Wild pumpkins

It happens every year, so why do I forget??  Once the compost goes onto the veggie garden, and gets watered, a plethora of pumpkins start sprouting.

This year I have planted about 10 pumpkin seeds in order to raise seedlings of particular types of pumpkin.  But only two have sprouted.  I was looking down the barrel of an autumn with very few pumpkins.... but then the compost went on the garden and the pumpkin-sprouting-party began!

There's something wonderful about receiving unplanned and unexpected gifts in the garden like these.  It's as though they are little blessings from heaven, each one carrying with it the ability to give greater gifts at harvest time!

And it is their giving which is their message to us... it is the same in all of nature, all of creation.... everything around us gives, gives, and gives some more.  They are happy to give in their living and in their dying.