I do a little gardening. Lately things are getting interesting in my corner of Florida.
Table of Contents
Early Bloomers
My black raspberry plants are blooming early. I’m not sure if there’s some false spring, but if it goes well, I should have some early berries.
It’s one of those things where you’re never quite sure with Florida weather, but I’m optimistic.
And here’s one of 7 passion fruits! Their flowers are amazing, and I’ve only seen one or two fully bloom. But I’m getting to see the “fruits” even when I missed the flowers. There is some philosophical maxim to glean from that.
Banana Drama
I finished eating my banana bunch just in time for a new bunch to drop. So more bananas are coming in 90 days.
I’ve been growing bananas for a while now. Got the plants from a nice older lady up the street from me. A friend of mine said they’re more trouble than they’re worth. And for a while I was inclined to agree. Bananas are cheap and readily available all year round. And I couldn’t get the hang of it. Entire bunches of bananas were going to waste. This last one was the first that I feel I got just right. Leaving the bunch on the plant, waiting the 90 days, and plucking off the bananas just as they turn ripe did the trick. Oh, and encouraging my neighbors to take their share. This all helped avoid a big black pile of rotten bananas.
Pineapple Plantation
My pineapple plantation is booming. Seeing some growth on my pineapple plants. These are supposed to be two different rare pineapple varieties, but honestly, they all seem the same to me.
Maybe I’m missing something, or maybe rare doesn’t always mean different looking. Either way, I’m excited to see how they turn out.
Gardening teaches patience—something I wrote about in the context of life’s bigger picture in A Reminder About Time.
The Giant Papaya
Here’s the highlight: I had a 4.78 pound papaya. According to the internet, that’s above average. And it tasted great!
I’ve been enjoying the papaya more than I thought. Sometimes you grow something just to see if you can, and then you’re pleasantly surprised to find you actually like it.
Why I Started This
Growing plants isn’t really about the harvest, though that’s a nice bonus. It’s about the process. Watching something go from seed or cutting to actual fruit. Dealing with the surprises, the setbacks, the unexpected wins.
It’s a different kind of problem solving than what I do in my work life, and I think that’s why it’s so satisfying.
Balancing this hobby with my recruiting work keeps me grounded. Learn more about what I do in my bio.
Conclusion
If you’ve ever thought about growing your own food, even in a small way, I’d say go for it. Start with something easy. See what happens. You might surprise yourself with what you can grow and how much you enjoy it.
There’s something grounding about getting your hands dirty and watching things grow. In a world that moves as fast as ours does, having something that operates on nature’s timeline is pretty valuable.
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