Sunday 21 October 2012

Pumpkin Parade

Well, not really a parade, but an exhibition, just like last year's one, which you can read about here. This year, the theme was "Switzerland" (it being the home country of the company who organises the exhibition), and so the pumpkin displays showed all sorts of things associated with it, such as the Matterhorn, cows, Wilhelm Tell, the Swiss flag, cheesemaking (I think), a man playing an alphorn (if you are not familiar with what an alphorn looks and sounds like, simply go to youtube and type "alphorn" in the search box; there is plenty there), and so on.

The Matterhorn

Knowing that the exhibition is going to close in two weeks' time, and with another wonderful Golden October day ahead, my Mum and I decided to go there yesterday.


Now, we're actually not that keen on the exhibition itself, but we are glad it attracts so many visitors from all over the world, bringing attention to our home town and money to match. We love our palace grounds very much in all seasons, and wanted to have a look at the beautiful colours of trees, bushes and flowers now that summer is over and the atmosphere at the park is quite different.


As long as the exhibition lasts (about 6 weeks altogether, I think), there is an extra area where one can have food and drink, everything has something pumpkin in it: pumpkin soup. pumpkin risotto, pumpkin quiche, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin sparkling wine, and so on.

We managed to find a seat in the sun, and I enjoyed the quiche very much; we had some pumpkin sparkling wine with it (the taste reminds us more of apricots than of pumpkin, to be honest; it is very fruity and sweet), and my dessert was a pumpkin cookie.



Walking in the park, taking a rest on a bench every now and then, was a most pleasant way of spending this beautiful sunny afternoon. It may well have been the last time this year that we walked there together, but the park will still be there next year, waiting for us in spring with the first buds coming out.

23 comments:

  1. I think seasonal festivals or exhibitions are a good idea and it certainly seems you were lucky in your choice of day to enjoy it. I don't think we've seen the sun here all week...

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    1. Yes, we like our seasonal events, the most loved probably being the Christmas market (which is about the only thing I really like about the cold season) :-)

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  2. I know pumpkin is a very versatile vegetable, but I hadn't realised just how versatile, Meike! That sounds like a most enjoyable day, especially in that lovely sunshine. We're shrouded in thick mist over here in Wales. Sigh....

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  3. The things people find to do with vegetables never cease to amaze me! Beautiful pics. Foggy here in our part of England today.

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    1. True, Joanne. I always wonder what they'd be doing with all the pumpkins if it wasn't for the festival.

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  4. I love pumpkins! That sounds like such a fun day. Yesterday I made pumpkin muffins and just ate one for breakfast. Yum!

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  5. And you even have a pumpkin colored rose for us! You think of everything!
    I love that first photo of the Matterhorn in pumpkins.
    And your quiche with the sparkling wine looks very nice to me too!
    Fall festivals everywhere here just now, and beautiful clear weather for it, with bright blue skies.
    And just thinking, I wonder how many pumpkins it took to make up that display of the Matterhorn?

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    1. Actually, I didn't have the pumpkins in mind when I took the picture of the rose :-) According to the sign near the flower bed, this one is called a Bernstein Rose (amber rose).
      That Matterhorn is made of much less pumpkins than you'd probably think at first; it is hollow underneath, there is just one layer of pumpkins nailed to a wooden scaffolding to give it that particular shape.

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  6. I love all the different varieties of pumpkin and am so happy you and your mother had this beautiful day together. My husband and I loved walking about the palace grounds in Ludwigsburg, though mostly we went in the spring. Beautiful memories of long ago and far away when I was young. But these days are also beautiful.Pumpkin sparkling wine that tastes more like apricot sounds like something I might want to try.

    Please tell you Mum that her beautiful package of socks and hats I bought from her Etsy shop arrived and are just wonderful. Many thanks!

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    1. Thank you, Kristi, I am glad it got there in time for Thanksgiving when you wanted to have it. I have just told my Mum and am sure she'll be over here soon :-)

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    2. Hello Kristi,
      I am glad you like the works. So shipping went rather fast! Please leave also a comment on Etsy, if you would.

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  7. what a variety of pumpkin images! I've never heard of pumpkin wine, but from your description, I'm sure I'd savor it. I did taste apple wine this month thanks to a fellow book club member. I never drink wine and drive, but book club is held monthly in my home.
    many thanks for your visits and comments on my blog posts!

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    1. It's very nice, Norma, more like a fruity lemonade than wine with only very little alcohol in it.

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  8. I've never really fancied pumpkin, but maybe I should give it a try....

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    1. With such a big variety of tastes, I am sure you'd find something you like, Frances.

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  9. It makes me happy to hear of you and your mother enjoying sunny afternoons together and enjoying each other's company as it is evident you do. I miss my mother acutely at the change of the seasons...she being a lover of Spring and it's promise of renewal and I loving Fall with its promise of rest and warmth by the fire.

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    1. Jill, I know I am very lucky to not only have my parents live within easy walking distance, but also getting along with them so well and they being in relatively good health and interested in so many things.

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  10. Beautiful set of photos. Even the rose at the end seems to be a pale pumpkin colour! xoxo

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    1. Yes, the colour of the rose seems to fit the pumpkin theme, although it was actually the first picture I took on that day and not with the pumpkins in mind - the sign in the flower bed said it was an amber rose :-)

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  11. I was really enjoying the post until I got to the words 'sparkling pumpkin wine'. Whaaaaaaat!

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    1. Yes, sparkling wine, based on pumpkins instead of grapes... why not? It's fruity and nice!

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