Natures bounty…

The Dragon Fruit spreads its succulent branches in all directions. Prickly and pushy it cannot be called beautiful as, snaking in all different directions,  it shoves through and round anything in its way.Nature takes many forms, all unique and with one ambition, to reproduce its species. Can you spot the tiny flower buds starting to form? In the photo below there are 3 of them on these branches. Slowly they develop.

Then overnight, with a burst of exuberance, the flowers appear, flaunting their beauty to the world and the nigh time insects and moths passing by.The show is short-lived as after one day they shrivel into a stringy brown tail. Then slowly fruit forms and swells.Checking them every day it is fascinating to watch, as they gradually turn to a rich red. Then they are ready to pick.

To enhance the juicy flavour put them in the fridge overnight. Then they are ready to eat. The taste is hard to pin down with some saying it’s a sweet mix of mild kiwi fruit, watermelon, strawberry and pear flavours.

Succulent and dripping with juice, spoon them straight from the skin and enjoy.

One of the pure joys of nature and gardening is producing your own food.

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This week Patti has inspired me with the theme of nature for “the len’s-artist photo challenge”