Gourds Growing in Our Garden

I only had 9 to work with this year - my exhusband grew them several years ago. This year on just one plant I have that many or more and have I think 10 plants but not sure as they got all mixed in with pumkins which went crazy. This is another one I painted

Of the three I've seen, this is my fave by far. Thanks again. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~

Oh Faith this is a beautiful gourd!

Thanks for the compliment Bob - thankfully the birds are as big of critics as I am of my own work :) not the greatest artist but I try :) I had planted some of the mini-gourds that are so great for fall decorating, different sizes, shapes and colors but the darn chicken's got into the garden and distroyed them - and I was worried about the deer :( They do grow great though and I have several different ones growing now - swan neck gourds, bushel gourds, and some goofy looking ones I can't remember what they're called. Yes, do have web site - link is right hand top of my profile :) message me if your interested in 1 (or more) maybe we can work a deal :) As much as you like gardening I'm sure you'll love the gourds - the plants get huge but grow great.

Yep seeds for all different kinds of gourds these are 'birdhouse gourds' and come next spring I'll have a ton of new seeds as I'll save the ones from the gourds I'm growing now.

Oh Faith, I'm so sorry to hear things are not so great. I suppose all you can do is pass your troubles to the Lord and let him deal with them...let go and let God. I'm sorry you are not well dear friend but glad you manage to keep yourself busy and occupied. Try not to overdo things if you can. You've been missed here very much by me and others too I'm sure. Hugs.

"let go and let God" - I must admit that is one of the most difficult things for me to remember, I still want to do do do myself. Thank you so very much dear friend for the little reminder - often I need that.

Hi dear been some time and still only here now and then but I miss everyone so very much. redecorating - an on going project still but going well as time permits grandchildren - fine/great last week (they were here for 8 days) now??? daughter picked them up and is not mad at both her father and I and keeping kids away to punish us for not giving her every penny we have and then some - basically blackmailing us. son - still having problems and seems to just be getting in deeper and deeper daughter - big problems also, my heart is breaking for them all just nothing more I can do, it's to the point it's effecting my health seriously. On a lighter note - I'd never heard of the birdhouse gourds until last year but have had great fun with them and even sold a couple. I'll have more this coming year depending on how long it takes for them to dry out.

I had never grown them until this year but am daily checking them just waiting for them to 'mature', seeing how many I can count, and checking sizes of the larger ones. I was actually told or read someplace that if you bring them in during bad weather (heavy winters) they will last forever. Warning when they grow they really grown - one plant I have is growing up through and around a 5 foot fence, attached the bluebird house on the fence post and some of the vines I'd estimate 20 or more feet long :)

It was a battle getting them started this year as the fence is very close to the chicken pen and the chickens were spending more time pulling up my garden than in their own pen - that's been fixed now and the garden is doing great. I gave one to my Mom for a Mother's day present and she of course was thrilled like any mom with the fact that I made it but was pleasantly surprised when a family moved in. We also made a project for my grandkids one day and they each got to paint a birdhouse of their own and decide where to hand them.

I had never heard of them before but there are, what I used and am growing, actual 'birdhouse gourds'. I've just used enamel paints I had around the house but then put a coat of polyurithan (?spelling) for protections. I can't speak from experience but they say by doing this the gourds will last for years and years.

I think the gourds have been very easy to raise - I had a horrid battle with the chickens the first of the year, they kept getting out of their pen and pulling up the young plants but once they (the chickens) were coraled the gourds took off like crazy. I am wishing I had planted more though as they seem to be very popular and I would like to do nothing but raise and sell the gourds - let others paint them as they wish.

I've just been using whatever paint I have - mostly fabric paint but some enamel I use on glass. I put a coat of polyurithan over the whole thing after I've decorated it.