It's Pumpkin season

by MaryLee Parker

Title

It's Pumpkin season

Artist

MaryLee Parker

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Photograph - Photograph

Description

Leaves are falling, the air is crisp and pumpkin spice lattes are in all the coffee shops. Yes ladies and gentlemen, fall is here!

Pumpkins are usually the star this time of year. We pick them at pumpkin patches, buy pumpkin desserts and think of clever ways to decorate them for our homes. Pumpkins reign supreme, but they aren’t the only fall food out there! Let’s take a look at a few different kinds of squashes and gourds that you can use for cooking or decorating this fall.

What’s the Difference Between a Squash and a Gourd?

Squashes and gourds are members of the Cucurbitaceae family. This is a massive plant group containing over 800 species of plants such as gourds, melons, squashes and pumpkins, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. Really, the main distinction between squashes and gourds is that squashes are grown and harvested to eat, while gourds tend to be cultivated for decoration purposes.

The squashes and gourds we’ll be talking about here are often referred to as winter squash. Don’t let the name fool you; they aren’t grown in the winter. These plants are harvested in late summer and early fall. They’re called winter squash because, unlike their summer counterparts, they have a hard, thick rind that doesn’t bruise easily and keeps longer, even into the winter.

Winter squashes also have more nutrients like vitamins A, C and B6, as well as potassium and antioxidants.

Now that you have a better understanding of squashes and gourds, let’s take a look at some common ones you can find at your local farmers market, and a few ideas on how you can use them.

Autumn Wing Gourd

These little guys are some of my favorites! They come in such unique shapes, like spoons with little wings or horns. Each one looks different, and they make wonderful decorations.

Autumn wing gourds aren’t really intended for eating, but their traditional fall colors really spruce up a table or a mantle. They’re fairly small as well, usually about 2 to 3 inches long.

These gourds have character on their own, but if you’re not a fan of traditional fall colors, or if you just want to jazz them up a bit more, try painting them like this one below

Uploaded

September 22nd, 2016

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