Our Southern Illinois Region 1, Illinois Gourd Society event recently held February 12, 13, and 14th at The Times Square Mall, with The Midwestern Herb and Garden Show, in Mt. Vernon, IL 62864.

The free class seminar we had was a huge success.  We estimated there were around 50 folks in attendance.  Lots were interested in growing, pollination techniques, and cleaning the gourds.  They all enjoyed the magazines from American Gourd Society and flyers with information.   We hope to continue our free class next year with updates on growing tips, etc.

Saturday we had a great turnout with our gourd workshop which we charged for supplies only.  Around 15 made the gourd flower feeders by painting them inside the mall in the seminar room.  We had three children also in attendance with their folks and grandfather who assisted.  There were about 20 some folks in attendance.  All seem to enjoy their completed item to take home from the show.

We met some 20 year veterans of gourds.  Mr. Everett Atkinson from Mt. Vernon came on Friday, and then returned on Saturday with photos to show us of his traveling gourd days.  He reminded us of some other veterans we heard about from other gourd societies.  Mr. Story used to travel with his wife with his gourds he made, lots of southwestern art ideas.  He also told us he has grown some and has an Alaskan native lady who buys his gourds to make musical instruments.

The other 20 some veterans were Mr. and Mrs. Ellis from Mt. Vernon, IL who also came to our booth on Friday and returned on Saturday with their photo album and three wonderful gourd art items.  We were instantly impressed with their gourd art as well.

We told both that we would love to learn from them and they should be regional folks as longer at their gourd art.  We find it fun to learn from others.  We enjoyed others who had booths too.  There were some from our Herb Club, Judy Robinson from Sesser, and Yvonne Miller had some items at the Club booth.

We were located by Sears next to our friends Earth Mother Pottery, Nancy and Jim Farris who compliment us with their pottery.  As we told them gourds were used as examples when the first pottery was made.  So a learning lesson for anyone who came by Sears hallway near us all.

 We hope to continue with a gourd seminar and workshop again for 2011.  It will once again be taking place at Times Square Mall, Mt. Vernon, IL and will be The 23 Midwestern Herb and Garden Show on February 11 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 12- 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on February 12 from noon to 5 p.m.  Folks can vend there too after April 1, 2010.  If interested you can contact Lucy Baker, 22531 N. Hails Lane, Texico, IL 62889, 618-755-9415, email- lbaker@mvn.net or Treasa Brookman phone 618-756-2271 or email: tbrook@hamiltoncom.net who are chairpersons from The Herbs for Fun and Health Club which sponsors the show along with Mt. Vernon Tourism and other sponsors.  The application for nonclub members is $100 for three days, and for herb club members it is $60 and must attend 6 meetings.

They do look for speakers and the immediately after the show, our Herb Club begins for the next year.

Thanks again to all from American Gourd Society and its Chapters.  We appreciate each one of you.  We hope to have a gourd class next year and would love to have any gourd folks bring a gourd item they grew or have as an art piece to show to the general public in 2011.  They can contact us at wilsonsgourds@yahoo.com for more information also.