Thursday, October 13, 2016

Gourd Harvest 2016

I love gardening and decorating gourds.  So, of course I grow gourds!  ;-)  Here's a bit of our 2016 harvest.

 
 
This year, three little packets of seeds produced enough gourds for me, for our daughter, along with a basketful for my aunt AND our favorite neighbors! 



 
See why I love gardening!  Sharing is such a delight!





I don't want to tell you what seed varieties were purchased or where I found them because they were not true to the packets.





Cross pollination is very common with gourds.  If I were a buzzing bee, I don't think I could resist such a pretty flower!  Shapes and colors can also become distorted depending on growing conditions.




This particular seed company must have had a lot of varieties very close together.




At first I was a bit disappointed, but honestly, aren't they beautiful?
 
  
 
 
We have cattle panels along the outside of our garden. 
 
 
 
 
They are perfect for supporting heavy climbers like gourds.
 
 
 
  
How often are you photo bombed by chickens or other pets?  ;-)  I think the cream colored ones might just be my favorites this year.  'Can't wait to show you my Autumn vignettes using gourds!
 
 ;-)  -Marci

12 comments:

  1. I absolutely love all the gourds!! They are beautiful and i wish i had a basket of the whites for my halloween party next weekend.
    I love your pretty home and surroundings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would have mailed some to you! Please post lots of photos of your party! -Marci

      Delete
  2. Hi Marci, The gourds are such beautiful colors! Thanks for sharing your lovely photos! Blessings, Janet

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wonderful harvest! Back when I had a larger garden I grew gourds, miniature pumpkins and miniature corn. Such fun!
    :) gwingal

    ReplyDelete
  4. I don't have a garden, but I think it must be very fulfilling to see what you plant grow into something so beautiful. Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party this week!

    ReplyDelete
  5. They are so pretty. I wonder if they can be consumed. I've never heard of people eating them, but they are related to pumpkins and squash.

    http://www.anapeladay.com/2016/10/ww-give-me-five-or-fifty.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment! You're right. Gourds are in the same plant family as cucumbers and squash. I actually get that question a lot, but have never tried one. They are not poisonous, frequently used as bowls and cups. Flavor and texture would probably be best when the gourds are small. -Marci

      Delete
  6. Nothing says fall like gourds. I bought mine from the farmers market this year.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love all these fantastic gourds and pumpkins! It is amazing that those pumpkins that would have been overlooked as "ugly" a couple of years ago are now all the rage! The funkier, the better, right? I have to rely on what I can find, sometimes even from Walmart here in Florida, alas, they just don't grow down here!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good morning! Just a little note to let you know that this post has been *FEATURED* today on the Art of Home-Making Mondays (at Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth) on our special pumpkin edition. Your crop is wonderful! Thank you for sharing with us! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Have always loved the gourds, their shapes and colors are so varied to be exceptionally interesting to look at, for me anyway. When we lived in KY there was store south west of Bowling Green that got big load of pumpkins, gourds, corn for decorating. At affordable prices also. Boy do I miss that place.
    We live in Grand Junction, CO area now where stores get what they can charge most for, beyond my SS budget. Grocery store closest to us never did get little white pumpkins and little orange ones were over priced. Gourds like yours didn't show up til day or two before Halloween, no thanks.
    Seeing all your wonderful gourds has made me decide to grow my own for next year, no more depending on stores. Your crop is fantastic, how nice of you to share with others.
    Hope you're having wonderful Fall week

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting my Stone Cottage! I love hearing from you! Just recently, though, anonymous comments have been blocked.