Moths do most natural pollenation. If you`re hand-pollenating, plan on being out there every night...flowers open somewhat randomly, and are only open for that one night. I'm getting a beehive next season, just for my own amusement. Maybe they`ll help out a bit.

Not silly, if you don't ask, you won't find out. Moths and night bugs pollinate the flowers. If you don't think there's many bugs out there at night, leave a light burning overnight sometime. And, if your gourds are blooming, *any* night is fine. Old flowers get shrivelly so the new fresh ones are easy to tell apart from them. Just remember, girl flowers have baby gourds under them already. :)