Fruits
The fruits that I have enjoyed...
Posts
Secret Societies
What Lurks Under the Concrete Block ACT I: THE SETUP The concrete block had been sitting in the yard for months, innocent and unassuming. But today, with tomatoes waiting to be planted and my ongoing vigilance against garden invaders, that block looked suspicious. In Trinidad, you learn to investigate anything that could harbor the enemy - those destructive African snails that can devastate a garden overnight. I approached with purpose, knowing that beneath seemingly harmless objects, entire colonies of garden destroyers could be plotting their next assault on our precious plants. The block was heavy, settled deep into the soil from months of rain and sun. As I lifted it, I braced myself for what I might find. ACT II: THE DISCOVERY What greeted me was a congregation like nothing I'd expected. Not the hard-shelled invaders I was hunting, but a gathering of soft, glistening creatures - slugs, dozens of them, huddled together in their chosen sanctuary. They moved with that characteris...
The Resilient Grasshopper
The Grasshopper Who Reminded Me About Resilience ACT I: THE SETUP Garage East was calling that afternoon - my headquarters and accidental laboratory where projects come to life and discoveries happen when you least expect them. I was walking toward my workspace, ready to settle in for the afternoon’s tasks, when something caught my attention on the countertop ahead. There, positioned with the confidence of someone who belonged there, was an elegant grasshopper. As I approached, he made his move - a graceful leap from the counter to the yellow towel, and then another calculated jump that landed him perfectly on my Mauby bottle. He perched there as if he’d been invited for afternoon tea, completely at ease in Garage East. ----- ACT II: THE MYSTERY DEEPENS At first glance, he was magnificent. A grasshopper with the kind of poise that makes you stop what you’re doing and simply observe. His antennae moved with delicate precision, and his body held that perfect grasshopper stillness t...
The Dragon Fruit Hotel and Convention Center
The Setup: A Routine Afternoon Check The afternoon sun was filtering through the garden. I was with Vishal checking out his dragon fruit garden. Just a casual walk-around to see how things were growing. Nothing unusual – or so I thought. That’s when I spotted them: a cluster of bright orange creatures dotting the green surface of a dragon fruit pad like tiny jewels. They were unlike anything I’d seen before in the garden, their bodies almost glowing against the waxy green surface. The Mystery: What Are These Orange Visitors? *Click.* I captured the photo, my curiosity immediately piqued. Were they harmful? Beneficial? Some new species I’d never encountered? The responsible garden steward in me needed answers right away before I decided what to do about these unexpected visitors. Within minutes, I had my answer: stink bug nymphs. The juveniles of what would eventually become beneficial garden helpers. Relief washed over me – these weren’t pests to worry about, but young beneficial insec...
