GOURDS have been cultivated for thousands of years by many cultures for their usefulness as utensils, storage containers, sacred vessels, musical instruments and ornaments.

They make perfect birdhouses. The gourd has an insulating quality that serves to keep inside temperatures relatively even for the baby birds. My birdhouses are sized for cavity-nesters; small songbirds – wrens, finches, and chickadees. They have ventilation/drainage holes, a 1¼” entry opening, a hanging wire and three coats of weather resistant finish. I recommend hanging them out of the weather over the winter and the finish will last for 3-4 years without any additional touch-up finish coats. The gourd itself will last for 10-12 years.

The goddess is standing in the middle of a colorful garden. Her arms are maple twigs encircled with copper wire vines and a cardinal is perched on her outstretched arm.