I have always thought that Halloween holiday comes at a perfect time of year. The garden is filled with spiders and spiderwebs. Leaves rustle in a most eerie way, especially at night which comes earlier and earlier every day. There's a crisp edge, a chill and a persistent smell in the air. It's a fall smell which is much different than the smell of spring. A very busy time for the gardener, with the night temperatures dropping into the forties, you must bring any houseplants into your warm home and take cuttings of annuals your interested in saving. Gather seed and harvest the last tomatoes, peppers and herb cuttings to dry. Dig your cannas, and tender bulbs or corms (like gladiolus) to store in a frost free environment. The dahlias will have to wait because they are just beautiful right now. Note to self: plant lots of dahlias next year!

I was fortunate enough to visit Longwood Gardens this fall and watch a pumpkin carving demonstration. In Longwood Gardens style it was nicely done with lots of odd gourds and pumpkins. Amidst the colorful pumpkins there was a lone turnip, carved and illuminated, lumpy and small. Along with the turnip came a tale as old as carving pumpkins and I was embarrassed to say that I didn't know anything about it. The real story about Jack of "Jack O'Lantern" and the reason pumpkins are set out at this time of year is really quite interesting and obviously a powerful enough tale to have found its way into just about every household in America.

It seems that there are several versions of the original story but I like the one I heard at Longwood Gardens best. The original tale comes from Ireland and tells of a ornery old man named Jack who struck a rather odd deal with the devil on the night of his appointed death, October 31st. Jack manages to trap the devil in a cleaver scheme and is allowed to remain on earth for 10 years, after which the devil returns for Jack, again on October 31st. On the anniversary of his second calling, Jack once again tricks the devil, it seems that he's not a very bright character. Despite Jacks tactics to remain on earth, he eventually dies and upon his death is rejected from heaven for his evil life and turned away from hell for his scheming tactics. It seems that Jack is left in a place somewhere between heaven and hell where it's always dark and very windy. While eating a turnip in the land of darkness, Jack asks the devil how he might see to travel. The devil tosses him a lump of coal which is too hot to carry so he carves out his turnip and sets it inside.

This legend can be traced back nearly 2000 years where in Ireland there were no pumpkins, rather potatoes and turnips. These were carved out and left in windows to light the way on the anniversary of that dark night. Once Iris settlers arrived in this country they found pumpkins more plentiful and they soon became the symbol of Halloween, carved as "Jack O' Lanterns".

The anniversary date is also used to mark the death of the old growing year and the birth or beginning of a new one. Bringing new life to the garden, the gardener can plant several vegetables that can tolerate temperatures of 20 degrees. These include cabbage, broccoli, rutabagas and turnips. There is usually a period of 60 days or so before we really see temperatures that low and it's the perfect time to plant lettuce, Swiss chard, parsnips, radishes and greens like mustard and arugula. I have seen all of these take temperatures in the mid-twenties and love it!

By the end of this month the ginkgos will be in their fall glory at Blandy or the State Arboretum. You must plan a trip to see all 500 of them, it's a glorious site!