Our vegetable garden started out really strong this year. For most of the summer I kept up with it, despite the bucket loads of zucchini and those determined weeds. Then somehow when some very stressful family issues and other unexpected things got added to my plate recently the garden just went south. The weeds took over and our beautiful garden has ended up looking pretty neglected I am afraid. One plant that did seem to thrive despite my inattention is the gourds.This was the first year I have planted birdhouse gourds and I only planted a few. You may remember them earlier in the year from this post. They got much bigger than that, they completely covered their trellis, crept down the goat fence, covered the compost pile and tried to strangle the corn. I loved it, but next time I will know to put in a much larger trellis for them! I can't believe three gourd plants spread out so much! Here is some of the gourds I have gotten off those plants.
These particular ones were knocked off by one of our Great Pyrenees dogs when he got into the backyard and decided those vines looked like a cool place to dig a hole to sleep in. That is the very spoiled Miss Peeps in the picture right before she knocked some of them over like bowling pins. (Why do my animals have it out for my gourds?) There are still some more gourds on the vine but I have read to leave them on the vine as long as possible. I can't wait for these gourds to dry so I can try my hand at some birdhouses and art with them! If you want to see some truly beautiful and unique gourd art you should check out the link below! I had no idea there was a Gourd Art Festival!
http://www.gourdfestival.com/exhibitor_list09.shtml
**Big Smiles! Blogger decided too cooperate with me for once and loaded my picture! Clicking on the picture will make it larger.
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18 comments:
No problem for me uploading photos, but I have left comments on blogs that haven't shown up. I guess there are problems somewhere. Hope things clear up for you soon. I'd like to see the gourds.
I warned you about those birdhouse gourd plants. They take over!!!! Can't wait to see them! I hope Blogger will let you download those pics.
can't wait to see your gourds. i grew those too and am just getting gourds now so i am not sure if they will mature before the big frosts. that gourd site is awesome! thank you for the good wishes for teddy.
yes, I want to see gourd photo's.
Even my birdhouse gourds failed. Sigh. I'll try again next year.
yes, I had a few minutes of glitch w/blogger this morning but they cleared up and I got my pics posted. You sound like a busy lady!! I can certainly relate...I am thankful that the tomatos feel that they are gearing up for round two...I'm trying to catch my second wind too!!
Blogger told me I wasn't following any blogs this morning...that finally straightened out. So it must be having all manner of problems.
I have seen some amazing gourds. I used to have a set that descended in size and were painted like cats.
Another blog I follow is having problems with the pictures also. I'm really interested in seeing your pictures so keep trying! I'm thinking that this would be just the thing to grow on my shelter by the pool.
I have some of those plants...in my case this year I planted Hopi pale grey squash. OH! MY! GOODNESS! The vines took over my husband's corn field! I was out there chopping off runners constantly. Then they produced HUGE, I mean HUGE sqaush.
Would you like some seeds?
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Don't laugh, but I always wondered how gourds grew and who grew them. They are cool though. Me likey.
Nicely ill-attended.
Cool they look great. I think I'd like to try that next year. Not so sure my art would be any good but I'm sure the birds would appreciate the effort :-)
I think gourds are so neat!! Yours look great!
Glad to see you were finally able to post your picture. Thanks for the comment on my post... if you check out the link for the Lost Ladybug Project and go to the links at their site you will see there's a Citizen Science Project for watching fireflies, too.
The structure in this (http://ksborn.blogspot.com/2008/07/no-its-not-cattle-chute.html) post is what I thought I'd grow the gourds on. The Kansas wind doesn't like my tarp. I have put fence wire down the top so the gourds would have plenty of growing room. I could also add wire out from it for the awnings if it got growing that well.
I have wanted to try and grow gourds here too.
They make great Purple Martin Houses.
I love the gourds that are painted up. Some folks are so talented!
Have a great day.
pam
Those gourds look great, but I've got to tell ya that your Miss Peeps steals the show for me!
Boy howdy, you did get gourds! Will you be posting pictures of the birdhouses you make from them?
Did Miss Peeps eat the gourds, or was she just peeping?
Isn't it amazing how somethings grow even though we neglect them!! They look great can't wait to see you birdhouse pics.
Thanks for stopping and commenting on my blog - returning the lurve!
That's a lot of gourds!
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