For some time now, I have been very interested in gourds. In Guadeloupe, we have a variety of gourd trees (they are not really gourds, they are called "Calebasse" but their charesteristics are like those of the gourds found in America except that they grow on trees! Yes like fruits! They come in all sizes and are usually round like melons. Inedible, they are used for containers and decorative items.
I have brought seeds back and I have a medium tree now in my front yard. I had a couple of calebasse last year but I'm not sure how to preserve them. We are waiting for this year's crop and hope to do better. I want to learn how to carve them like they do in the islands. My son Mathew is also wanting to work with them. When I have a fruit, I will take picture to show everyone.
The inside of gourds and calebash are scooped out and they are dried which can take weeks to months. They come in all sizes and many interesting shapes. They are not usually eaten as many can be toxic to humans but once dried, they can be carved and painted and used as decorative items as well as to transport items and more importantly they can as plates and bowls. I have had several for years now, and they can be washed and reused many time. The outside shell becomes hard like a thin sheet of wood. It is such a versatile produce!
Until the time that I can collect my own fruits, I found this website http://www.islandgourds.com/home.html The artist is Ardee Walter and she carves and paints the gourds from Hawaii and boy! she does fantastic work! She also uses natural seeds to make jewelry. Check out some of these pictures, enjoy the artistry, and let me know what you think.
