Fall is the season when gourds are ready for harvesting, which makes the gourds readily available and cheaply priced. But what do you do with a gourd? Gourds are inedible and come in many sizes, shapes and colors. One thing you can do with gourds is to make flower vases from them for fall ad winter decor.

To make a gourd flower vase, begin by choosing gourds with flat bottoms. Cut 1-2 inches off the neck top and clean out any debris from the inside of the gourd. You can leave the gourd in it's natural state or paint a design on it to compliment your home's interior decor.

Fill with water and your favorite fresh cut flowers and you have a unique flower vase.

A grouping of different sized gourds made into flower vases will add a visual impact to a fireplace mantel or side table.

Flower vases made from gourds can also be used for outside home decor. Group large gourd vases together and place evergreen boughs in them or long tree twigs.