Glass pumpkins shine at Morton Arboretum

Visitors can check out more than 6,800 pumpkins this weekend at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, but there's a catch.

While they're all for sale, you don't want to take them home and carve them, and you don't want to take them home and paint them and you sure as heck don't want to take them home and turn them into pumpkin pie.

Because here's the bottom line: All these pumpkins are made of glass and are the creations of 17 artists who are displaying their work at the eighth annual Glass Pumpkin Patch at the museum at 4100 Route 53.

The works come in almost every imaginable shape, size and color.

The majority of artists are from an area within a four-hour drive, including Daniel Sviland of Waukegan, who has 500 pieces on display.

But some come from much farther away.

Featured artist Shannon Jane Morgan, for example, makes the trek every year from Sacramento, California, with artist Kyrana Michaelson.

"It's the most beautiful setting out of all the pumpkin patches in the United States," Michaelson said.

The event runs through Sunday and gives visitors a chance to meet the artists, watch glass-blowing demonstrations and, yes, buy their favorites.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is to get to the arboretum early - the crowds at this time of year are big and parking can be a problem.