As promised last week, I bought my first Hubbard squash over the weekend, but I haven’t attacked it yet — and the feeling is mutual. It has left me alone, too, so far.

A witty friend who is a superb pie-maker in another Commonwealth sent me some photos (including Kitty With Hubbard, left) documenting his success in taming an alien Hubbard into splendid “pumpkin” pies for Thanksgiving. The images are tiny, but they tell a tale: Human Conquers Hubbard: Perfect Pies Result.

In contrast to Hubbards’ gnarly looks, Washington Post writer Barbara Damrosch awards serious beauty points to butternut squash, another much-loved winter staple. Kitchen Gardeners International received permission and reprinted her 0ctober 30 story, which suggests two types of butternut squash seeds to order for next year’s garden: Waltham, and a new butternut-buttercup cross called Honey Nut, available from High Mowing Organic Seeds.

Photo Credits: MAR - Thank you!