(no subject)

[ru]

Dear Female Pumpkin Flowers,

You all suck. Here I am, getting up earlier than the already ungodly hour I get up just so I can go outside in the near-dark with a q-tip (since I couldn't find my paintbrush, and I was too tired to care) in hand and pollinate you all, and you're not open. All the males are open, and there are a ton of them, oh yes, but you, YOU, you all are nowhere to be seen, and those of you that are out are still shut, despite looking ready to open. It is not cool to deprive me of precious minutes of sleep like this. Remember who waters you all in this scorching heat.

No love,
Ru

P.S. Y'all are lazy bitches.

Comments

[tsaiko.livejournal.com]

How can you tell the difference between male and female flowers?

[lighthawk.livejournal.com]

That's a question that just BEGS for a smart ass answer. But I'd be damned, I don't know the difference either.

[peppermintberry.livejournal.com]

Well, I'd say the smart ass answer would be, "You run up to them and lift up their skirts!" :p

[peppermintberry.livejournal.com]

Well, in the case of pumpkins, since they seem to be closed most of the day, you have to rely on exterior features. The two I find are the most indicative are that 1.) The male flowers are borne on much longer stems and subsequently reach up higher than the females. 2.) Since pumpkins have inferior ovaries, they're visible from the outside, and you can see them on the females just underneath where the petals grow out. They're rather large, proportionately, and do look a bit like a baby pumpkin nuzzled up underneath the flower.

I think the female flowers are smaller in general, but because they're being so pokey about maturing, I'm not sure I can really compare sizes at this point. Hopefully they'll open soon and I'll be able to find out.