An alligator eating Minnie Mouse: funny stuff. Pumpkin characters mimicking the famous scene from "Alien": very imaginative. And a perfect pumpkin "PI" pun: what a hoot.

Those are just a few of the entries that showcased our readers' talent in the Pumpkin Carving Contest. All eight winners are proof that all it takes is a pumpkin and a carving tool to turn a garden delight into a work of art.

-- Ann Tatko-Peterson and Gary Bogue