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Pieced Together
This year’s hottest gift is a puzzle of colorful gourds photographed at The Farmer’s Daughter
Y
ou don’t need a green thumb to be smitten with The Farmer’s Daughter. For the uninitiated, this is no ordinar y garden center but a wondrous place outfitted with inspiring displays sure to transform any unsuspecting visitor into a gardenista. Christine Chitnis is a long time fan. The Providence-based writer and photographer is also the author of four books and a contributor to publications including the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, and Country Living. Each fall, Chitnis makes the 40-minute trek (hey, that’s far in Rhode Island) to visit the South Kingstown destination to mar vel at the displays of heirloom pumpkins and gourds. “I always end up choosing many more pumpkins than my modest front porch can support!” says Chitnis. In September of 2020 she approached owner Sarah Partyka and asked if she could create a large overhead shot of ever y color, shape, and variety of pumpkin she offered. Partyka agreed. “As a photographer, I am constantly inspired by nature’s abundant palette and I’d been dreaming of this shot for over a year, ever since my last visit. In my mind, I could see hundreds of pumpkins arranged by color, from the dusky blue green Jarrahdale to the creamy white Casperita, to the mahogany-orange Daybreaks.” Chitnis shares that the resulting photo is one of her favorite shots ever taken over a decades-long career. “As soon as I shared it on Instagram, I could tell it was going to take on a life of its own.” Sure enough, what followed was a whirlwind as Chitnis’ pumpkin picture raced across social media, reaching millions of viewers. Britney Spears, the queen of pop herself, even reposted the
Christine Chitnis
Photos courtesy of Christine Chitnis
By Elyse Major
