BfloGirlExplores: The Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence

I love fall – the colors, the patterns, the textures, the smells, the apples (sorry, no pumpkin spice here!)…decorating moves back into the house (yes, I do decorate with pumpkins – just don’t like eating or drinking them) and I find myself saying “where did the year go?” (especially this year!)

There are so many cool things to do in the Buffalo area at this time of year, but I’ve never taken the time to actually do any of them. Well, call it a new perspective after the events of this summer, but I finally (FINALLY!) made it to The Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence – for the first time in my 46 years (sometimes I’m slow…).

Now, I went on a Tuesday – no crazy pumpkin tosses or BBQ contests going on, no hayrides or carnival rides, and not  lot of people – that last part was pretty nice. It’s also free admission during the week if you’re just looking for a place to go and see some fall. There are plenty of mums, pumpkins and gourds available for purchase, as well as a gift shop, bakery, and a bar and café that opens at noon during the week and 11 a.m. on the weekends.

The Great Pumpkin Farm, located at 11199 Main St., opens daily at 10 a.m. – find out more about the events on the rest of this year’s schedule – running through Oct. 31 – at the link above.

all photos: paulathompsonfreelance

BfloGirlGeek/BfloGirlGarden: Khaleesi’s Garden

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…

Ok, not really…

circa 2014 - the originals

It was about 10-12 years ago, and it happened in this quaint little suburb of Buffalo.

circa 2015 - the move to bigger and better gardens

My “geek garden,” which has grown into “Khaleesi’s Garden,” started with just a couple of plants: a daylily called Jedi Free Spirit and a dahlia called Dark Angel Star Wars (which just totally reminds me of Mustafar). It became something of a game to look for new plants each year, and eventually it grew beyond Star Wars.

circa 2018 - overlooking Mustafar

Some annuals have changed over the years (where did my Hedwig and Black Widow coleus go, Rosy Dawn?), and many perennials have been added (finally got a Midnight Marvel Hibiscus to grow!), but I always find joy in a new discovery, and sometimes I even grasp at straws (I planted Veronica in the garden because Veronica is the code name for the Hulk-buster armor in Avengers: Age of Ultron!).

2019 garden

Along the way, I picked up a few sculptures – three dragons (hence Khaleesi), a baby dragon (so cute!) and a unicorn/Pegasus combo (which I know doesn’t exist, but Peter’s steed in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” was a unicorn and Valkerie rode a pretty sweet Pegasus in “Endgame,” so I can’t dismantle it now!) – plus a couple of “sun and stars” pieces (odes to Khal Drogo). I also picked up a cute Baby Groot planter that I proceeded to fill with “Mint Marvel” sempervivum.

2019 succulent collection

Every winter, while I’m worrying about the next snowfall and how much sleep I’m going to get, I find the bright side of things when I go searching for next year’s new additions.

2019 garden

all photos: PaulaThompsonFreelance

BfloGirlWorld: And just like that, summer’s at its end…

So that was the summer that got away…

Actually, it started with spring, which was cool and rainy and not conducive to doing a darn thing – especially gardening…

Then it got warm…and continued to rain (at least the plants liked it)…

Then Dad had health issues…then I had health issues…

Then, suddenly, it’s the week before Labor Day…WHAT?!?!?!

I’m actually ready – like, REALLY ready – for fall, because this summer has been abysmal – although my gardens do look pretty good, so I guess that’s something.

I’m ready for cooler nights, hot cocoa, plaid everything and boots. I’m ready for apple cider, sunflowers, mums and fall décor. I will not join you all on the pumpkin spice train, however – I just don’t get it, sorry.

Bring on health, bring on fall, bring on new beginnings.

all photos: PaulaThompsonFreelance