O.K. a story starting with the photograph of a Butternut Squash does not seem to bode well for a riveting read, but wait there is a deeper message!
In August 2012 I wrote a blog “Pumpkin Perfume?” (yes, I was surprised too, that I’ve been writing my blog so long). I had grown a pumpkin that exuded a divine perfume!
I had no idea if this was something very common with pumkins or on the rare side. My friends who had given me the plant had no clue what they had given me as they grew different sorts every year and did not keep records.
Over the years I have had comments on the blog from other people who had occasionally had a whiff of this perfume while others had never noticed any odour. Then yesterday I had a comment all the way from Argentina from Carolina. She has grown butternut squash and like me noticed nothing in particular, but this year she is growing Uchiki Kuri squash and has noticed the wonderful perfume from the flowers in the early morning!
I quickly looked up Uchiki Kuri squash and found it is called Potimarron in France and is indeed a very popular squash here. It has a good flavour in soup with a hint of sweet chestnut.
I have already ordered my seeds for next year. Who cares if I get many potimarron, I just want to smell the flowers again. But here is the rub – the perfume is only for early risers. If you enjoy late morning rising you will miss this perfume.
What made me so happy was the thought of Carolina in Argentina contacting me. Often I have dark thoughts about the progress of technology and whether it has brought the benefits we hope for but I was so touched by Carolina reaching out to me and my cyber friend saying,
“Hi, I have got the answer to your question.”
a french garden 
I love happy endings. Wonderful story. Hope you two have a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Throughout all, stay safe. John
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Best wishes from both of us for a safe and happy Christmas. Amelia
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I’m glad you reached me too Amelia, keep safe the both of you.
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We are both lucky to have such friendly and helpful cyber friends. Amelia
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A good development to the story.
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It is very touching when people so far away reach out to you. Amelia
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That is a wonderful affirmation. I, too, have reservations about the internet. But I’d be hard pressed to apply those concerns to the many wonderful people I’ve encountered through my blog, or theirs.
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I think it is the good moments when we can reach out to each other that makes the difference. Amelia
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Hello Amelia,
Fascinating post- and your link back post too – we grew Uchiri Kiri this year, and I was clearly not up there early enough to smell them! But another thought occurs to me. Is it the male, or the female flowers which smell. Or both? Plus do the flowers get the insect pollinators early on when the scent is being produced, or throughout the day? Maybe more things to look out for this year – there’s always something new to discover, isn’t there?
Best wishes and Happy Christmas. to you both,
Julian
BTW – great to see, as I’ve recently discovered, that for now at least the WP archives work really well going back all those years – unlike a lot of other on line digital information….
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I do not believe that the scent is important for the bee pollinators as I am sure I have seen bees in all the pumpkin flowers at all times of day. Also I smelt the perfume in the early morning and I could not be sure if, for instance, if the honeybees had started foraging. They start later in the cool summer mornings. Male or female flowers? Could be difficult to tell as it was a very diffuse perfume that took some time to track back to the source. As you say always something new to discover and to look forward to examining next year. Amelia
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That is wonderful Amelia. Blogging makes the world a lot smaller doesn’t it, and I know how happy it makes me when someone the other side of the world understands what I am talking about! Amazing that a pumpkin can smell so good too. 😃
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It is easy to be blasé about technology these days and then suddenly you realise that you are chatting to people all over the world. Amelia
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A lovely story. I shall definitely sniff my pumpkin Flowers this summer!
🌸🌸
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I hope you are an early riser 🙂 Amelia
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Marianne and I regularly buy potimarrons in the markets of the Dordogne, and eat them baked from the oven. When I build my vegetable beds this year, I will make sure to sow their seeds and, as an early riser, look forward to enjoying their perfume before my morning chores. Another little pleasure!
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Fantastic, another observer for this year! Amelia
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Very interesting that some squash flowers are scented in the morning! In North America, there are native squash bees (Peponapis) that rise early before the honeybees come out. After collecting nectar and pollen for their eggs, the females go back into their nests in the ground to sleep. The male bees go into the flowers, which close up by noon, so they too have a safe place to sleep. I wonder if the scent is there to call the bees.
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Very interesting! I like the idea that the Peponapis get there before the greedy honeybees. Perhaps it is these native, early rising bees that are the origingal pollinators of the American squash and will be attracted by the perfume. There seems a close relationship between the bees and the squash – even providing shelter for the male bees. It must go back long before the introduction of the European honeybees. Amelia
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That is a new one for me. I read about it only last year or so. I know that some squash blossoms are fragrant, but those that I experienced are not impressive, and not even all that appealing.
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I’ve only had experience with this one fragrance. I have never noticed any other fragrant squash blossoms. Amelia
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nice story!
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Thank you. It is so kind when people take the trouble to contact and touch across the miles. Amelia
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I love this post on many different levels, as a beekeeper a person who grows squash, and a person with serious concerns about technology and humanity. Thanks for sharing something positive.
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I am glad you enjoyed my story because I was really touched when Carolina took the trouble to contact me, it cheered me up in these troubled times. Amelia
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Very interesting, and as you say mixed feelings about the internet but with out it we would never have met up and had some excellent times with you and K. So all the best for Christmas and maybe we will meet up next year….. Things look more and more bleak here.
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I like to look on the bright side and as you say, without the internet we would never have met. I am still hoping for a much brighter and more social 2021. Amelia
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A lovely story and a very positive aspect of the internet – I am very glad that we met through blogging!
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I would miss our interchanges through the internet, so we must remember to count our blessings. Amelia
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Yes, I would also miss our interchanges. Best wishes for the festive season and to Kourosh! Philip
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A very happy Christmas and all the best to Hazel and you in 2021.
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Because of your story, I’ve just ordered that squash and I eagerly look forward to the scent, although getting up early will be a challenge for this night-owl. 😉 thx for a lovely blog!
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