| Author | Content |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 07, 2009
01:24 PM Post #7036555
| Here you go, my weird gourds. I bought some like this last year when in Ohio around Halloween and kept some seed and sure enough they are wacky. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
CountryGardens
Lewisville, MN
(Zone 4a)
September 07, 2009
01:48 PM Post #7036615
| Those are winged gourds. If I remember right, they were introduced by Rupp Seeds.
Bernie |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 07, 2009
07:40 PM Post #7037889
| Interesting, like I said went to see the grandbaby last year and picked them up for the season and voila! |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 08, 2009
11:23 AM Post #7040254
| Those are gorgeous!
I did not do any gourds this year. I still have a stash of previous years birdhouse gourds to play with.
I did do the luffa thing...and I have one entrant to the Great Pumpkin Contest...It is a volunteer seed that must have been in the chicken coop scrapings that I tossed in the garden this spring... its a beauty.. but it is drying down now.
If you look at the pic it is almost 32 plus some odd feet long from its widest point on the vines! It took over my garden, climbed my sweet autum joys and came through the fence towards our parking area...
Care to guess how many pumkins this baby will have? They are basket ball size or their abouts!
Take about increasing the mynahs!!!
OK, should we leave the GREAT PUMKIN CONTEST of '09 here on this link or start a complete newbie?
I will link it if some one says go!
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 08, 2009
01:02 PM Post #7040602
| Wow, that is gone wild there BB - why not just do the link, looks like you already got it going there.
We can leave this one for the gourd enthusiasts! |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 08, 2009
01:17 PM Post #7040644
| okie dokie!!!
Soz whatcha gonna do with those wild looking gourds you got there?
I think I am gonna try to drill holes on a few of the birdhouse gourds I have for birds and then try to paint them.
YOurs would look just waay cool if they were dried! Or put in baskets with a slew of other odd size and weirds!
Back with the NEW like in a short! |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 08, 2009
01:35 PM Post #7040694
| new link to the GREAT PUMPKIN CONTEST 2009!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/pf.php |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 08, 2009
02:07 PM Post #7040794
| I will use them for decoration for the next weeks and then harvest the seed for more next year. We have a couple gourd birdhouses at the cabin. The gourds were given to me during a DG round up that we hosted up there in the mountains. We drilled holes, cleaned and painted and although that was 4 or so years ago, they are still being used by the local feathered friends. The paint has worn a bit but they are still up in the pear and apple tree and provide a home for them every season.
|
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 08, 2009
04:32 PM Post #7041327
| Well, do show us! I think this is gonna be a pretty neato thread for fall decor! |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 08, 2009
08:17 PM Post #7041992
| I'll try to remember to take a pic of them this weekend while up at the cabin. |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 08, 2009
11:23 PM Post #7042819
| Cant wait to see them.
Here is one of my unclean previous season gourds...its "skin" is peeling and it needs a scrubbing! But should still make for a fine nest!
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 09, 2009
07:49 AM Post #7043399
| Oh my yes BB, that will be great, even looks large enough for a loft apartment upstairs ! |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 09, 2009
08:30 AM Post #7043488
| I have a pile of those yet. Most are good size like that one! I do have some smaller gourds too. If I ever get the time, I had hoped to paint them. They are dry too.
I love those wingy things of yours! I think thats the first time I have seen those! I wonder how those will dry? |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 09, 2009
10:26 AM Post #7043858
| The ones from last year that I didn't harvest seed from just eventually turned color to greyish and were paper thin so I pitched them as the seeds had gotten moldy inside. The ones from which I took seed got pitched. I wonder if I keep one this year and just let it dry rot if it would start new plants in the spring just by planting the gourd itself? |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 09, 2009
03:25 PM Post #7044871
| Well, what I do is just put the gourds someplace and let them totally dry. Usually we let them air dry. Dont have too much trouble with mice with the gourds like the sunflower heads, but when they get dry, they we cardboard box them for storage until ready to use.
Yes, they get moldy on the outside and the seeds inside get dried and sometimes mold, but I let them dry until the following season. Let them get hard then crack or drill them open to gather the seeds. I have not had trouble raising "moldy" seed!
The shell of the gourds can be washed like that birhouse gourd above.. The birdhouse gourds are neat as they can take on a haiku look to them and if varnished almost look as if they are a hauiku ceramic! They are great to paint, especially if you have a talent to be artistic. I am a paint by number kind of artist myseeeelf.. you know the tyupe, solid colors work well! LOL! As for those with cute and beautiful scenery on them.. I gotta hire a Van Gogh.
Yes, all gourds loose their bright color when dry.
Im a betting though if you just chucked a few in a particular place on your compost pile, next spring you will have volunteers that you could transplant. I love having a seperate manure/compost/dirt pile that you can do just that type of thing! Chuck the seeds of stuff and see what comes later! Then also have a pile that is strickly fertilizer. |
CountryGardens
Lewisville, MN
(Zone 4a)
September 09, 2009
10:29 PM Post #7046131
| We always had volunteer gourds when we raised a lot of them.
Everybody decided to get rich quick on gourds & pumpkins, so we quit growing them.
Make more money on "edible" veggies.
Bernie |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 09, 2009
10:54 PM Post #7046229
| LOL! Get rich qwick huh!? I always ended up giving mine to the food pantries! We do that plant the extra row thing when we can...
When we had hard times, they helped us so fair is fair! So has anyone gottne arty craftsy yet?? |
CountryGardens
Lewisville, MN
(Zone 4a)
September 09, 2009
10:58 PM Post #7046244
| Yes, it happens with anything easy to grow.
But it's all about market. No matter what the price, if market is flooded sales drop fast. |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 09, 2009
11:03 PM Post #7046263
| Im in a pretty depressed area. I used to do the farmers market thing and got tired of paying the lot fee and half the load home. Seems we spent more time and money than it was worth back then. I dont mind gardening and planting extra. Usually something good comes of it in another way. Someone helps doing something and so it goes. |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 10, 2009
07:39 AM Post #7046881
| Darn I wish now I hadn't pitched those moldy ones. Thanks for your instructions, now I know better. We aren't going to the cabin this weekend, had a change of plans so it will be another week till we get up there and I get a pic of the gourd houses. By then it should be implanted in my brain enough that I don't forget the photo lol! |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 10, 2009
10:23 AM Post #7047301
| Until you have a BBbblonde mommmment! LOL!
I best scrubbing that old gourd! |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 16, 2009
07:16 AM Post #7069669
| Now I have wacky gourds growing in the pine trees, can you see them? 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 16, 2009
07:17 AM Post #7069671
| They are climbing everywhere, guess I need to get the ladder out to harvest them? 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 16, 2009
07:17 AM Post #7069673
| And I have a wacky albino gourd! 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 16, 2009
08:48 AM Post #7069858
| AWWWESOME! Cant wait to see the "finished" product from those climbers! |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 20, 2009
07:46 PM Post #7085596
| Here is a birdhouse gourd like we were talkin about BB 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 20, 2009
07:56 PM Post #7085632
| Nice!!! |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 21, 2009
07:58 AM Post #7086873
| It used to be bright red but has really weathered, same as me lol! |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 21, 2009
08:42 AM Post #7086973
| And yet more wacky gourds with zinnias and pieris and grasses 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 21, 2009
11:20 AM Post #7087476
| Well, thats pretty!
I have a birdhourse gourd that I was gonna paint in a 70's style. So far just got the design on it.. need to find it and finish it one day! |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 21, 2009
01:23 PM Post #7087913
| Now aren't you afraid that might be too much for the birds, I imagine some psychedelic theme that will make the birds crazy  |
CountryGardens
Lewisville, MN
(Zone 4a)
September 21, 2009
06:15 PM Post #7089009
| I found this gourd at a market stand somewhere in Illinois.
I will save seeds & hope for a big crop next year.
Bernie
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 21, 2009
09:00 PM Post #7089724
| Yikes! That is phscotic Bernie! Derned think looks like a snake!
I will have to take a pic of my 70's gourd
when I get a chance...I just dont have time to paint it...but it is partially drawn and well, mayne it will drawn in a cuckoo!
|
CountryGardens
Lewisville, MN
(Zone 4a)
September 21, 2009
09:27 PM Post #7089849
| They had about a dozen of them hanging there. Looked like rattlers.
We had plain green one year. They got to big. |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 21, 2009
11:07 PM Post #7090254
| We had a huge birhouse gourd crop a few years back and I still have some in storage. Slowly they are going to new homes, but jeez, what the heck do you do with 200 some odd biguns that we were not the only ones taking them to a farmers market...I have resorted to ebay!
Heres the 70's one...peace out man!
Eweee! nasty pic... must be the fog man, its the fog.. yeah.. the fog man... LOL! (stupid camera!!! LOL! I gotta quit playing with the effects!)
Cant ya just hear that tune, um what was it now.. oh yeah, Nights in white satin... BREATHE DEEP!
yipes
Your so right, only crazy birds would want in there... look, theres one now.. staright out of Alferd Hitchcocks .. the Birds! LOL!
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 22, 2009
04:39 PM Post #7092865
| Yikes Bernie, that is whacky. I'll have to try to remember to get you some of my seed this year.
BB, now that is a 70's house if I ever saw one, any bird would be proud to call that home. |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
September 22, 2009
10:55 PM Post #7094269
| just need to paint it all physcodelic colors!! LOL!
Kodakchrome!! LOL!
This message was edited Sep 23, 2009 6:34 AM |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
September 23, 2009
07:34 AM Post #7094991
| Now that will spice it up! |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
October 01, 2009
03:59 PM Post #7124135
| BOOOOOO!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1036424/
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
October 07, 2009
01:37 PM Post #7144771
| Soz hows it hanging with the gourds here? Got anything new? |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
October 08, 2009
08:15 AM Post #7147390
| I would if I could remember to go up there and pick them outta the pines - I think about it in the morning and then when I get home I forget until it is about time to go to bed! LOL, blonde thing I guess |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
October 08, 2009
01:20 PM Post #7148287
| Well, I am going to the farm stand perhaps tomorrow.. maybe she has something left. They are closing in a couple weeks.. maybe there wil be a bargan!
Meantime, its off to the pumpkin patch here...its raining, but I think I will sneak out and see if any are ripe yet! |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
October 18, 2009
10:41 PM Post #7184521
| Ok, was at the Farm stand... whooooBOY! interesting things she had there, and yano, I just could not walk away empty handed since it was 6'2" and my 21st Anniversary soz...heres what I got him!
Whaddathink?
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
October 19, 2009
08:10 AM Post #7185424
| An anaconda gourd!!! Woweeeewow! BB, what a great gift! |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
October 19, 2009
08:47 AM Post #7185508
| He loved it! It even faked the dog out! 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
October 19, 2009
09:04 AM Post #7185559
| I wonder how it is goung to dry? I hope I can get some seed out of it too later without killing it! 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
October 19, 2009
09:23 AM Post #7185603
| new thread started...
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1049392/
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
November 11, 2009
02:11 PM Post #7263944
| Well, the snake gourd is drying a little.. its starting to get tan blotches...
Have yours started drying? Are you going to paint them? |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
November 12, 2009
09:32 AM Post #7266483
| I have harvested the seed from one that was beginning to rot. Several more have tiny brown spots, but still using them in the arrangements. Did you see the new thread I began on Table Centerpieces? I used a couple of them in that one.
I am not going to paint them, least don't think so, but now that you mention it I do have a lot of paint and won't have much going on after the holiday??? hum, thanks BB for making me contemplate yet another project! |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
November 12, 2009
12:43 PM Post #7267092
| Projects R me! LOL!
Nope, need to go see that thread...
Um you will confirm your conviction to paint them when they finally do get dry.. they will probably more than likely go moldy. Not to worry, that will wash off, but then the color of the gordies will be faded like old glory. Dusty looking faded, but the nature design will still be apparent. It takes several months for them to dry so dont get in a hurry.
The guy at the market says he dont let his touch each other when they are drying.. never did really say why, but perhaps it just helps the air circulate on them better.
I think I left a small bushel of my gourds and forgot about them and they dried ok. |
docgipe
NORTH CENTRAL PENNSY, PA
(Zone 5a)
November 17, 2009
11:33 PM Post #7284944
| Here is a ninety eight inch snake that was the best in Pennsylvania about five years ago. It takes another foot and more to place today! 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
docgipe
NORTH CENTRAL PENNSY, PA
(Zone 5a)
November 17, 2009
11:40 PM Post #7284973
| I've got a garage full of these too. Same reason. The market got flooded after the boys and girls saw me getting first money for them.
Today I give a few away...that's it.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
docgipe
NORTH CENTRAL PENNSY, PA
(Zone 5a)
November 17, 2009
11:43 PM Post #7284983
| Jiffy peanut butter jar in it's second life as a cleanout. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
docgipe
NORTH CENTRAL PENNSY, PA
(Zone 5a)
November 17, 2009
11:45 PM Post #7284990
| Drain holes using dry wall nylon web and epoxy. Finish is outdoor varnish...polyester I think. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
November 18, 2009
01:22 AM Post #7285305
| Wow docgipe, thats cool! The jar in the gourd thing!
|
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
November 18, 2009
08:53 AM Post #7285761
| You did a real nice finish job on those Dwaine, very classy work. |
docgipe
NORTH CENTRAL PENNSY, PA
(Zone 5a)
November 18, 2009
11:09 PM Post #7288384
| If you have not seen them there is a gourd called Apple Gourd. Fixed up with a red stain and finished with a clean out jar lid will do very well for at least one season of selling. You need a mix but that Apple Gourd will easily sell for fifteen bucks but you absolutely need a near professional finish. I charged and got thirty bucks for the Martin
Sized gourds. Planted early the Apple Gourds will produce an average of a dozen nice gourds with thick skins. To be effective I like to display at least four dozen mixed bird houses with another two dozen or more in the van.
For setting those jar shoulders into the gourd I used automotive fender bender polyester. I have had gourds last twenty years in my care...but that includes revarnishing about every six years. |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
November 19, 2009
01:58 AM Post #7288840
| Cool! |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
November 19, 2009
08:29 AM Post #7289136
| I am just unclear as to how the "cleanout jar" works? I understand that is how you clean out the nest from year to year, but how does it work? How does that make the inside of the gourd accessible? and how do you keep it from just falling out? |
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
November 19, 2009
08:48 AM Post #7289161
| Me too! I would think you are taking up space in there.
Well, I have always just tossed thoe old gourds since they are so easy to grow and replacements are cheap. But the concept is pretty neat! Recycled jars! |
docgipe
NORTH CENTRAL PENNSY, PA
(Zone 5a)
November 19, 2009
10:50 AM Post #7289461
| You cut the shoulder off the jar, cut a hole in the gourd and set it in either epoxy or fender bender polyester which is available at any big box store auto department by various product names in various parts of the country It sets and can be sanded down, drilled or painted in five minutes. The timed epoxies are allmost that fast but are harder to sand and work with.
Use smaller plastic jars for smaller gourds.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
BLOSSOMBUDDY
(Zone 5a)
November 19, 2009
11:06 AM Post #7289489
| So, sounds like then you are basically just loading the screw part of the jar onto the gourd then and not the entire jar. Cool! |
docgipe
NORTH CENTRAL PENNSY, PA
(Zone 5a)
November 19, 2009
11:07 AM Post #7289490
| This gourd was published in Bird and Bloom magazine some years ago with a neat flower design painted on it. I have sold many nicely designed painted Purple Martin size for $49.95 easily. Natural gourds are a whole lot better attractor nesting site than plastic gourds. I never painted them white although some who bought them did.
Needless to say if you want top dollar you must have professional quality product. I keep the mistakes hanging in my back yard and for an occasional give away...buy two at $49.95 and get this one absolutely free.
A gourd finished out with good outside varnish will easily last forty years if it is maintained every five or six years. A twenty to forty year old aged gourd birdhouse will again attract a fine price even in an estate auction. I like them better when they are old and worn somewhat. |
haighr
Hagerstown, MD
(Zone 6a)
November 19, 2009
12:02 PM Post #7289663
| Thanks for the information - they are gorgeous! |
