it's a pumpkin!mystery solved.  those are pumpkins growing from the compost pile!  more specifically, those are last thanksgiving’s floral arrangements.  i’m hoping they are at least the white pumpkins we used.  so, there’s still a little mystery left.

it’s a good thing that these are doing well, because all of the organic, heirloom varieties i planted in the garden-with-crappy-soil are floundering and being attacked by squash bugs.  i think i might try more hot pepper wax spray on those pests.

the neighbors are of course full of helpful chemical poison suggestions, but as you know, that’s not how we roll.  any non-toxic ideas?  and nothing involving soapy water buckets and early morning bug drowning, please.  that is definitely not how we roll.