Pumpkin IVF

My experience in attempting to grow pumpkins has been so much different this year compared to last. Especially when it comes down to how these pumpkins are blooming. last year, I had tons of male blossoms. I would go out to water the garden in the morning, and it would be bursting with bright orange flowers, but never had any female buds come to bloom. This year, however, I've only had about 3 male flowers bloom. They've been growing, and right before they would open, they will shrivel up and dry out. I suppose the excessive heat we've been having hasn't been helping things. BUT, the other day, I got to see a sight I have not yet seen....

Finally! A girl has come to the party! What's even more amazing is that I've only had about 3 male flowers open, but there just happened to be one open on the same day as the girl!

So of course, I had to play matchmaker with these two crazy kids. What can I say.... I just don't trust the bees to get the job done, so I have to take matters into my own hands. The male needs to pollinate the female in order to make a pumpkin, so I took the male flower, stripped him of his petals...

And performed what I like to call "pumpkin IVF".

This is uncharted territory for me, so I have no idea what to expect from this point. All I know is, she might be pregnant. Only time will tell, I suppose. Here's what she looked like today.

I'm not entirely hopeful, as the male flower didn't really seem to have a whole lot of pollen, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. But even if this one doesn't pan out, I at least have new hope that maybe we'll get somewhere this year!