That blazing Texas summer left its mark on more than your electric bill. Pumpkin growers across the state are reporting smaller, denser pumpkins this fall after months of heat and drought. At the Uhland Fall Fest near Kyle, founder Christopher Durst says he’s selling fewer of the massive 50- to 60-pound pumpkins that usually anchor a patch. Out in Floydada, Tim Assiter of Assiter Punkin’ Ranch points to a lack of rain as the main culprit behind lower yields.

There’s a second culprit, according to Assiter, and it’s us. He says consumers now expect pumpkins as early as August, which forces farms and retailers to adapt to a shopping calendar that doesn’t match what the crop actually needs. Add fewer growers statewide and high gas prices for hauling, and this season has been a tight one for the people who grow our fall decor.

The upside? Smaller pumpkins are often denser, which means they can hold up well for carving and roasting. Durst is even lowering pumpkin prices and adding a free petting zoo to make his $20 entry fee go further. Closer to home, patches around Ellis County are still stocked and ready for your family photos. So before you load up the kids and the wagon, we want to know: what’s the best pumpkin patch in or around Waxahachie, and what makes it a tradition for your family?