Creative Pumpkin Carvings by Ray Villafane

Some creative and amazing pumpkin carvings highlighted in the Daily Beast.

"Artist Ray Villafane has garnered much acclaim for his intricate pumpkin carvings. His works of art will reportedly be on display at supermodel Heidi Klum’s Las Vegas Halloween party. Villafane’s secret is that he carves a pumpkin “like it is a piece of clay as opposed to a large vegetable.” The Daily Beast has rounded up photos of Villafane’s best pumpkin carvings in this gallery."


Source: http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2011/10/28/amazing-pumpkin-carvings-photos.html

Love hormone being used to boost plant growth

Photo: Love hormone being used to boost plant growth in India (Getty Images)

A large number of Indian farmers are using the love hormone oxytocin, also known as "cuddle chemical", to boost the growth of pumpkins and cucumbers. However, the Indian Ministry of Agriculture is adamant on banning the practice, as "indiscriminate use of oxytocin may cause health hazards if taken through vegetables over a period of time". The use of oxytocin in farming has become prevalent in the Uttar Pradesh and Punjab regions in northern India, Oxytocin is known to affect social behaviour in humans, as well as facilitating birth and breastfeeding, reports New Scientist magazine. However, it is still unclear how this animal hormone might stimulate plant development.

Will giant pumpkin pursuit produce big payoff?

By Dana M. Nichols
Record Staff Writer

PALOMA - Move over Linus.
A Paloma man says a giant pumpkin is giving his life passion and purpose. And Lloyd Holt, 47, has already spent far more hours in his pumpkin patch than the fictional Peanuts character ever did waiting for the Great Pumpkin. Another difference is that Holt isn't just waiting. He works hours every day to make sure his pumpkin achieves its potential: managing irrigation, spraying foliar fertilizers, burying vines, pinching off unauthorized blossoms and carefully measuring growth rate. "If I get a big enough pumpkin, I can sell it at the weigh-off and buy a vehicle," said Holt, referring to the Giant Pumpkin Festival of Elk Grove on Oct. 3, where last year's top pumpkin won its grower more than $9,000 in prizes. Read more>