Ghoulish Gardening - Hyde Park Halloween

Often, gardeners like to add a few final touches to the fragile beauty of their golden autumnal landscapes by swathing everything in cobwebs and hanging ghosts, zombies, witches, and skeletons all over the place. I would do the same if we had any trick-or-treaters on our block. But they're rightly drawn instead to South Harper, Hyde Park's foremost Halloween destination:

What was that hanging in the tree, you ask? Rather horrifyingly, this thing appears to be attached to a pulley...which is to say, it moves.

This fair maiden was one of the creepiest things I saw today, although last year many people waited until the 31st to set up all their decorations. I'm sure it will get creepier still.

If you look closely at this photo, you'll see a Hyde Park Garden Fair poster in the window. I don't think this is a coincidence. I've killed so many plants this year that I should be making amends too.

Who needs hanging baskets of chrysanthemums on the porch when you've got a pal like this? 

Well, only the brave will venture over to S. Harper on Halloween. I will be far away when they finally let this guy out of his house.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!