Coarsegold Tepee

You can not miss the Coarsegold Historic Village, if you watch for the Tepee. This is the type of home that the Plains Indians used, not the type that our local Coarsegold Chukchansi's lived in.. The Coarsegold Historical Museum on Hy 41, near the Casino has a sample of the Nobe or the Cedar Bark homes of our local tribes. Cedar bark was used at the higher elevations and Willow trees and grasses were used at the lower elevations where it did not snow.

Pumpkins-Halloween

Pumpkins and Halloween, they go together.. I love to look at the plants with their wonderful colors of orange and green. One of these days we will grow them in our yard.. hummm, I am lucky I still have parsley.

Tarantual Festival - Coarsegold

No, they really are not that big! This one is made by one of our local artists, Wayne Boring. It sits high up in a tree that was trimmed last year. Coarsegold has an annual Tarantula Festival in October, there are lots of surprises, scream contests, foods to munch on etc. We start seeing those crawly things after the first rain in Oct. but I heard they eat the rattlesnake eggs. . So, I love these little creatures, just have to be careful not to drive over them on the road when they cross over to find their mate..

Happy Burger Diner- Mariposa Ca.

After the Luffa Farm, Ralph and I went to the Happy Burger Diner in "downtown" Mariposa. They have great hamburgers and a ton of choices. A very popular place to go! Afterward we walked and peeked into stores, and the art galleries. A beautiful day to be out and visiting a town that is only about 25 miles from home.

Luffa Talk

Redwood Creek Botanicals, Linda Dahl, www.mariposaloofa.com, shows some of the larger sponges. They also sell gift baskets, lavender products, soaps and wonderful other creations, all natural.. We had a lovely visit with our Foothill Gardeners from Yosemite Lakes Park. Marie Touitou had planned a delightful day, and the weather was perfect..

Luffa Chart

Linda Dahl, linda@mariposaloofa.com, owner of the farm, had prepared this chart showing the steps on how the plant grows. I might try it next year, but then would not be able to grow my gourds.. If they cross bred I don't know what kind of a "fruit" I would get?

Luffa Sponge

A basket of "skinned" luffa and the dried plant.. When the plant is dry, it is put in water to soften the skin, then the skin is rubbed off and out comes the sponge. The ones that come from local farms are wonderful to feel, soft but yet delightful to rub on your skin.

Green Luffa, Fruit or Veggie?

Hey, this looks like a cucumber,,, not so. We had a beautiful drive through the mountains to see the Redwood Creek Botanical's. They are all grown naturally. They were preparing for the Mariposa Ag. Tour the following week-end.

Luffa Plant

Luffa sponges don't come from the ocean.. They grow on a plant that looks like a gourd plant, climbing all over the place with big leaves and lovely flowers. I have grown gourds and love them. The Redwood Creek Botanical's grow theirs in hot houses, because it gets cold in the mountains sooner then is healthy for the plants.