Flora, Now

The scarlet of maples can shake me like a cry
Of bugles going by.
And my lonely spirit thrills
to see the frosty asters like smoke
upon the hills-Bliss Carman
JAPANESE MAPLE
ROWAN TREE
COSMOS
PUMPKIN
SAXIFRAGE
CYCLAMEN
YUCCA
CANDY CORN VINE
SPINDLE
PECAN
SWEET POTATO
OCTOBER Wildflower Selection from L. B. Johnson's Wildflower Center
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References
Special Thanks
Special Thanks to Town & Country Gardens Contributors: blogger, bulabean, dive-angel (Karin), flickr, Jasmine&Roses, L. B. J. Wildflower Center/Texas University, noraohio, Rita Crane Photography. Rita Crane, daughter of LIFE magazine photographer Ralph Crane. Her work can be seen on Flickr at Rita Crane Photography or on her website., TMR Davies, Wikipedia, W.D. Williams

Cucurbita

Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima)
Other Names - Giant Pumpkin.
Origins - Central, and South America.
Type - Annual vine.
Hardiness (see References, below) - Will grow in most Summer gardens
Bloom - Spring, Summer.
Fruit - Fall.
Length
Approx. 6 ft (180 cm).
Cultivation - Full Sun, well drained soils. Grow directly on the ground or on supports to prevent disease, and slug damage.
Propagation - By seeds.
Other - Giant Pumpkin is a cultivar of squash. Both found their way to Europe, and beyond, through Spanish conquest. Today, it is hard to imagine any kitchen garden, without them. Young leaves of pumpkin are edible. I've been served some in Uganda. They were chopped, and cooked
with onions, and tomatoes, and they were good. Pumpkin's flesh, seeds, and flowers are all edible, too. See this month's (October) What's Cooking? section for more Pumpkin recipes. Find out more interesting PUMPKIN FACTS, here.
Halloween without Pumpkins would not be the same, and neither would be the Thanksgiving.
Pumpkin, -attractive garden plant, easy to grow, nutritious, and very tasty, indeed.
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References - Find more about Hardiness Zones
Special Thanks
Special Thanks to Town & Country Gardens Contributors: anadelmann, blogger, bulabean, dive-angel (Karin), flickr, Jasmine&Roses, Rita Crane Photography. Rita Crane, daughter of LIFE magazine photographer Ralph Crane. Her work can be seen on Flickr at Rita Crane Photography or on her website., Sean Dreilinger, solud, TMR Davies, University of Illinois Extension, Wikipedia, W.D. Williams, Zeetz Jones

Jack O'Lantern

The jack -o'lantern chuckled
Then winked his funny eye,
"I would rather be a pumpkin-face
Than be inside a pie!"
Jolly wolly pumpkin face
You're happy tell us why.
I'd rather be a pumpkin face
And not a pumpkin pie!
(author unknown)

There are many legends associated with European Pagan, and later Christian traditions, but to me Halloween, and good old pumpkin Jack O'Lantern is as American, as another holiday to follow, called Thanksgiving.
We bought a fat orange pumpkin
The plumpest sort they sell.
We neatly scooped the inside out
And only left the shell.
We carved a funny funny-face
Of silly shape and size,
A pointy nose, a jagged mouth
And two enormous eyes.
We set it in a window
And we put a candle in,
Then lit it up for all to see
Our jack-o'lantern grin.
(Pumpkin, author unknown)

Americans love growing, showing, eating and of course carving pumpkins.

Pumpkin pumpkin round and fat.
Turn into a jack-o'Lantern
Just like that!"
(Pumpkin, author unknown)

Needless to say, it is lots of fun!
Whether you've tried carving pumpkins before, or are just getting tempted, well, -now is the time!

Here are a few great ideas, from very traditional to rather unconventional.

It's easy to do.
See practical demonstration of HOW TO CARVE A PUMPKIN.
Happy Halloween!

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References
Special Thanks
Special Thanks to Town & Country Gardens Contributors: Beckett's art stuff/artbeco; see her ETSY, blogger, bulabean, CanTeach, dive-angel (Karin), flickr, HOWDINI GURU, Jasmine&Roses, minipixel, Michael Krigsman, Rita Crane Photography. Rita Crane, daughter of LIFE magazine photographer Ralph Crane. Her work can be seen on Flickr at Rita Crane Photography or on her website., Rupert Pumpkin, TMRDavies, W.D. Williams, Wikipedia, wittywd40