Gourds!

By definition, "A gourd is a plant of the family Cucurbitaceae. The term is also used for the plants' fruits which include crops like cucumbers, squashes (including pumpkins), luffas, and melons. However, the term 'gourd' can, more specifically, refer to the hard-rinded inedible fruits of the plants of the two Cucurbitaceae genera Lagenaria and Cucurbita and to their dried fruit shells, often used for ornament, instruments, utensils and vessels.'

To us it means a fun trip to the 'gourd farm' to let our imaginations run wild! They come in all shapes and sizes...and in the summer months we make our annual pilgrimage to choose our favorite to carve and paint up like Halloween decorations and Christmas Ornaments.