Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Wild Watermelons


Last summer, there was a logging outfit cutting down trees on a piece of property just down the road from us. After the loggers cut all the trees down, they left an empty field....or so we thought. But as usual, once the trees are gone, weeds and plants that lay dormant for years, come to life. This field became covered in a pretty yellow flower called Birdsfoot Trefoil. It's a perennial wildflower that grows well in poor soil conditions. I'm not sure if the logging company planted them or if they just popped up from the soil being churned up. Anyway, I would ride by there and admire the flowers that bloomed for nearly a month or more, it seems. The blooms have withered and died now and all that's left are the seed pods.  

 
But just the other day, as I drove by, I thought I saw something that looked like a watermelon. I hit the brakes and did a double take. Sure enough, growing right there where there used to be trees, weeds, overgrowth of all sorts, and among the withering Birdsfoot Trefoil, was this big fat watermelon. 



I was telling Cliff about it, so after church yesterday, we stopped to take a look. Lidia and Sawyer was with us and made a bee line straight for it. I handed Sawyer my phone to take some pictures. As it turns out, there was not just one watermelon, but five. We were planning to go on a hike through the woods at a historic Revolutionary War site in Ninety-Six.....so we went home, changed clothes and headed back to pick a watermelon to take with us on the hike. In addition to the big fat ones, there was a little baby one that Sawyer just had to have. So, we picked a fat one and the baby one to take on the hike with us. I tell ya, I'm an constantly amazed at what we find around the lake. 




Our hike was beautiful. There are still some colorful leaves on the trees.


And the pond area was very nice, also.
 

After walking for a couple of miles, we came to this picnic area and decided it was time for a snack.

Cliff cut open the baby watermelon and we all shared it. 

Surprisingly, wild watermelons are.....

 .......oooohhhh so good! 

LOL!!

Laurie

32 comments:

  1. Everyone talking about snow and Christmas and you over here spitting watermellon seeds. Hahahah I Love it! This is really cute and such good photos.
    Lisa

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    1. HaHa! How did you know? We had a seed spitting contest, that ended in spitting seeds on the person closest to you. Ha!

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    2. I knew it because I know where you come from. hahah

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    3. HaHaHa!!! Southerners....whatcha gonna do with us?

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  2. LOL- What a surprise. You can bet some of those workers were eating watermelon and dropped a rind there with seeds in it. What a fun time you all had there. xo Diana

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  3. How fun is that!? What a neat way to spend the day and I bet your Grandkiddos will remember this forever..the great watermelon caper! Your area looks so beautiful with color still on the trees. Ours is long gone!

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    1. Thanks YaYa! They'all remember the seed spitting contest for sure. Ha!

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  4. I agree with Nanadiana, I'll bet at one point someone was sitting under that tree enjoying a watermelon. Yep, I. am showing Santa on my page and you are eating watermelon . Lol.
    Have a joyous Christmas Laurie. Janey

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  5. What a lovely surprise! Maybe the lake's early Christmas gift to you all!
    The hike looks so beautiful and that's a great photo of Sawyer and Lidia enjoying the watermelon!

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    1. Thanks Christine! I'll take gifts like that, anytime.

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  6. So fun! Maybe one of those foresters had watermelon in his lunch and spit the seeds...and voila! haha.

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    1. HaHa! Even the foresters have seed spitting contests. Cliff said it was probably the foresters...I thought maybe birds had enjoyed some watermelon from the compost pile of the man that lives beside this land. You know....a flyover seed dropping event. Lol!!

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  7. You live in such a pretty natural place!
    How fun to find the pumpkins..gifts!

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    1. It is very pretty Monique. This fall has been one of the prettiest I've seen.

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  8. Big Yuuuuuummmmm!!! ��

    Jim Fowler, Greenville, SC

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    1. There's a couple left. Help yourself.

      Did you notice where I said, I hit the brakes? HaHa!
      I pulled a Jim.

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  9. Love the scenery Laurie... And those watermelon! Bonus!
    You do fine the coolest things....😂
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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  10. Nature is amazing! Such a fun find! Lovely scenery on your hike, too. xx Karen

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    1. Thanks Karen! Good to hear from you. Hope you have a great weekend. How are those views of Mt. Rainer, right now?

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  11. You are so lucky! Watermelons are sooooo good and perfect for after a hike.

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  12. I've been watching a lot of videos lately about the benefits of soil. Without it, there is no life. And this is proof of all the amazing surprises that are just waiting to spring forth. I'm happy to see something positive come out of the fact that the logging company took down so many trees.

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    1. Watch Paul Goetche's "Back To Eden" gardening. Amazing concept!

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  13. Such a find! I tried to grow them once, they did well until the deer made off with the WHOLE vine. Hmmmm....glad you could taste success. Beautiful place to hike!

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    1. It was, Anita! I was so excited. I went back a few days later for another watermelon and they were all gone. I guess someone else saw them, too.

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  14. Your grandchildren always look like they are having so much fun.

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    1. Don't they? I have to say, they make the best of anything they do. Their laughing and giggling is music to our ears.

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  15. Not sure where you are? stopping by to wish you a Merry Christmas...Janey

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