The West Chicago Garden Club

By Tom Fessler

October again, and all the plants we have babied all Summer long, will soon be dead. I really kind of hate to see this happen but I know that most, if not all, will return next year.

The Kruse House has had a major clean up this Summer, which may not be as noticeable at first look. The area on the East side of the property, along the fence by the shopping center, has been totally cleaned up. All the debris has been removed, the bushes have been trimmed, and mulch has been placed on the ground to keep the weeds down. This was a big project, along with all the other things that go on here. Thanks to all the volunteers who pitched in with their help. This area now looks just great.

I don’t want you to think that I do not like October, because I do. Halloween is my second favorite holiday, (Christmas being the first). I have always liked Halloween since I was a kid. In the 50’s Halloween was quite different than it is today. We were allowed to Trick-or-Treat alone. No parents, no big brothers, just me and my friends. We accepted candy from anybody who would give it to us, and a lot of our loot was unwrapped. This is not to mention apples, popcorn balls, or popcorn.

But I have to say that the one thing I really didn’t like were Brach’s Mellowcream Pumpkins. It was the worst Halloween candy of all time. It is everything people hate about candy corn just more of it. The Mellowcream Pumpkin is not a pumpkin at all, it is just the evolution of candy corn, which was invented in the 1880’s. The Mellowcream Pumpkin was originally called “Buttercream Pumpkins” despite a lack of butter or cream in them. Bite into one of these little pumpkins and you will notice a shell is holding its insides in place: sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, sesame oil, (so the packaging says) real honey. The ingredients also include something called “shellac” to give these little pumpkins a nice shine. All things considered the only useful thing I have found for this candy, after all my years dealing with them, is to throw them. I was hit in the cheek with one of these things and I can tell you it hurt. We used to have pumpkin fights with this candy. If anyone doesn’t believe me about these “Mellowcreams”, just buy yourself a bag and enjoy.

Another candy to stay away from this Halloween is Circus Peanuts. I ate a whole bag of these things once and have never been so sick in my life. Anyway have a great Fall and an even greater Halloween.

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