The Furry Farmer

We dutifully put our pumpkins out on our front stoop in October. Sometimes carved, usually just plain out there. About two years ago, we noticed that our tenant chipmunk- who lives somewhere under our foundation- took a liking to the carved pumpkin. We could see the bite marks made into the pumpkin. Well, it was either "Chippy" the chipmunk or the squirrels. What we did not expect was for Chippy to plant the seeds around the front bushes. The next year, around summer time we were wondering what was growing. We just let it grow until we figured out it was a pumpkin plant. The plant took a life of its own and with not that much care aside from the occasional drowning by the girls. By the end of summer we could see the bud/flowers and what would eventually be a pumpkin. The first year yielded 2-3 small pumpkins. Out on the stoop they went. Although we didn't see as many bite marks as before, I did help out Chippy by throwing a couple seeds in the same spot. He must have got the hint because there were about five plants that started growing the next year. One especially stretched out down the driveway. We had to move that one onto the lawn and I had to avoid it when I mowed. This year's bumper crop was another three pumpkins. Aside from those obtained from pumpkin patch field trip and family trips, there are about eight on the stoop. I think Chippy and company are going to go nuts this year.