It's late autumn, a time for hayrides, haunted houses, corn mazes, a colorful tapestry of fall foliage, and a golden glow from the Pumpkin Patch. Here in Linn County thousands of bright orange pumpkins light up the faces of any kid, anticipating a night of trick-or-treat and a bag full of candy. Although some of these Oregon growers produce pumpkins for their meat and seeds, others will soon be turned into jack-o-lanterns, guardians of many front porches.
   One youngster, although fictional, continues to skip Halloween night of trick-or-treating and spends the night in the pumpkin patch. This imaginative story, created by Charles Schulz, focuses on Linus van Pelt sitting in a pumpkin patch waiting to see the Great Pumpkin. In order to keep this annual tradition alive, Linus somehow manages to miss seeing the Great Pumpkin every year, but vows to wait for him again next Halloween.
   A member of the squash family, pumpkins are typically orange, but other colors vary from white to yellow. The largest fruit in the world, sometimes weighing over a half ton, may end up in a delicious assortment of pies, breads, soups and snacks. This orange globe somehow defines the fall season and especially Halloween.

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