Squash creatures come to life

By Kathy Hatfield
Gardening Columnist

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A woman recently commented to me that she must not have any friends since she hadn't received any zucchini this summer. If you too lack the star ingredient for zucchini bread, a few hints to co-workers or neighbors are sure to bring the ubiquitous squash, probably enough for several loaves.

If, on the other hand, you have an abundance of this vegetable, even oversized ones, you may be pleased to find a new use for zucchini and its relatives.

When you've had your fill of zucchini cookies, stuffed zucchini, zucchini jam and anything else zucchini, and your plants keep on producing, you may want to enlist the kids or grandkids to try making zucchini creatures. This activity works especially well if you let your zucchini grow oversized. If they are oddly shaped, so much the better. Using other squash or excess vegetables also opens up possibilities.

Gather surplus garden materials that you might be able to use in creating your squash creature. Besides squash, you can use peppers, eggplants, small pumpkins, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes and grasses.

Select one of your largest, most oddly shaped squash. Start by studying the squash for a few minutes, viewing it from all angles. See if you can visualize an animal or human-like form. When you have a general idea of what type of creature you're going to create, begin to add arms, legs or wings using wooden sticks or skewers to fasten the pieces together. If you don't care about keeping the creatures "all natural," you can use large nails to join the pieces. If you use nails, you might want to make sure you disassemble your creatures after you're done enjoying them, so that children, pets or power equipment don't find the nails later.

Elongated, curved squash can be used to make characters in expressive positions, to fashion a serpent or dragon body, or if thin enough, to add arms and legs in an animated pose. Rounded squash are ideal for the head. Flatter squash, such as sunburst or patty pan, can be used for feet or for a French beret-like cap. Short stubby squash or cucumbers are best for noses and ears.

Other facial features, such as red peppers cut for lips or a tongue sticking out, or daisies and sunflowers for eyes complete with eyelashes, are easily fastened with toothpicks. Hair can be made from some of the finer grasses, and dried corn silk makes a great mustache. Some of the larger, stiff dried grasses make great headdresses and antennae.

When you are ready to add a stunning sundress or a spiffy suit, corn leaves can be made into a variety of adornments, not only suspenders, ties, neck scarves, skirts and other articles of clothing, but also tails, wings and fins.

My daughter once put together an exotic dancer with a dried grass skirt and a flowery tank top. The dancer's round squash head was decorated with bright yellow sunflower eyes and a cherry-red cutout pepper mouth. Squash arms attached to a corpulent but winsome zucchini body were curved and placed so that one was arching down towards her hip; the other was turned up in a graceful wave.

And you thought zucchini recipes had to be edible! Send your questions or requests for zucchini recipes to me at ocwildflowers@frii.com.