On my return from a wonderful trip to Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, I was eager to check out the progress Peter and his crew had made at the Hazelnut Inn. I wasn’t disappointed! The theme work in the Copper Crown garden is now complete, and the walkway's forming is ready for concrete. The ready-mix is scheduled bright and early on Wednesday morning. Landscaping will commence right after that. As I was inspecting the work at the Hazelnut Inn, I took the time to get down on the ground and grab this spectacular wide-angle shot of what guests will soon experience.
Like magic
Vala’s Pumpkin Patch is known to be busy when it opens each year. What visiting guests do not see is how busy the farm is as the crew readies the grounds to welcome them before the season begins. The large, skilled crew and all manner of contractors work tirelessly to plant tens of thousands of flowers, shrubs, and trees. Buildings are upgraded, others are built from scratch, walking paths are paved, rides are installed, crops are planted, and a thousand other tasks are taken care of. Our work is also added to the abundant collection of signs we’ve created for Vala’s over the past years. As fast as the signs, photo ops and features are plopped into place, the workers replace the fencing we’ve moved, replant the planters the machines had to traverse. The new signs are quickly surrounded by rock planters, filled with soil and then, as if by magic, full-grown flowers appear. New gravel is carefully placed and tamped into place. With this being my seventh visit to the farm, I get friendly waves as I zoom around in the golf cart they provide for me to traverse the large grounds. This year’s crop of signs and features is now in place and we are busy planning next year’s exciting adventures. Stay tuned…
Cap'n Elias approved
One of the lovely traditions at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch is that many of the dining places and attractions are named in honour of family members. An upcoming attraction, the pirate area, is to be named after one of the younger family members, Elias. Cap’n Elias’ Pirate Ship is arriving in 2026, along with some other similarly themed attractions, which are yet to be announced. As luck would have it, yesterday was dress like a pirate day at his preschool, and he was dressed in great style, complete with a fantastic cutlass. This afternoon, Elias was thrilled to see his sign and pose for a photo in his fancy costume. It is now officially Cap’n Elias approved!
