DISCOVER Magazine

OCTOBER 7, 2017 | DISCOVER!
10 | Harvest
At a Glance:
WHAT: Hawk Valley Garden
WHERE: 2670 Highway 18, Spencer,
IA
WHEN: Weekdays 4-7 p.m. Weekends
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
COST: Varies
CONTACT: sue@iowapumpkins.com
ONLINE: www.iowapumpkins.com
or find them on Facebook
Pumpkins
Hawk Valley Garden hosts a
wide variety including:
Pepin Squash
Futsu Pumpkins
White Patty Pans
Rockafeller Pumpkins
Blue Jarradale
Cinderella Pumpkins
Fairytale Pumpkins
and many, many more...
RYLAN HOWE | STAFF WRITER
Piles of pumpkins
Fulfill your fall to-do list at Hawk Valley Garden
A
small family enterprise has
reached it’s 15th anniversary.
Hawk Valley Garden maintains
the same family-friendly atmosphere,
and continues to showcase quite a
variety of heirloom pumpkins and
gourds at the family home just east
of Spencer.
Hawk Valley is open 4-7 p.m. during
weekdays and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on
weekends. They are closed on Mondays.
Guests this year can expect a particularly
large bounty.
“We had a really good crop this year
and an extended picking season,” said
owner Sue Loring. “Normally we pick
a couple times and we may be able to
pick three or four times this year.”
That means more jack-o-lanterns,
cinderellas, blue jarradales and all
kinds of pumpkins for carving, decorating
and pie making.
“Blaze” pumpkins were sold at
Hawk Valley last year for the first time,
and this year they grew some of their
own. They continue to focus on heirloom
varieties and pride themselves
on being a true pumpkin market.
The family operation is in full swing
this year as Sue’s son, Zach, has been
on hand to help after graduating from
college. Her daughter, Liz, continues
in her role as manager. Sue and her
husband, Bruce, continue to do a little
bit of everything.
They continue to welcome customers
from all over the state and beyond
to their own backyard for a bit of fall
pumpkin shopping.
Part of the growing customer base
is a growing presence online for the
garden.
“We keep up our online presence
with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,”
Loring said. “We try to keep things as
up-to-date as best as possible.”
That means informing customers
when they decide to extend their
hours on a particular day, what varieties
are on hand, as well as any potential
changes due to weather.
This constant communication has
brought in new customers as well.
“I enjoy the fact that people who
follow us online come out to visit.
I’ve had one from Waterloo come all
the way with her whole family after
conversing on Facebook,” Loring said.
“We have people that come from
Sioux Falls and even from northern
Minnesota.”
A loyal customer base and wide
variety of pumpkins on display contributes
to the small operation’s continuing
popularity.
They’ve made several Top 10 lists including
the number six spot on Travel
Iowa’s list of pumpkin patches.
“That’s something that boggles my
mind. It’s wonderful and wouldn’t
happen without great people and repeat
customers that we see every year,”
Loring said.
A big draw according to Loring, is
Hawk Valley’s pumpkin stackers as
well as custom painted pumpkins.
“We take the time to make an art of
it,” Loring said.
There are, of course, several Iowa
Hawkeye and Iowa State Cyclone
pumpkins, as well as simple greetings
painted in numerous colors.
A cowboy scene was painted on one
pumpkin this year for the Branding
Iron Cafe at the Clay County Fair.
There are also scenes and characters
from the Disney film “Frozen” as well
as depictions of the Minions from the
“Despicable Me” film franchise.
Sue and Liz spend Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday nights painting
pumpkins and Sue estimates about
half are ready-to-go and half are custom
orders.
“Last year we did a lot of breast
cancer awareness pumpkins donating
them to hospitals and cancer centers.
Doing special things like that and
being able to give back makes us the
most happy,” Loring said.
Loring says Saturday mornings are
the best time to see the full range of
offerings at Hawk Valley Garden.
Each year they continue to learn
what works best and expand those
offerings to best meet and exceed the
expectations of their customers. F
Spencer | Iowa