Hardy and earthy, the pumpkin has a bright and colorful personality. Her stems are peculiar in the winter squash family, as they are more rigid and prickly. But do not be alarmed, her prickliness is mostly for show. Inside, pumpkin is really quite sweet, and slow to take insult because she is rather thick skinned. She grows on an enthusiastic vine, flowering in midsummer with showy yellow-orange blossoms. Pumpkin has both male (pollen-bearing) and female (seed-bearing) flowers on the same plant. Her round leaves have five deep lobes and serrated edges. The solid dark green or yellow-green leaves provide a backdrop for the vibrancy of her fruit. While pumpkin’s round body is generally smooth, it holds enough lines to make her interesting. Her deep orange hue has a beautiful glow about it. She is comforting, with her sense of beauty and abundance. One thing to note about pumpkin is that she is incredibly versatile. She can decorate for Samhain, top-off a feast at Thanksgiving, and nourish you with her plentiful seeds. She is the old momma at the dinner table wanting everyone to eat their fill, and then perhaps a little bit more.

The Magic of Pumpkin

The Medicine of Pumpkin

Science of Pumpkin