A Day With Friends Among the Pumpkins

Every year, the Dallas Arboretum ushers in fall with a most spectacular Pumpkin Patch.  In fact, the Pioneer Woman declared it one of "20 Best Pumpkin Patches in the U.S. to Visit With the Family This Fall."  This is the 17th year for Autumn at the Arboretum.

This past Friday, a group of ladies from our church Life Group met for a day among the pumpkins.  It was absolutely the most perfect fall weather for such a fun outing.  In fact, it doesn't get any better in Dallas.

We agreed that every family there thought it worth coming out for too.

The grounds of the Arboretum are spectacular with or without pumpkins.  There is something to see at every turn of the walking paths.

Around one such turn, we found this entertaining lovely Spanish lady being filmed pantomiming a song.  Every garden should have a bit of drama, right?

In early November the pumpkins will be removed and these small domed glass cages will be dressed for Christmas.  Opening November 10th is the Holiday at the Arboretum, featuring the return of The 12 Days of Christmas exhibit.  We went last year and it was totally amazing!

Jane, Sharon, Mary and Carolyn were deep in conversation when I asked them to pose.  Behind them, you can see one of the hundreds of trees already lighted for the Christmas display.

Carol and Margaret decided to get acquainted with Shakespeare;

however, he got a little too acquainted with Margaret.

The following are some of the most interesting stems that I couldn't ignore.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch in the lovely DeGolyer Restaurant with an overview of the Dallas skyline in the distance.

Each of these ladies are God's special gift of friendship to me.

After lunch, we visited the acclaimed Pumpkin Village featuring large-scale pumpkin houses and creative displays utilizing more than 100,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash.  The theme is "A Fall Fairy Tale."

This is the Jack and the Beanstalk House with even the cherished cow.

Peggy and Jone are standing in front of the Texas Star House.

The Three Little Pigs would love this solid orange pumpkin house.

Solid white pumpkins are the building material for Cinderella's castle.

Her magic carriage is being pulled by a team of large cornhusk horses.  The children loved having their pictures made inside the carriage.  We didn't attempt it.

The Sword in the Stone corn maze was very popular as well.

The colorful Gourd House was a lovely backdrop for Libby and Margaret.

And then, there are some more imaginative than others.

It is not all pumpkins and gourds at the Arboretum.  There are also quiet streams and places to sit or walk and contempt the beauty of God's creation before daring to drive the Dallas freeways again.