Mmmmmm ... it smells like fall! Every year, I look forward to
rolling up my sleeves and gutting out my Jack-O'-Lantern. Last year, I
used my pumpkin's stem as a nose and totally beat my boyfriend in a
pumpkin-carving contest (shhhh, it's never a "contest" unless I win) ...
This
year, I have a different plan. You see, there are these new
pumpkins out called Knuckle Heads. Basically, they have warts. Through
my observations, adults love them, kids are scared of them and
senior citizens think they're diseased. Not true, to say the least.
Knuckle Heads have taken about 10 years to engineer. They are grown
from specialized pumpkin seeds. The discolored bumps on their skin
makes your Jack-O'-Lanterns all the more scarier. Scroll down to the
last three photos and
decide for yourself ... personally, I think they're pretty darn cool —
not something I'd use to make a pumpkin pie (if I even knew how to),
but definitely something I'll bring to the pumpkin-carving table.

Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 640 ISO, f2.8, 1/200, Manual
Emma Ross, a first-grader at Country Meadows Elementary School,
Muskego, reacts to the slimy insides of her pumpkin Thursday, Sept. 25,
2008, during a pumpkin-carving party, held in the school's cafeteria.
Although the students drew their own pumpkin faces, parent volunteers
took care of the carving. The pumpkins were carved in support of the
Muskego Historical Society Arts and Crafts Fair.
Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 640 ISO, f2.8, 1/200, Manual
Cassidy Nicholson, a first-grader at Country Meadows Elementary School,
Muskego, guts her pumpkin Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008, during a
pumpkin-carving party, held in the school's cafeteria. Although the
students drew their own pumpkin faces, parent volunteers took care of
the carving. The pumpkins were carved in support of the Muskego
Historical Society Arts and Crafts Fair.
Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 640 ISO, f2.8, 1/2500, Manual
Bria Wright, 3, runs through a pumpkin patch, right past a brand new
pumpkin species, the Knuckle Head (bottom center), Saturday, Sept. 27,
2008, at Awe's Orchard, located on Highway 100, Franklin. This year is
the first year Awe's is selling Knuckle Heads, which are part of the
Super Freak pumpkin series. The pumpkins, which are grown from special
seeds and develop bumps or "warts," took approximately 10 years to
engineer. Paula Awe, who owns and operates the orchard and pumpkin
patch with her husband, says the pumpkins are quite popular because
their textures allow for scary and goofy faces.
Nikon D2H, 17 mm, 640 ISO, f2.8, 1/2000, Manual
Rahab Shirk, 2, checks out a brand new pumpkin species, the Knuckle
Head, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, at Awe's Orchard, located on Highway
100, Franklin. This year is the first year Awe's is selling Knuckle
Heads, which are part of the Super Freak pumpkin series. The pumpkins,
which are grown from special seeds and develop bumps or "warts," took
approximately 10 years to engineer. Paula Awe, who owns and operates
the orchard and pumpkin patch with her husband, says the pumpkins are
quite popular because their textures allow for scary and goofy faces.
Nikon D2H, 22 mm, 640 ISO, f2.8, 1/2000, Manual
Awe's Orchard, located on Highway 100, Franklin, has a new kind of
pumpkin this year: The Knuckle Head. The pumpkins, which are grown from
special seeds and develop bumps or "warts," took approximately 10 years
to engineer. Paula Awe, who owns and operates the orchard and pumpkin
patch with her husband, says the pumpkins are quite popular because
their textures allow for scary and goofy faces.