Banners were everywhere!

Note the subliminal use of gourd imagery

Carolyn Villa-Scott of Yamagami's demonstrates the estimated size of their future pumpkin!

Bev and Bob Tanem!

Almaden Valley Nursery's owner, Matt Lepow and Bob Tanem

Todde Slinde of Kellogg Garden Products and Bob Tanem

A Week-end in the Silicon Valley!

Good evening, Growers!

Well, I'm back from a whirlwind week-end in the San Jose-Cupertino-Morgan Hill area of the Silicon Valley, the first leg of this year's world tour. I flew up Friday, mid-afternoon to the San Jose Airport, and was greeted by Todd Slinde of Kellogg Garden Products. The next morning, we set off for Yamagami's Nursery for the maiden workshops of the season. I was extremely impressed with the preparations the management and staff have made for Yamagami's 2009 giant pumpkin growing efforts, and the great signage they created for the workshops. Both workshops were well-attended, and the number and quality of questions were truly astounding. Todd and I were up bright and early Sunday morning for our radio appearances on Bob Tanem's 'In the Garden' radio show broadcast on KSFO at Almaden Valley Nursery. Then we were off to Johnson Garden Center in Morgan Hill. This was my first visit to Johnson Garden Center. For a first-time workshop venue, we had a number of very enthusiastic workshop attendees that kept the questions coming well past the time we had allowed to return back to Almaden Valley's workshop Sunday afternoon. The afternoon workshop at Almaden Valley went very well, and at least one attendee was inspired to try and grow his pumpkin this year in a 60-gallon trash can since his garden consists primarily of shale.

Where there's a will, there's a way!

I have some late-breaking workshop news as well. Thursday, May 7th, at 2:30 p.m., I'll be presenting a workshop at Glazier Elementary School, 10932 East Excelsior Drive, Norwalk, CA 90650, phone: Tel. (562) 863-8796, fax: (562) 863-8797 at the invitation of Martha Treadway, www.glazierelementary.org! Since this year's May full moon will be Saturday, May 9th, we're planning to take advantage of this special opportunity to transplant some seedlings into their specially prepared patch after the workshop is finished. If you've ever wondered exactly how to transplant a giant pumpkin seedling, here's your chance! Martha assures me that local and national media, PTA, fellow teachers, school administrators, staff, interested parents, and slightly interested students, will be invited. In fact, we're hoping that the mayor of Norwalk will be on hand to officially dedicate their patch! We shall see... If you or anyone you know has friends at Norwalk city hall, this opportunity would be an ideal use of some political capital!

Have a great evening!

Stuart