Located in the beautiful rolling hills of northern Virginia, Wegmeyer Farms\u00a0is definitely my favorite pick-your-own-pumpkin patch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThis\u00a0authentic family-owned farm grows a very unique crop of different colored pumpkins.\u00a0There are even some baby blues in the harvest, though orange dominates the Wegmeyer Farms palette.<\/p>\n
Tickets are required for limiting crowds during coronavirus, allowing for a stress-free experience in the patch. Book early for the best pure experience. Even though we visited on a Saturday at 10 a.m., it was crowd free.<\/p>\n <\/noscript>I love the variety of pumpkins at Wegmeyer Farms.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/span>Gourds Galore at Gaver Farm<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nMy second choice is\u00a0Gaver Farm<\/strong>. I went on a Friday around 2 p.m., and it wasn\u2019t crowded at all. I hear they are a bit busier on the weekend.\u00a0Gaver Farm offers the perfect patch for all ages. Children laughing and running around adds to the festive feel, and their indulgent grandparents add to the spirit of the soon-to-be-here holiday season.<\/p>\n <\/noscript>See the Christmas trees behind me at Gaver Farm? I will be back to pick up a mini evergreen shrub. I think the backdrop of foliage will be a treat to visit this autumn.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nTickets and time: Reservations are available only online; no tickets are sold on site. Your scheduled arrival time is the same as your reservation time with some leeway \u2014 you can arrive within the hour of your designated time. Example, a 9 a.m. time means you can arrive between 9 and 10 a.m. Visitors can stay as long as they like on the farm (within hours of operation). The number of tickets sold is reduced as the day progresses to ensure the farm doesn\u2019t get crowded.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Out of My Gourd for Hartland Farm and Orchard\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nHartland Farm and Orchard\u00a0<\/strong>is a gorgeous farm. I previously visited their apple orchards, which have an amazing assortment of apples. On my second visit, the pumpkin patch was pretty picked over. I suggest calling before heading out, although their farm is a beautiful setting for a Fall picnic.<\/p>\n <\/noscript>Such a beautiful spread. If you miss the pumpkin harvest, keep Hartland Farm and Orchard in mind for apple season.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/span>Pumpkins for a Cause<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nThe Immanuel Church on-the-Hill\u2019s\u00a0<\/strong>Pumpkin Patch is celebrating its 27th<\/sup> annual fundraiser anniversary. It was my first visit and quite convenient if you don’t want to drive too far from the city. Located in Alexandria, Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill sells pumpkins of all sizes and shapes to earn money. Prices start at $1 and climb as high as the pumpkin is large. Homemade soups, baked goods, knit wear, and other seasonal items are also available. Social distancing was respected here along with mandatory masks. I only took my mask off for a quick photo.<\/p>\n <\/noscript>Gourds, squash, pumpkins \u2026 whatever you want to call \u2019em, I love \u2019em all at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe fundraiser goes through Oct. 31. Operating hours are Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m. Weekend hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is no admission charge. I went early on a weekday to avoid the crowds that came later as I was leaving around 3:30 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>Variety is the Vibe<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nThe Nalls Produce <\/strong>collection of pumpkin varieties is one of the best I’ve seen. I actually love<\/em> it and the beautiful display.\u00a0Their displays are enchanting all throughout the year. Be sure to check out the peaches when they are ripe or spend a few afternoons poking around for ideas for your garden \u2014 Nalls is always perfect for taking a pic for the Gram. Believe it or not, Nalls has been serving Franconia farmers and gardeners for more than 50 years. The staff expertise and friendly advice alone is worth the visit.<\/p>\n <\/noscript>See what I mean about the display at Nalls Produce?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBetcha Didn\u2019t Know That \u2026 \nAmerican farmers grow more than 1.5 billion pounds (yep, B as in billions) of pumpkins a year.<\/p>\n
In no particular order, the states with highest orange gourd counts are Pennsylvania, Ohio, California, Indiana, and Illinois.<\/p>\n
Pumpkins are a fruit not a vegetable. They are from the seeds of a flowering plant. A vegetable is from an edible part of the plant, like roots, stems, and leaves.<\/p>\n
Pumpkins, and gourds in general, are considered a New World food and are native to North America. It\u2019s no surprise that they are a Thanksgiving tradition. I bet they were part of the Pilgrim\u2019s first feast. Maybe not in pumpkin pie form, but definitely pumpkin was on the table.<\/p>\n
I hope you will get to enjoy your local pumpkin patches or can visit one of these locations. These are my best five finds this season. Perhaps, I can expand my list next year. Let me know of any I should add.<\/p>\n
Gourdbye!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Another Fall, another turned page, and the 5 best pumpkin patches in the Washington, D.C. area. Let the gourd vibes roll! I always look forward to the changing of the…Posted on<\/span> October 15, 2020<\/time>November 2, 2020<\/time><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10626,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[87],"tags":[1317,1504,1460,1505,1502,1453,1500,1508,1509,1510,1501,1507,1503,1181,1210,1506],"yoast_head":"\nFall Vibes at These 5 Pumpkin Patches in the D.C. Area - Ann-Tran<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n