Ranson Community Gardens

10/26/2026

Pumpkin Power
I used to dislike autumn--it always meant that winter was closer than I was ready to accept.

And, I still have too many summer projects to get started!

Over time I've changed my view. Some of that has to do with learning to enjoy the slowing down that the end of season brings to the Gardens--leaves changing, resident gardeners pulling their plants, Jean starting to put the greenhouse asleep.

But, really, it's the power of pumpkins. The Gardens hosted our annual visit from the The Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle. It was great--an army of kids attacking an army of pumpkins! We even managed the glue gun station AND the paint station!

Truly, pumpkins are good for what ails you.

Our pumpkin fest wraps up this week. But, there's still time to enjoy the last days of warm-enough weather and sort-of blooming plants. Come by and take a minute to enjoy fall. It will be winter before we know it!

10/15/2026

Memorable moments (of happiness)
A long time ago, when I was in college, I took a lot of courses. In addition, during my freshman year, my cousin sent me a care package.

It contained a rubber chicken.

Most of the classes are long forgotten. But that rubber chicken has stuck with me for almost 50 years. I still smile when I think about it.

Our goal for the Gardens is to create a space that lends itself to these types of 'small moments' of happiness. For the last few years we've been having different groups come in and decorate pumpkins. This week it was the group for the OLC.
It was a beautiful day and a lot of fun.

We've got two more groups coming in. By chance they are in reverse order this year--oldest to youngest. It's fun to see how each group decorates their pumpkins.

If you feel the need for a small moment of happiness, stop by and visit the Gardens. We're right behind the City of Ranson Civic Center.

10/13/2026

Cool and Spooky things in the Garden🦋

I guess once we reach the middle of October we can't pretend that it's summer anymore. At home we started to swap jeans for shorts. In the Gardens everything is starting to wind down as the tomatoes and squash start to reach the end of the road.

But, autumn does bring some cool and spooky things.

First, the Project Monarch is a totally cool project that attaches tiny transmitters to monarch butterflies. Using the app, you can then track their progress as they migrate south.

So far, none of them have landed at our Monarch Station in the Gardens. But, you never know. There's was one in Leesburg two days ago!

And, we have now officially entered pumpkin season. Tomorrow our friends from the OLC will come by--they're the older group and this is one of their pumpkins from last year. We also have the Boys and Girls Club before the end of the month.

Cool and Spooky indeed. Come by and check things out--it's a great chance to enjoy the outdoors before the dark cold days of winter!

And, keep a lookout for a monarch with a teeny, tiny backpack 😁

Screenshot from the Project Monarch App by Cellular Tracking Technologies LLC

09/28/2026

Something old, something new.

A few years ago the Gardens started partnering with Bob and Nancy Tabb from Town & Country Nursery to supply pumpkins for our Fall events. Since then we've been hosting different groups in October for pumpkin decorating. We tried paint one year and won't do that again. Now we use markers and stickers.

We visited the farm this weekend and will be picking up this years pumpkins in the next few days. It's fun seeing what each group comes up with. This is last years pre-headstart group. They'll be back again towards the end of the month.

And, we finally got our new umbrella up! The problem began during a spring windstorm when one of the umbrellas got damaged. Umbrella technology has come a long way since I was a kid in Florida. After multiple iterations, we finally got all the parts needed. Last week our Friday volunteers assembled and raised the new umbrella so we're ready for our fall visitors.

Also, remember Gabby from Prismatic will be back this Saturday for the Tote making class.

The Gardens gives everyone a way to get a 'quick fix' of nature. We're right on the line between Ranson and Charles Town. No fee required!

09/23/2026

Come join us for our October workshop!

Prismatic Art Studio is back in the Gardens on October 3rd. What a great way to welcome Fall, enjoy the cooler weather, and create a cool tote!

09/22/2026

Many Hands, Lots Happening and Hello Autumn

Did you look out this morning and think--something is different? The light is different, the leaves are looking tired, and why is it still dark at 7am?

Today is the first day of Autumn!

And, while I love summer, I have learned to welcome Fall as well. In the garden, it gives me a chance to enjoy the last of the summer victories (basil, I'm talking to you!) while yanking out some of the failures.

Plus, the gnats start to go dormant...

Last week, the OLC did the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle Day of Caring in the Gardens. This year the group took down our poor, tired welcome sign, got the shed ready for a new mural, and cleaned up the micro-orchard. All of these are helping us get ready for one last 'Fall Push' in the Gardens.

And, this fall we've got a lot going on. Gabby from Prismatic is coming back with another workshop, we've got a bunch of groups coming out to decorate pumpkins, and we're going to be doing a square foot gardening workshop.

Hopefully by the time the snow falls we'll also have a new sign AND a new mural. Come check us out--and let us know if you have any ideas for Fall.

09/17/2026

The Faster I go, the Behinder I get

I was looking at the deck earlier this week and saw a couple of acorns that had been cracked open by the squirrels. By the end of the day, it looked like it had snowed acorns on the deck. Clearly Fall is coming.

And I'm behind. I've got projects on the summer list that I haven't started, and, I got projects started that I'm probably not going to finish.

But, that's ok. I've been more or less behind since June. As I've mentioned, gardening is teaching me patience which combines well with my procrastination gene.

It's been a busy week in the Gardens. Last Friday the volunteers were back in the Gardens moving chips. I have found that piles of chips are capable of some kind of perpetual reproduction--no matter how many you take out of the pile, it never seems to reach the end.,

They moved about 15 wheelbarrow full of them and yet, a small pile still remained.

Also, this week we said 'goodbye' to our beaten up welcome sign. We're preparing an upgrade (more on that later) and the Day of Caring volunteers removed it.

In the meantime, don't wait. Come by and check us out. Summer is almost over.

Let us know if you have ideas for the sign--the original backing was plywood which reached it's end of life.

09/08/2026

Another small park in Ranson Ranson Parks & Recreation is looking for input.

📢 Public Input Meeting: Hunter Muse Park

The Ranson Parks and Recreation Board will hold a public meeting to gather community input on proposed planning concepts for Hunter Muse Park, located near Marcus Field.

📅 Monday, September 21, 2026
⏰ 6:00 PM
📍 Ranson City Hall
312 S. Mildred Street, Ranson, WV

Residents and interested community members are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts on the future planning and development of the park.

Unable to attend? Written comments may be submitted by September 18, 2026:

📬 Mail: City of Ranson, Attn: City Clerk, 312 S. Mildred Street, Ranson, WV 25438
📧 Email: [email protected]

All written comments received by the deadline will be provided to the Ranson Parks and Recreation Board for consideration.

🔗 Learn more: https://ransonwv.gov/public-input-meeting-hunter-muse-park/