Nesting Gourds
by Nikolyn McDonald
Title
Nesting Gourds
Artist
Nikolyn McDonald
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photopainting
Description
Somewhat whimsically, a collection of ornamental gourds is displayed in a row of old nesting boxes originally intended for chickens to lay their eggs in. Most of these are speckled swan gourds (Lagenaria siceraria), so named because the large bulb resembles a bird's body, the necks are long and curved, and the top of the neck often bulges out to suggest a head with a beak. I'm not sure what the tall, slender, solid green one is. In the United States, gourds are particularly popular in the fall when they are used extensively for decoration. However, these fruits have had other uses through the centuries and throughout the world. When they are dry, the shells are very hard. They can be hollowed out and used as containers, instruments, and tools, and of course in art.
Uploaded
October 10th, 2019
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