Gourd, unknown scientific name
Martin County, Texas
You might have noticed I've been having a little trouble keeping up a daily post lately. It weighs on me to be so unreliable. This morning I realized I'd probably do better if I went back to the a good ol' Photo a Day with my Monthly Calendar format for a while.Today's photo is a gourd, believe it or not. Well, at least I think it's a gourd; it's certainly not a tasty watermelon like it looks. I spent some time this morning trying to identify its scientific name but to no avail. The Cucurbitaceae family (pumpkins, squash, gourds, and melons) is quite large.
The picture on the right is of it growing in situ, and seems to favor disturbed sandy areas like cotton fields. Unlike the more commonly seen Coyote Gourd in this area, which matures to about the size of a baseball, this one grows to the size of a cantaloupe (muskmelon). To my great disappointment as a crafter, this larger species does not dry with a hard shell. No, it just rots, as I learned with a couple of others that I recently had to throw out.
This one, though, kindly remained pretty for its staged portrait on my kitchen table.
Are you dying to know what it looks like on the inside? I am, too. Watch this space.
11 comments:
Who knew a guard could be so pretty! Looks sort of like it had a bath before posing for you. Your photo is great.
Love this still life. The stem is so graceful and the cloth makes good shadows. And yes! I am dying to know what is inside. Can't wait to see.
p.s. internet is acting up, we had a storm and our line is down on the ground...waiting for repair. So if you don't see me posting you know why.
I love this! If you were sixteen shades of envy the other day over on my blog, I'm seventeen shades today on yours. I love the balance of colors in this picture--how the brown of the vine is complimented by the brown in the corner. The rumpliness of the sheet/tablecloth in contrast to the smoothness of the gourd. The definition of the gourd's color on the shadow side versus the lit side.
I could stare at this portrait and never tire. Well done, Debi. Very, very well done!
I started reading your blog during This or That, so I'm looking forward to a Photo a Day because it's new for me. I love the gourd. I'm with Nelda -- who knew a gourd could be so pretty!
And a lovely portrait too - nice mise-en-scene! It does look like one of those tiny, flavourless watermelons they keep pushing at the store. My favourite way to prepare any kind of squash (did I get the genus right? hehe) is to mix a pat of butter or drizzle of olive oil with some cracked pepper, pinch of salt and a sprinkling of brown sugar, then roast until crunchy and melty...
Never seen a gourd, though heard of them. You did well to get him sitting so still for his portrait lol
You are fabulous!! :) We have those here too... Miss ya!
This is as good as a painting by an old master, very artistically done and the fabric is draped just right. You really do have a flair for the theatrical setting. Could this be your calling? Dramatic Still Lives?
W a t e r m e l l o n 39 c e n t s p e r p o u n d i f s l i c e d j u s t a d d v o d k a h p l e a s e
I l i k e i t
Hi Debi,
I love this portrait! I am so forgetful of famous artists - but it looks like some still lives by someone else - but they are paintings.
Really quite elegant. I won't give myself a break - but I encourage you to give yourself a break!
~ Diane Clancy
www.DianeClancy.com/blog
www.YourArtMarketing.com
In French slang, "gourde" means "thick-headed." Wonder why...
Post a Comment