My garden is a continual source of surprise. Especially, since I don’t have time to tend it. Weeds abound, gophers over run it creating veritable mine fields of mounds wrecking destruction of plants in their way. And, rabbits eat all the tender young morsels of new shoots I dare to plant in the hopes of having some new varieties. So, imagine my surprise last night, when driving down our driveway on the way out to visit my mother recovering in skilled nursing, I spotted a watermelon!
Since my brain could not process a watermelon peeking out from under weeds, I stopped my car and got out to investigate. Sure enough – watermelon! Not just one, but five watermelons! And, the weeds were actually watermelon vines!
So, how did this miracle of nature happen? Did garden fairies visit me in the middle of the night and deliver watermelons to me? How did I miss this? How long does it take a watermelon vine to produce a watermelon large enough to harvest? These watermelons are already at least 12 to 15 inches!
So, from germination to ripe for picking, I have ignored this watermelon vine and somehow it has escaped weeds, gophers, rabbits, coyotes (yes, coyotes eat watermelon!), hard scrabble dirt and extremely hot 100 degree plus weather with no water for the past couple of weeks and thrive!
So, was it hundreds of garden fairies disguised as birds pollinating and dropping seeds from other gardens? Whatever it was, thank you my garden fairies – I appreciate this sweet surprise!
Have you ever had unexpected gifts from the garden fairies leaving you sweet surprises?
Tootles,
How amazing nature is, isn’t it !!! My hubby loves watermelon.
Well, when you come for your next visit, you can take one home!
Hey, I just realized you forgot to give me one. Did they all go bad before you got to use/eat them?
Nope; but the last three ended up as coyote food – big gaping holes gnawed out of them! Stay tuned for a future post for updated photos!