Tag: gourds

Projects – Drying Out Gourds/Bird Houses

On By TimelessladyIn Projects2 Comments

At this time of year many farm markets are closing down until Spring. After the pumpkin and Christmas tree season is over, large gourds are on sale for next to nothing in our area. Recently, I bought two large goose neck gourds, and one apple gourd, for $1.00 each.

I already have two bird houses created with gourds hanging in my garden. If you look closely, you can see the swirl of twigs inside, brilliantly constructed by small birds.

I’m not sure if the babies made it to maturity. There are small chipmunk/squirrel bites around the entrance. We also had a wily black snake in that area of the garden this year. While I was happy to have the small rodent population kept in check, I once caught the four/five foot long snake hanging out in the pine trees. From that vantage point it would have been possible to get into the gourd bird houses. I will have to come up with a solution to the snake and chewing problem before the birds begin building nests again. (I’ll make sure to update with any results I find.)

I use bath puffs to hang the gourds for drying. When you cut the inner tie the puff opens up into a long tube.

Knot one end of the tube. Place your hand over the stem as you slide the gourd into the tube or the sharp edge will create holes. Knot the other end of the tube and hang your gourd on a hook outdoors. It will become moldy on the outside in a few weeks, and begin drying on the inside. This is normal.

Dried gourds are a natural and inexpensive material for creating crafts of all kinds. If you find a good sale give bird house-making a try.

Project – Natural Birdhouse

On By TimelessladyIn Projects17 Comments

The weather has warmed up. The birds are beginning to nest. It’s time to create a few birdhouses out of the gourds I’ve been drying throughout the winter.

I bought two large varieties in late Autumn, and grew the small one myself. They hung from my porch rafters through the colder months and grew some interesting molds on their surfaces. After brushing them with a light bleach solution, and leaving them in the sun for a few hours, I began my crafting.

I cut a small hole with a craft knife, pushing it in carefully at tiny intervals. Removing the seeds was easier than I had anticipated. I used a paint paddle, swished inside a few times, and all the seeds and fluff fell out. Two holes at the top were easy to drill for the hanging wire.  I also drilled several small holes in the bottoms to allow any collected rain to drain out. To stop larger birds and squirrels from raiding the nests, I used my glue gun and glued a border of pennies around the opening. I like the way the copper sets off the color of the gourds.

I placed one birdhouse on a tripod of sticks near my back window,  two are hanging on thin twigs. I am hoping the close proximity of the house, and the thinness of the twigs will keep squirrels from tampering with the houses. I’ll update later in the season.

This post is part of Skywatch.

Plants & Pleasure – Wonderful Wednesday/Gourds

On By TimelessladyIn Plants, Pleasures2 Comments

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I’ve tried to grow birdhouse gourds many times over the years. Unfortunately, my efforts usually produce small or mid-sized fruit. Often the developing gourds have rotted on the vine. This year I was determined to try again. I sowed the seeds indoors for an earlier start, and instead of planting them in the ground, I placed the plantlets in pots of very rich soil.

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The pots rest beneath the trumpet vine outside my kitchen window. The sturdy trunk of the trumpet vine provides natural support for the upward climb of the gourd plants. The vine has reached the top of my garage roof now. I am hoping that the heat of the roof will help the gourds grow big, bigger, biggest. Even if my strategy doesn’t work…it does my spirit good when I see the small fruits adorning the vine. I’ll update their progress, or hopefully not…their demise. 🙂 Happy Gardening!