WALLA WALLA-Sheltered from the recent downpour of rain, I'm staring out the window taking approximate measurements to draw up plans for the garden. This may very well be the best part of gardening: the kinetic energy around the hope for the future. As flood waters recede from Walla Walla and Columbia counties, we're ready to move into the next season.

A lovely reader, Carl Teller of Starbuck, has kindly challenged me to grow the biggest pumpkin. A challenge gladly accepted, then promptly forgotten. Well, not forgotten so much as instantly mistaken.

Ordering seeds is entirely too much fun. Ther...