Have a Hoot Hunt 2022

Have a Hoot October 1–October 30: Last Weekend!

How many squash and pumpkins can you spot at Bloedel Reserve? If you’re visiting us this October, the answer is less than 100. Due to the long, wet spring and short, hot summer, our crop produced far less than we’d hoped!

When you arrive, pick up a Have a Hoot Hunt map at the start of the trail. Or use the link below to download a map before you come.

Our woodland owls will lead you on an all-ages scavenger hunt through the gardens in search of gourds, squash and pumpkins! Stop, explore, and snap a photo of yourselves with our friendly garden guides. On the back of the map, you’ll find photos and much more information about this diverse family of vegetables. Guess the weight of our largest pumpkin this year at the Residence, and win prizes at the Shop at the Gatehouse when you complete the scavenger hunt. Please bring a pen or pencil with you to write down the answers on your map.

Meet our Gourd Guru and read the history of the Hunt.

Download the Have a Hoot Hunt Scavenger map for your visit!

Timed tickets are required for admission.

How to make your own Gourd Ornaments

You’ll need the following supplies: Gourds, soap & water, various colors of wood stain, clear varathane finish, cheap paint brushes or paint staining sponges, gloves.

For hanging: Small eye screws, fishing line or decorative twine or ribbon for hanging.

• Select an number of gourds to make into ornaments
• Place them in a clean, dry area away from critters to let them dry out–this typically takes roughly 1 year
• Once the gourds are dried out (you’ll be able to hear seeds rattling inside and the skin will be hard and shiny) scrub them clean using soap and water
• Leave them to dry out in the sun
• Clip their stem handles to the desired length

You’re done here, unless you want to hang the gourds as ornaments!

• To prepare the gourds for hanging, make a small hole in the stem or in the very top of the gourd–be careful not to push too hard or you can break the gourd
• Using gently pressure, slowly screw the eye screw into the hole you’ve made until it holds well
• Tie a fishing knot with fishing line, or use decorative twine or ribbon to attach to the eye screw–you could also attach Christmas tree ornament hooks to the eye screws
• Decorate!

How to Grow a Giant Pumpkin

Want to try your hand at growing a giant pumpkin? Here are some tips from the Bloedel Reserve Horticulture team to get you started:

• Use seeds collected from pumpkins specifically bred for size.
• Sow your seed indoors in early to mid-April.
• Move your plants out of doors in mid-May.
• Fertile soil is key. Plant in soil amended with well-rotted manure or compost.
• Bury the stems as the vines grow along the ground to encourage a wider root system.
• Keep the soil adequately moist. Don’t let your soil dry out but but don’t let it be continually swampy either.
• Hand-pollinate a small number of female flowers by early July. You can use the pollen from male flowers on the same plant or from another plant that has also been grown from seed bred for size.
• Thin your gourds down to the one or two fastest-growing pumpkins on the vine, once they have reached beach ball size. Fewer pumpkins = bigger pumpkins!
• Shade your pumpkins. This keeps the skin soft and helps to keep them from cracking as they put on size.