While I was at the gym getting ready for spin class, I saw an interview on one of the morning’s talk show on the TV in the locker room.   The folks being interviewed were proudly showing off the pumpkin they grew— world’s largest —something like 1700 pounds.  It was big.

Naturally they were thrilled, talking about how they used coffee compost, lots of water and I suppose  chanted or meditated or did something off the wall to encourage the growth.

Didn’t particularly excite me……off to spin class I went. Didn’t stay for the details.

What has excited and fascinated me was what I saw and enjoyed on Old Mission Peninsula on upper Lower Michigan last weekend.

Instead of simply piling the pumpkins in heaps, the growers arranged them artistically on their lawns creating a visual treat for those of us meandering around up north on the annual fall color tour.

One grower arranged her pumpkins around a tree.  I am only sorry I am not getting to see this when the tree pops with all its fall color.

Another created a huge design that made me think of a labyrinth, almost a spiritual experience.

Another curved gracefully toward a cherry orchard.

While the backdrop of Traverse Bay elicited a Wow in my head.  So did  the ones piled up like a sculpture.

And the many colored little ones jumbled together in still life profusion.

Too bad, these folks weren’t in the three-mile radius for Grand Rapids ArtPrize.  Might have had a winner.