Pumpkins for the YMCA Pumpkin Patch arrived this morning, September 30.
The annual Palisades-Malibu YMCA pumpkin patch will open tomorrow, October 1, and run through October 30. All proceeds benefit the local Y, a nonprofit organization.
As always, there will be a wide selection of pumpkins to choose from at Simon Meadow, corner of Sunset Boulevard and Temescal Canyon Road. Free parking is available.
The pumpkins came in giant boxes aboard a semi-truck from Manteca, California, on September 29, so they are freshly picked.
In addition to a wide variety of pumpkins that include “ghost” pumpkins, there are an assortment of decorative gourds that are particularly spectacular this year – in size, shape and color. Now is the time to stop by and select what you will need to make an autumn centerpiece.
Hours are Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
YMCA Executive Director Jim Kirtley oversaw volunteers, who unloaded pumpkins.
School kids love the field trips to the patch, which will resume this year. In addition to a hay maze, children can also look for the “spider” pumpkin.
Y Executive Director Jim Kirtley said that kids look at the bottom of the pumpkins and on one, a spider is drawn—when the kids find it, they get to take the pumpkin back to class.
To arrange a field trip to the site, located at the base of Temescal Gateway Park, call (310) 454-5591 during business hours 7 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m.
Additionally, a glass pumpkin sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 10. Designed by artisans from the Santa Monica College Art Department, there will be one-of-a-kind glass jewelry, vases and art. Proceeds will benefit the SMC Art Department, the YMCA and local artists.
Also, this year, several people, such as resident and American Legion auxiliary secretary Gina Jakel, received pumpkin plants from “farmer” Bruce Schwartz.
A former citizen of the year, Schwartz encourages all residents to try growing crops in their yards to better understand sustainability.
Jakel grew six gigantic pumpkins, in the parkway near her El Medio bluffs home, that she is donating to the Y to be sold.
“It was so much fun growing the pumpkins,” Jakel said, and added that “My neighbor let me put them in her front parkway, too.”
Since they were so big, Schwartz came by and loaded them in a pickup to be taken to the pumpkin patch.
After boxes of pumpkins were unloaded, they were placed on the YMCA Simon Meadow lot.