Rocky Mount Gourds & Treasures of Louisiana

Sorry for not posting for a while, but we were clearing an area behind one of the barns that was overgrown, and the bamboo kept coming up inside of the barn.  BAMBOO!!!!  I love bamboo, but

My husband has no appreciation of it when it is so invasive. 

When he planted it, I could just see all types of things I could do with it.  I even tried torching it one evening.  Had more fun, but it actually didn’t bend as I wanted it too.  I see all types of elements from nature that I can use to further embellish my Fine Art Gourds.  I do a lot of weaving onto my gourds to create a Gourdsket (combination of a gourd bowl and basket).  One particular evening, my husband had

gone to a meeting and I saw my chance to play.  That is when I made small strips from the bamboo.  I had been working on a bamboo design on a gourd and wanted to use real bamboo around the top.

It took much patience, and it almost worked.  I finally completed the gourd in pyroengraving and staining…maybe I will try bending bamboo again someday.  For now it will be used for bean poles and tomato stakes!!

Now, it is time to get back to the Purple Martins.  I noticed on my calendar that I saw the first scout

on February 17^th  last year.   Checked the Purple Martin Conservatory website and there have been

sightings in Shreveport, LA, just 30 or so miles southwest of Rocky Mount, on the other side of the Red River. 

If any of you have any input you would like to make about your Purple Martins, or pictures you would like to share, just email them to me here on the Local Harvest website.  And don’t forget, it is not too late to order your Purple Martin Gourd Houses.

For now,

The Gourd Lady of Rocky Mount, Louisiana, that is!!

If you are having trouble attracting Purple Martins to your current habitat and you have had Martin box type houses in the past you may want to try gourds and creating a new habitat.  Often predictors have invaded the habitat and the Martins will not return.  I have two neighbors that believe a snake was in their Martin Box and they are trying Gourd Martin Houses in hopes the Martins will return.

If you have access to large gourds, the preferred hole size for Martins is 2-1/4", and no perch.  The Martins love the swinging motion in the gourd.  I love to look out on the line with 20 or more Gourd Martin Houses and they are swaying with the wind.  We also have Gourd Martin Houses on our site here at Local Harvest.

 Until tomorrow, happy "sky watching".

The Gourd Lady of Rocky Mount