Thursday, April 2, 2009

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...

24 comments:

  1. Wow Skeeter! Those birdhouses are awesome. I've never seen birdhouses made with gourds and I wish you luck with cutie winged balls peeking out the hole really soon...
    Happy Vacation!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Skeeter .. I have seen these on some other blogs and thought they were fantastic ! I wish we had some here .. I love the wee gourds for the birds to pick at too ! Reminds me of HALLOWEEN !!!
    Have a great vacation girl !

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like the idea of using them for birdhouses and then at the end of the season they can get pitched out. Then you have new fresh houses for next season.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Those should be a perfect house for some family! Too cute!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I hope you get lots of bird families this spring! You both did a good job using the gourds! I love the natural look they have hanging in the trees.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great job Skeeter! I hope some bird families will enjoy those great homes you crafted for them.

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's a cool-looking drill bit--I think you should try drilling the holes yourself... it's pretty fun and satisfying! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the gourd birdhouses!

    Cameron

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for the info on gourds. I may try a couple this year.
    Marnie

    ReplyDelete
  10. Morning all!

    Skeeter-they look good. I bet they'll last a long time. Not sure why the one is not drying-maybe it was a bit too underripe when picked? You'll have residents soon. The sparrows don't mind swinging at all. Enjoy your family time!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Good Morning Everyone,
    Skeeter you did a good job with the gourds. They look great hanging in you crepes.
    Guess I best clean mine. Really I had forgotten about them.
    Enjoy you family time.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love the gourds!!! I have been completely fascinated by them for years but never have had the chance to grow any. Soon! I want to grow them all.LOL

    ReplyDelete
  13. They turned out great. I hope some birds will make a home in them.

    ReplyDelete
  14. They look great Skeeter, good job!!
    Hope you both enjoy your family time.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Skeeter, pretty cool, the gourd birdhouses. We have had spotty success with birds actually using ours, the Carolina wren made a nest, but don't know if eggs were laid in there. But they look cool if nothing else. I love the baby gourd.

    Frances

    ReplyDelete
  16. I like those gourd birdhouses too. I'll be curious to hear how much the birds use them. In any case they are decorative!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh, what an accomplishment! I love gourds. That is the one birdhouse I have that I haven't seen birds in yet. Maybe I should look a little closer...
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  18. Skeeter, The gourd birdhouses are really neat! I like them with or without birds! Tina gave me one and right now it's sitting in my den on a red stool and looks like a giant pear! I love it! gail

    ReplyDelete
  19. Just a quick pop in to say hello.

    Growing, drying and creating bird houses from the gourds was a great experiecne and we plan to grow more this year...

    Rain is putting quit a damper on Spring Break but still nice to be with family...

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks for showing the finished product,Skeeter; these are so cute! I hope you have a bird family who decides to call at least one of these home. Enjoy your spring break, too!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Interesting post, Skeeter. Thanks for showing us the steps. I'll try to remember what you said about cleaning: Scrape when slimy (saves lots of time-y)!

    ReplyDelete
  22. They turned out great Skeeter! Enjoy your spring break, my son's doesn't start till Monday.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Great birdhouses! And thanks for the reminder about different hole sizes for different birds.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I do hope to have some babies from the gourds. If not, it was a fun project anyway. Must get now...

    ReplyDelete

ALL SPAM WILL BE PROMPTLY FRIED. PLEASE DO NOT LIFT PHOTOS OR WORDS. THANKS!