Our growing collection of pumpkins
(Note the tiny ones at the top. They didn’t turn orange in time, but will make excellent “eye balls” for one of the Jack ‘O Lanterns on Halloween.)
I attended the SummerWinds Nursery fire sale last week, and brought home a beautiful, forged-iron bench. Made in Mexico, it features scroll work along the back and a heart-shaped seat. I’m organized at heart, so it was impossible to resist.
My son was with me at the time, and looked askance at the cold, hard bench. I assured him that I had something else in mind, and it didn’t include seating. Under typical circumstances, I would admire the bench, dream of all the things I could do with it, then move on. It seemed extravagant to buy such a pretty bench as a plant stand.
We walked around the nursery parking lot, looked at what little remained at the fire sale, then worked our way back to the bench. The one-of-a-kind lovely was still there, with a fire sale price of 30% off. Further, 10% of the proceeds would benefit the San Jose Firefighters Burn Foundation. We paid for our purchases and into the car it went.
Coincidentally, we harvested our great pumpkins that same evening, I brought home the perfect seat for our pumpkins. Once harvested and weighed on the Wii Fit, I relocated my beloved coleus to the back porch, creating a place of honor for our great pumpkins. You can view the pumpkins seated on the bench from the street. It will be the perfect place for the Jack O’ Lanterns once carved.
Today we harvested the last five pumpkins, making room for the winter garden. My seeds are calling me. Time to get busy!
Go to the SummerWinds Almaden Nursery Facebook Page for updates on sales and plans to rebuild.
Gardening Nirvana 
What a fab find! And a perfect way to display your impressive pumpkin bounty. I like the little white “eye balls”! And I’m sure the rewarding shopping experience was a tad poignant, being a true “fire sale” at your beloved SummerWinds Nursery. It was a nice touch that a portion of the proceeds went to the Firefighters Burn Foundation. So I’d say you should feel pretty good about this successful shopping excursion! I’ll look forward to your Jack O’ Lantern display!
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Thank you CC, for taking time out of your busy schedule to read and comment. They raised $14,000 at that three day weekend sale. Impressive, and for two great programs.
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Isn’t it fun to get things you love on sale? Especially nice that it helps a charity. Your pumpkin booty looks so bountiful in that cute vignette. Your new bench will be great for future holiday celebrations too, christmas, easter. You’ll always have a nice place to start. That’s a big bruiser of a pumpkin on the bottom left…will they all turn bright orange? I’m just starting to see them in the stores here. If I buy one now, will it last till Oct 31 without spoiling? I always wait, then the big ones are gone.
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By all means by one now. They last upwards of six months when kept dry and cool. Once you carve them, however, they go quickly. You have 24 to 48 hours, tops, before they start to rot.
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I know we won’t get any kids in the Condo, but you’re having so much fun with your pumpkins I want to play too. I let you know what I find.
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Hurray! You must buy pumpkins so you can pose them with petals and blossum. I’m awaiting the report.
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By all means by one now. They last upwards of six months when kept dry and cool. Once you carve them, however, they go quickly. You have 24 to 48 hours, tops, before they start to rot.
You’re right, it will be the perfect setting for future holidays. I can’t wait. I might create a fairy garden on the bench next summer, too.
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They look great Alys… I’m still on the lookout for pumpkins over here. If I’d have planted some this year in my garden I would have had a bench full of eye balls and no heads!! Very scarey!!!
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LOL!!!! You are so funny.
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