Pumpkin Pictures

Happy Halloween, happy gardening, Happy Thanksgiving. We associate many different occasions with members of the Cucurbitaceae family.

Often Halloween and pumpkins top the favorite occasion list. Even if they do not reach the top of the memories chart, all the other vine plants in the family, such as squash, cucumbers, watermelons, canteloups, and gourds, among others, bring to mind special occasions from summer barbecues to creative crafting.

Halloween Album Halloween Mushrooms Large Pumpkin and Pumpkin Facts Growing Pumpkins Crooked Neck Squash Scallop Squash Sweet Dumpling Squash Turban Squash Growing Zucchini Squash Pumpkin Recipes Spider Pictures Fruit Pictures

Members of the family share some general traits such as being the fruit of vine growing plants that thrive in warm weather, including popular varieties of winter squash.

Their thick skins and ability to be stored through winter differentiates these species from summer squash.

Pumpkins are more closely related to winter squash than they are to either summer squash or other gourds. Their thick skin allows them to be stored for a couple of months. Eventually pumpkin skin decomposes, rather than dries out and hardens, as with many ornamental gourd species.

The links on the right point to articles and pictures covering pumpkins and a few species representative of the Cucurbitacea family. They include some growing and recipe tips.

Those interested in the Halloween theme might also enjoy the halloween offerings from the folks behind Kids' Turn Central and Internet Family Fun.