Death of the Pumpkin King
This past week Howard Dill died. He was one of Canada's interesting characters. He became know a the Pumpkin King for growing and developing the Atlantic Giant Pumpkins on his farm in Windsor, Nova Scotia. For four years in a row he grew the largest pumpkin. Others have now taken the records even higher, often with seed purchased from Howard Dill.
To see the 2007 World Record pumpkin visit http://www.pumpkinnook.com/giants/giantpumpkins.htm
At 1685 pounds it is an amazing 187 pounds heavier than the previous record.
Dill is famous for another reason. On his farm is Long Pond, one of the sacred places (to Canadians) where the game of hockey was first played. How more important to Canadian history can that be.
How dull life would be without individuals who have their obsessions and follow through on them.
Growing giant pumpkins is now widely attempted and many a Farm Fair features them. Some communities, like Windsor, Nova Scotia have taken on the giant pumpkin as the reason for a summer festival. http://www.pbase.com/thelamb/windsors_pumpkin_regatta_2007 As a paddler I enjoy the paddling of a pumpkin, beat's bathtub racing!
A giant pumpkin from a Kentucky State Fair. I am impressed with its perfect shape. What a wonderful Jack-O-Lantern it would make.
Another giant. most seem to be heavily ridges and many are very flat and misshapened from lying on the ground.
Could you imagine bovine embryo transplant into a pumpkin.? Where will the tinkering with mother Nature end?? (Smile the article that goes with this photo was dated, April 1.)
Happy gardening!
6 Comments:
haha I wouldn't like to be the one who had to scoop it out for Halloween! What a great entry and fantastic links. Have you ever tried to grow them Philip?
I was a little worried when I saw the last picture until you pointed out the date! Phew! :o)
Wow what an enormous pumpkin !! That would have been a post for the American Halloween, lol ! You are only a little early. I wonder if that last picture shouldn't be "modern art" hehehe !
You are correct about such folk as Howard Dill.. it's their kind of thinking and following those thoughts through that have lead to great discoveries.
ery interesting post... the bottom picture really makes you think..
And I thought it was great growing one that was about the size of a basketball! Oh well. My Pumpkin has 4 legs and meows. Think I will keep him! jan
You had me going with that last one. We threw all the innards from our Halloween pumpkins into a sunny spot in the ravine last year. We'll see what happens. Assuming we can actually get to them if they grow, that is.
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