mysterious squash in my garden

[chickenbloomers]

It came up on its own in my garden and I've looked all over the Internet trying to find it but I just keep banging my head against the wall!

I put mulch in my garden during the spring that I got from the leaf dump so I'm guessing maybe that's were it came from.
Can any of you identify it?

 

[enola]

Maybe it is a hybrid gourd?

 

[chickenbloomers]

I don't know I'll have to look into it.
What's the difference between squash and gourd?

 

[Hholly]

I think squash have more "meat" and gourds are more fibrous and thinner fleshed.

 

[b.hromada]

I don't know, but it sure is pretty!

 

[drumstick diva]

It is pretty.

 

[N F C]

I don't know the name of it, but that looks like some of the ones I see in the grocery store this time of year. They're sold as decoration for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Pretty!

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Wow! You must have been shocked when you found that!

 

[torilovessmiles]

That looks like a plain ol' ornamental gourd to me. My neighbor use to hollow them out and make bird houses out of them! They can come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors: https://www.google.com/search?q=ornamental+gourds&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAmoVChMIqKWZjIC9yAIVgRo-Ch0tBAev&biw=1366&bih=643
It's really possible that it got there from a seed in your mulch. If someone let it rot in their yard or a compost pile after they're done decorating, a bird could have eaten the seeds and dropped it right in your garden!
They store for a long time when not exposed to the elements. It'd be great for a Thanksgiving centerpiece!

 

[chickenbloomers]

Yah, I think your right torilovessmiles it looks like an ornamental gourd and it probably did come in the mulch, maple trees keep popping up all over my garden and there aren't any maples around were I live!

I plain to use them as decorations for thanksgiving along with some pumpkins I've grown which I can't wait to do!

Wow! You must have been shocked when you found that!

Lol, You have no idea!

At first I thought it was a pumpkin then the fruits came and I realized that it was not a pumpkin at all. I sure am glad it came up its the most beautiful thing I've ever grown!