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In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we visit Gourdlandia, a magical wonderland in Ithaca, New York, that is devoted entirely—almost spiritually—to this unusual and versatile fruit. It’s also the brainchild of Graham Ottoson, a midwife-turned-artist now known as the “Gourd Lady.”

Join Ottoson for an Atlas Obscura course on gourds, and podcast listeners get 15 percent off with the code GOURDLOVE during registration.

Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes, we’ll take you to an incredible site, and along the way you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Join us daily, Monday through Thursday, to explore a new wonder with cofounder Dylan Thuras and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters.

Graham Ottoson/Used with Permission