Farms and fall in New England typically conjure vibrant, cheerful images; what a pity it was to read on Universal Hub that Honey-Pot Hill Orchards in Stow – where I happily have picked apples in years past – has evolved into a headache-inducing, commercial nightmare.

The good news is that you still can devise a pastoral outing while saving on aggravation and mileage, so long as you are okay ditching the apple ladders. Closer to Boston is Arena Farms in Concord, a lovely farm stand offering an impressive selection of fruits, vegetables and flowers, as well as a bountiful pumpkin area (shown, Laurel helping with farm chores last year), fun displays of freakishly large or mottled pumpkins, and an area to see baby animals.

Arena Farms, 167 Fairhaven Rd (Route 2), Concord, Tel: (978) 369-4769

UPDATE (11/2/07): Sadly, Arena Farms closed the week of October 29, 2007.