Iris Denton-Devore, 4, of Salina, and her little brother Charles, 18 mos., ride in a wagon as they search for pumkins with their father Tom Sunday afternoon, Oct. 12, 2008 at Sunny Side Pumpkin Patch south of Assaria in Saline County, Kan. (photo by Rodrick Reidsma / Salina Journal) 
Kaleb Kalvig, 3, of Salina, navigates the jungle gym Sunday afternoon, Oct. 12, 2008 at Sunny Side Pumpkin Patch south of Assaria in Saline County, Kan. (photo by Rodrick Reidsma / Salina Journal) 
Iris Denton-Devore, 4, of Salina, and her little brother Charles, 18 mos., ride in a wagon as they search for pumkins with their father Tom Sunday afternoon, Oct. 12, 2008 at Sunny Side Pumpkin Patch south of Assaria in Saline County, Kan. (photo by Rodrick Reidsma / Salina Journal) Looking for Salina Journal photos? Click here! 
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Print this story By APRIL MIDDLETON Salina Journal ASSARIA -- After eyeing several smaller, round pumpkins, 4-year-old Iris Denton-DeVore stopped in front of one and hollered, "I found my pumpkin. I want this one." Moments later, her father, Tom Denton-DeVore, arrived with a pocketknife and cut it from the vine. "She'd probably pick out 50 more if we let her," said the girl's mother, Amelia Denton-DeVore, of Salina. The family's trip to Sunny Side Pumpkin Patch, south of Assaria, is an annual tradition.Once each of the five family members had selected their pumpkins, plus several extras for the display at their home, they planned to go home and carve them. "We live on Santa Fe and get lots of trick-or-treaters so we like to have a good display," Amelia Denton-DeVore said. The goal is to have a good variety, she said, as she hunted for big pumpkins, little pumpkins, white ones, squatty ones and some gourds. Despite the cloudy, windy weather Sunday, pumpkin patch owner Grant Nurnberg said the business attracted customers. However, the busiest part of the season is always the final two weeks before Halloween. The Sunny Side Pumpkin Patch is open to the public on Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 31. Hours are 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The Smoky Hill Bison Co. pumpkin patch and maze, located near Assaria, also is open through Halloween. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The Sunny Side Pumpkin Patch, which has been open to the public for eight years, has a corn maze, hayrack rides, games for children and a small petting zoo. "We love meeting the people," Nurnberg said. "Already this month, we've met at least four families who have come out every year we've been open." Kay Thompson, of Salina, said her twin grandsons Kasey and Kaleb Kalvig, 3, if allowed, would spend the entire day at the pumpkin patch. After a couple hours at the patch, the twins already had taken a hayrack ride and played on some jungle gym equipment. "We haven't even picked pumpkins out yet," Thompson said. "We could be here all day, because they can do things over and over again."
nReporter April Middleton can be reached at 822-1409 or by e-mail at amiddleton@salina.com. |
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