October: All About Trees, Pumpkins, Late Bloomers, and 40.

Among other things, October after all is all about the trees. Armed with the real camera this morning, I took shots of the more dramatic tree color that puts a golden glow on the Garden Spot in the fall.

One of the few deciduous trees on the acreage, this honey locust really puts on a show with its delicate, lacy leaves, and exotic looking seed pods.

The tree has probably doubled in size since we moved here 5 1/2 years ago, so it has been a fast grower and is beginning to provide some shade, which means that I may have to rethink the garden on the north side of the house.

The aspen in the center circle are finally getting some fall color. The aspens in the high country have already put on their fall show and have probably dropped their leaves. Speaking of the High Country, any of you skiers out there? A Basin has opened, first ski area of the season. Way early. (Arapahoe Basin, that is).

Even the little red bud has a golden glow.

I don't think I shared this ash tree last week because it was rather blah compared its purple sisters out by the barn. This trees lives with the little fruit trees on the south side of the house. I see her from the bathroom window, and what a beauty she is this week.

On the north side of the house hides two snowball bushes. We tolerate them, but they are in desperate need of a good pruning or even removal, but look at the character of this old lady. And what do we see but a tiny bit of bloom--way, way out of season because the snowball bush usually blooms before the lilacs in May. In Colorado, anyway. We live in an odd zone, 5. Generally badly infested with aphids, the leaves take on an unsightly character, crumpled and curled. But I leave aphid control tot the birds who do a fair job.

In Search of the Great Pumpkin

For the kids, October is all about Halloween and finding the perfect pumpkin. The pumpkin farm that we have gone to for the last two years is located north of Ft. Collins, CO just west of  I-25. Whata  pretty view there is from the pumpkin fields. When most think of Colorado, they think of the majestic Rocky Mountains. Looking west we see the mountains, but looking east from the pumpkin patch that we visited yesterday you can see what Colorado looks like in the northern part near the Wyoming border. I zoomed in quite a bit to get the horizon, so you can see the railroad track that parallels the interstate highway. In this photo we are located west and north of the Garden Spot's location. Google Earth Wellington, Colorado and you see the prairie view of Colorado.

In search of the Great Pumpkin, the kids head out into the pumpkin patch, making their way through the tall and thick weeds.

A perfect specimen.

Still attached to the vine, this one will stay put for the next person.

No neatly cultivated rows on in this patch. So selection of the perfect pumpkin is somewhat of a challenge.

Loaded with pumpkins and kids, the wagon makes a heavy load, but dad is strong.

It is a very long walk to the field and just as long back to pay for the pumpkins.

The farm has a few attractions. This one was new this year. 

Love this one. What characters these 3 are!

We ended up with a nice cache of pumpkins, but paid a heavy price for them. At Sam's these large pumpkins were $8 a piece, at the super market they are under six, and for our two wagons we paid $85. Not again. We will plant our own next year. 

While the sunflowers faded out weeks ago, this wild thing is loving the fall sunshine. 

Such sweet boys enjoying the last of the green grass.

Yes, October has much to offer, but this year October 16th  had special meaning as the Head Gardener and I celebrated 40 years of marriage. Wow. Where did those years go? I will spare you the long details of our meeting and courtship other than to say that we met on Friday the 13th, when he followed me home from the high school homecoming game late that Friday night. He asked if I wanted to go pizza and for some odd reason I said yes. We have been together ever since that night in 1972. We married two years later.

 And here we are now, giving thanks each and every day for the blessed life that we share.

Have a fabulous week and may the wonderful gifts of life make your week a great one.

Thanks so much for visiting and for your wonderful comments. 

I am linking with Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday. Join us, won't you?