Pumpkin Blossoms

This spring we planted a few pumpkin seeds. We planted other types of seeds as well--but most of those didn't sprout. We did nothing particularly special with the pumpkin seeds, but, oh, how they have grown. We were amazed when we returned from Cape Cod to find pumpkin vines everywhere.

My favorite part of the pumpkin growing process is the beautiful  blossoms that are open each morning. I must admit that for awhile I was perplexed as to why there were flowers at times and at times there weren't. When the flowers would shrivel up, I kept expecting the vines to dry up and die as well. But then while we were at the Green Briar Nature Center in Sandwich, Massachusetts, the girls found a book on pumpkins. The book explained how the pumpkin vines bloom each morning and then the bloom closes. Oh, they are supposed to do that! Apparently, it is a good idea to research the plants you are growing.

Now the question is whether the vines will actually produce pumpkins. Based on that nifty little book, it's apparently a wait and see sort of thing. We are hoping the bees pollinate the blossoms so fruit will grow. According to some Google research, there are ways to artificially pollinate the blossoms, but that is way beyond my skills as a gardener. So, we'll just wait and see.

It's all been rather miraculous and wonderful to watch. While pouring my coffee in the morning, I look out the back door to see the blossoms and their happy, golden color makes me smile. What joy. This year we are managing to keep things alive and that is better than I've done in the past. We'll just see how this gardening hobby progresses.