Gourd Follow-up to Birdhouse

Note:
I will be posting topics the next few days as Tina enjoys Spring Break with her family. Although, I too will be enjoying some family time so these topics are scheduled to post automatically. I am not sure if I will have computer access or not but will be reading all comments as soon as I can get to a computer.

Skeeter

The gourds in my Georgia home finally decided to dry. I think they had been dry longer then I knew. I kept shaking them per Tina's recommendation but with no rattling from the seeds within. Well, finally one day I gave one a good little tap into the palm of my other hand and the rattle began. I guess they were stuck and needed an extra nod to free themselves.

I cleaned the gourds with a nylon scouring pad and dish washing liquid. This was a difficult process and from now on, I will Scrape the gourds like I did to one a while back when it turned slimy. It dried and was clean as can be and did not need any additional cleaning at all.

The Saint assisted me in the next process. He took a round hole drill bit and attached it to his power drill. He then drilled the proper sized hole for the bird that is looking to call these gourds home. Tina gave a web site on her last Gourd Update so check it out for the Proper Size Hole For Birds if you are making birdhouses. While the Saint had the drill out, he also drilled small bit size holes in the top and bottom of the gourd for ventilation and way of hanging the gourds. I then per Tina's recommendation, coated them with car wax and buffed them clean. Hopefully, they will be water resistant and last all summer long.

The gourds are now hanging in the crab apple tree as well as 3 crepe myrtles throughout the yard. We are hoping for some residents soon but not sure they will call these gourds home as birds can be really picky about where they nest. These may not be in the perfect spot, swing too much with the wind or any of many reasons why they are not suited for a nesting spot.

I do hope to have pictures of baby birds peeking out of at least one of the gourds later on this spring or during the summer brooding months.

Here is one gourd which remains the same as the day we picked it off the vine last fall. Why on earth will this little gourd not dry for me? My gourds have gone from seed, to plant, to gourd and now to birdhouse, In the Garden...