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I like this one...made from a bottle gourd...when I stored it for the winter a mouse chewed into the top of it and ate ALL the seeds, then put pieces of dried dog food in there!!
They are thin...but you can tell a Coyote Melon and Buffalo gourd by their leaves...the Buffalo have leaves that stand up...sorta like sails on a boat...
The Coyote Melon has five-fingered leaves....the gourds look the same though...both are wild.
The Native Americans used to use them crushed up to put around other plants to deter insects.
Name: Mary (Marti) Nelson Ventura, CA Peace and long life
Thats funny. I've seen coyote melons that have been chewed on by squirrals and rabbits, but your right I've never seen insects around the plants. Once in Calif I found snail shells under the coyote melon plants. There were hundreds of shells. I collect some for my sister who likes shells.
Marti
Tahlmorra lujhala mei wiccan
(The fate of a man rests always within the hands of the gods)
What neat information about the coyote melons, I've got to pay attention to leaves now. There are some that grow in the arroyos here, now I'll check out the leaves to see which they are.
There is someone here in Las Cruces that makes Christmas ornaments with them, but I have not seen them. I think she uses the leather dyes on them.
As a welcome to my Cubit I will send you both coyote melons....they may be Buffaloe Gourds though...the only difference is the leaves...and for the BIG gourd!! C-mail your name and address to me. Jo
If you have never been "into" gourds here is the place to learn how to grow, harvest, clean, and decorate this wonderful and interesting vegetable of the Squash family. Just come on in and visit with us and share knowledge!!
