and flies and gotten them used to the habit of coming each day for a free meal.

Sometime within the next week or so, the first fruit will set, and in the setting, will bring the first real glimpse of Halloween, 2010, into full view.

MTD

Way kewl.

It's great to see you again, Mog! Please keep us posted on the development of this fruit of the vine!

Hi Viktoria,

Mog the Dog here, surveying the state of affairs in the pumpkin patch on this fine first day of August:



It has taken just two short weeks for this little embryonic chunk of Halloween, 2010, to grow as tall as I.

It's alive! It's alive!!!!

MTD

Awww... a pumpkin fetus - how cute!

Mog the Dog here, taking a moment to check in on the pumpkin. It is orange now but still growing. It is starting to look a bit lumpy. I wonder if that is due to inconsistent watering or just pumpkin genetics.

I better quit wondering and start heading for the car so I do not miss out on the trip to Glendale.

Looking forward to seeing some of you this evening at the celebratory dinner.

MTD